Crawford Creek Impoundment

Bluegill – Fair: The bluegills being caught are in the 8-9.5 inches. Try a small hair jig tipped with a wax worm. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Fair numbers of bass are being caught but most are sublegal size.

Moorhead Park Pond

Channel Catfish – Slow: Some decent sized catfish have been picked up. Bluegill – Fair: Good numbers of bluegill can be caught, but they’re smaller fish. Good opportunity to get kids on some fish. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Fair numbers are being caught, but most are sublegal fish.

Brushy Creek Lake

Surface temps are in the high 70s to low 80s. Bluegill – Slow: Anglers are reporting bluegill have moved into deeper water. Look for them in 15-20 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Look for bass in shaded areas. Try a finesse presentation that will allow for a slow retrieve, such as a Texas rig worm. Muskellunge – Fair: Anglers are reporting increased muskie activity during small windows of time triggered by fronts, changes in wind speed/direction, etc. Anglers can expect to fish for an extended amount of time and see all the muskie action within a short window.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

The dredge machine is in operation on Storm Lake. Boaters should use caution and stay clear of the dredge machine, booster pump barge, and pipeline. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try shrimp, dip bait or cut bait. Walleye – Fair: Some keepers and slot fish are being caught trolling cranks.

Black Hawk Lake

Water levels are at or near crest. Heavy algal blooms have reduced water clarity. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers have reported decent action for largemouth. Most fish are in the sub legal size range.

Little Sioux River (Linn Grove to Correctionville)

Water levels have come up some due to recent rains. The river should still be fishable, though. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers have had good luck using chicken guts and fishing along high banks in the current and around snags. Many fish are 17-18 inches.

Water levels are at or near crest at most of the lakes in the Black Hawk District. For more information on fishing in this area contact the Black Hawk District Office in Lake View at 712-657-2638.

Lake Smith

Channel Catfish – Slow: Try after dark near the rocks or steeper shorelines. Bluegill – Slow: Try in near the rocks at dark or out deeper looking for suspended fish with a depth finder.

Lake Catherine

Catfish are biting at Lake Catherine. Channel Catfish – Fair: There are some nice 22-27-inch cats in the lake. Try after dark with some cutbait, worms, or stink bait. Largemouth Bass – No Report:

Clear Lake

Water 73-75 degrees. Channel Catfish – Good: The catfish bite has picked up again. The best bite will be after dark but some fish will bite throughout the day. Target the edges of reeds or rocks with Sonny’s or similar stink bait. Other spots include the Ventura jetties, state dock area on north shore, the outlet, the city seawall, or farmers beach. White Bass – Slow: An occasional white bass near the reeds on the little lake. Largemouth Bass – Fair: An occasional largemouth near the edges of the reeds, rocks, or lily pads on the little lake. Crappie – Slow: Some crappies have been taken off of the rock reefs (state reef) this past week. Walleye – Slow: Wader fisherman or boats fishing near the edges of the reeds seem to be doing the best. Fish where the wind pushes into the reeds. Muskellunge – Good: Yellow Bass – Good: Some anglers catching yellows in about 6.5-10 feet of water off the north shore between the island and fisherman’s reef or state reef.

Crystal Lake

No report but the activity has been steady this past week. Bluegill – Fair: Try with a slip bobber for the bluegills near the deeper dredged water (11-13 feet). Casting a lighter jig and letting it slowly sink will also catch some fish. Tip with a worm or leech. Largemouth Bass – No Report: Try on the dredge cut weed line or up close to the rock shorelines. Walleye – No Report: An occasional walleye may be caught near the edge of the dredge cut along the edge of the curlyleaf.

East Fork Des Moines (Algona to Humboldt)

River levels are getting back to normal. Channel catfish or walleye are worth a try. Look for rock riprap or snags or deeper outside bends for the summer period. Minnows, worms, or small pieces of cut baitfish are good options for both. Channel Catfish – Good: A few reports of catfish biting on the East Fork.

For lake updates and fishing information in the north central area contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

Big Spirit Lake

Bullhead – Fair: Anglers are reporting a decent bullhead bite in the evenings. A great opportunity to get some kids out fishing for these hard fighting fish. Sinking a night crawler to the bottom should do just the trick. Northern Pike – Fair: A few pike are being harvested by anglers using spinner baits near weed beds. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Soft plastics and spinner baits worked near vertical structures should produce a few decent bass right now. Walleye – Slow: A few slot fish are still being caught but harvest has been tough the past few weeks for daytime anglers. The best action has been on live bait presented very slowly near weed lines and rocky points. Overnight anglers using leeches under a lighted slip bobber have been finding a few 16 inchers up shallow as well.

Center Lake

Black Crappie – Fair:

East Okoboji Lake

Channel Catfish – Good: Cut bait, chicken livers and stink bait presented in the evenings and overnight hours is producing a number of nice aggressive catfish. Bluegill – Fair: Small ice jigs tipped with red worms or other live bait when presented near weed lines is producing some angler acceptable fish right now. Early morning seems to be when most folks are fishing these spots. Walleye – Fair: Anglers with the best success are working deeper areas with both live bait rigs and deep running crankbaits. Trolling across the deep ends of structure is producing a few nice keepers. Yellow Bass – Fair: Deep weed lines and structures are providing the best action using small jigs tipped with live bait.

Little Spirit Lake

We have received no information regarding fishing on this water body this week.

West Okoboji Lake

Bluegill – Good: Tiny jigs tipped with live bait have been producing a few keepers when worked near the edges of weed beds. The bite seems to be best at first light. Yellow Perch – Good: Fishing has slowed a little bit but anglers are still catching quite a few perch by working deep weed lines and rocky structures with live bait. Walleye – Fair: A few walleyes are being harvested from rocky points using leeches and crawler rigs presented slowly. Lots of folks have been fishing these areas at first light until 9 a.m. or so.

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish – Good: Five Island has a strong population of angler acceptable catfish. Folks looking to target these fish should use cut bait, stink bait, or chicken livers in the evening and overnight hours.

Lost Island Lake

Channel Catfish – Good: Using cut or stink bait after dark is producing some nice size cats right now. White Bass – Fair: A small hair jig tipped with a white or chartreuse twister should get white bass interested. Bluegill – Fair: Using a small jig tipped with live bait near weed edges is producing small size class fish. Yellow Perch – Fair: Small jigs under a slip bobber tipped with live bait near weed lines and rocky structures should attract a few perch for anglers. Yellow Bass – Fair: Small jigs tipped with twister tails will get you a few small yellows with the occasional keeper.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish should be hitting cut or stink bait presented near deeper pools and tree snags right now. Also watch for nice deep cut banks on outside bends that will hold 17-20-inch cats.

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)

Channel Catfish – Good: Catfish should be hitting cut or stink bait presented near deeper pools and tree snags right now. Walleye – Slow: Anglers are working areas below rock and sand bars with shiners and leeches for a few fish right now.

For lake updates and fishing information for Northwest Iowa, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.