Crawford Creek Impoundment

Bluegill – Fair: The bluegills being caught are 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.

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 slightly over crest. 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)

As of Thursday morning river levels were well below flood stage near Correctionville.  Channel Catfish – Good: Channel catfishing continues to be good with anglers reporting catches of 4-6 pound fish.

North Raccoon River (Auburn to Perry)

As of Thursday morning, water levels in the river are good for fishing around the Auburn area.  Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Smallmouth bass have been picked up casting twisters and hair jigs.  Walleye – Slow: A few walleye have been caught casting crankbaits.

Des Moines River (Humboldt to Stratford)

As of Thursday morning the Des Moines River was below flood stage in the Fort Dodge area.  Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers have been catching good numbers of channel catfish below the dams in Fort Dodge.  Try using night crawlers.  Black Crappie – Fair:

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 on stink bait.  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

Channel Catfish – Good: The best bite will be after dark but some fish will bite throughout the day. Target the edge 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.  Bluegill – Slow: Anglers fishing the canals have been having some luck.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: An occasional largemouth near the edge of reeds, rocks, or lily pads on the little lake.  Crappie – Slow: Some crappies have been taken off of the rock reefs (state reef).  Walleye – Fair: Boat anglers are trolling with crankbaits and picking up some walleyes. Shore fishing is slow but wader fisherman may pull some in along the edges of reeds either off Farmers Beach or McIntosh Point. Try fishing after dark.  Muskellunge – Fair:   Yellow Bass – Good: Some anglers catching yellows in about 6.5-10 feet off the north shore between the island and fisherman’s reef or state reef. Some anglers are also doing ok near the edges of the reeds in the little lake.

Lake Cornelia

Channel Catfish – Good: Reports of channel cats 1.5-2 pounds being caught during the early mornings and late evenings.

Crystal Lake

No reports this 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.

Iowa River (Iowa Falls to Marshalltown)

Smallmouth bass are biting on jigs.  Smallmouth Bass – No Report:

East Fork Des Moines (Algona to Humboldt)

Channel catfish or walleye are worth a try. Look for rock riprap or snags or deeper outside bends for the late 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

Northern Pike – Fair: Anglers using spinner baits near weed edges have been catching a few harvestable size fish.  Largemouth Bass – Fair: Soft plastics and spinner baits worked near vertical structures should produce a few decent bass right now.  Walleye – Slow: Harvest has been slow but a few anglers are having good success with live bait presented VERY slowly. Let the action of your leech or shiner bring in the fish, don’t be drag racing them around the lake.

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 for anglers. 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.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Pilkies tipped with red worms worked near rocky points have been producing a few nice perch. Be prepared to sort some small ones, but anglers can count on keeping some for the freezer.  Walleye – Fair: Anglers with the best success are working deeper areas with both live bait rigs and deep running crank baits. Trolling across the deep ends of structure is producing a few nice keepers. Make sure to slow your presentation way down when using live bait, fish have been hitting very softly.  Yellow Bass – Good: Deep weed lines and structures are providing the best action to anglers who use small jigs tipped with live bait.

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: Smaller fish need to be sorted out, but red worms tipping a pilkie have been producing some nice action for anglers.  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.  Yellow Bass – Good: Small jigs tipped with wigglers will get you some nice action.

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.  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.  Walleye – Slow: Anglers have been picking up a few walleyes at first light and in the evenings working leeches at near standstill speeds near rocky structure. 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.