NORTHWEST

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Storm Lake was wide open as of Tuesday, but now has ice over most of the lake.  Travel on the ice is not advised.  Channel Catfish – No Report:

Black Hawk Lake

Black Hawk Lake was wide open as of Tuesday, but has since frozen over.  There is still open water in the Town Bay area.  Travel on the ice is not advised.  Channel Catfish – No Report:

Arrowhead Lake

Arrowhead Lake was open as of Tuesday, but now has ice over most of the lake.  Travel on the ice is not advised.  Channel Catfish – No Report:

Most lakes opened up last weekend and then refroze. Travel on the ice is not advised.

Lower Pine Lake

No activity on the Pine Lakes because of open water. Crappie – No Report:

Lake Smith

Smith Lake had open water on December 16th, and is currently not safe.  Before the lake opened, bluegill and crappie fishing had been good. 

Lake Catherine

Bluegill – Good: 9 1/2-inch bluegills were being caught at Lake Catherine on Dec 5th.

Clear Lake

Ice is unsafe on the main lake with open water. The little lake is around four inches. Use caution as the weather has reduced the ice quality from what it was a week ago. The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of ice for fishing and a minimum of five inches of ice for ATVs or snowmobiles. Aerators are in use on Clear Lake. Crappie – Good: Anglers are reporting 10-15 crappies in 15-22 feet of water of the little lake. Some of the crappies are 10-12 inches. Anglers should target that last hour of light for the best bite.  Yellow Bass – Good: Yellows have been caught in 8-10 feet of water on the little lake. Size of the catch is split between 5 inches and 8 inches.

Lake Cornelia

Bluegill – Fair:   Yellow Bass – Good: Yellows biting in 15-17 feet of water with small jigs with cutbait or waxies.

Little Wall Lake

Ice was 5-6 inches on Dec 9.  Fishing has been very slow, water clarity is bad. The aerator is in operation, so beware of thin ice around the aerator (southeast end of the Lake).  Crappie – No Report:

Crystal Lake

Anglers were stilling fishing on the ice on Dec 13th, but the warmer weather and rain melted some more. Ice is around 4-5 inches. Bluegill – Good: Anglers are doing best on the dredge cut (11-13 feet). Some anglers reporting 8-15 bluegills on a black jig with flecking fished on bottom. Anglers have been keeping fish in the 7.75-8.25-inch range. Crappie – Fair: Bluegill anglers are picking up a few crappies on bottom in same locations. Some are in the 11-inch range. There is potential that crappies are out deeper and suspended.

Blue Pit

An urban trout stocking took place at Blue Pit in Mason City (S Pierce Avenue) on Nov. 26. Anglers are reminded to have a valid fishing license (age 16 and older) and trout stamp. With the warmer weather and rain, there should be some open water to fish. Rainbow Trout – Good: 1,500 rainbows were stocked.

Bluebill Lake

Ice depth is unknown; may be enough to fish on, yet. Bluegill – Good: Anglers are having some success fishing for bluegill and crappie near submerged tree clumps.

Iowa River (above Iowa Falls)

There has been good open water fishing this week on the Iowa River for walleyes and smallmouth bass from the dam at Steamboat Rock to Daisy Long County Park with jigs and jerkbaits.  Walleye – Good:

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

Ice conditions- Foot traffic advised due to variable ice conditions throughout the lake. Yellow Perch – Slow: Anglers bay- few perch have been caught during or following the warm weather.   Walleye – Slow: walleye bite is slow. Small walleyes are being caught with minnow heads near dark close to shore.

East Okoboji Lake

Bluegill – No Report: