Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Yellow Smoke has about 8-10 inches of ice, with 15 feet of visibility. Bluegill – Slow: The bluegill fishing is fairly slow, but the ones being caught by anglers are jumbos.  Try very light line and tackle in the clear water.

Brushy Creek Lake

Bluegill – slow: There have been some reports of anglers picking up bluegill around the submerged trees. 

Bacon Creek Lake

Approximately 1,500 rainbow trout were stocked into Bacon Creek on January 17th. Bluegill – Slow: Some bluegill have been picked up using wax worms.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Storm Lake has around 11-12 inches of ice. Walleye – Slow: Anglers report that the walleye bite is starting to improve. Yellow Perch – Fair: Yellow perch are being picked up just about anywhere, with the best fishing near the east and south shores.  Try a small spoon and wax worm. White Bass – Slow: A few anglers are picking up some white bass in the deeper dredged areas. Black Crappie – Slow: Some anglers have been picking up a few crappies near the inlet area.

Black Hawk Lake

The winter aeration system is on in the Town Bay.  Ice is 8 inches at the Ice House Point boat ramp. Walleye – Slow: Several anglers have reported catching a few walleye around 14 inches near Ice House Point and along the dredge cuts, although fishing seems to have slowed down a bit recently.  Most anglers are targeting the Ice House Point and Lakewood Point areas, with some fishing the dredge cuts in the Denison Beach area and Provost Point. Yellow Perch – Slow: A few decent sized yellow perch have been picked up during evening in between the Denison Beach and Lakewood Point areas. Bluegill – Slow: Although the bite is slow, anglers are marking large numbers of smaller bluegills near Ice House Point and near Shotgun Point.  Try using real small lures baited with a wiggler.

Southwood Conservation Area Pond (east)

Bluegill – Slow: A few keeper bluegills have been picked up in 13 feet of water using wax worms.

Arrowhead Lake

Arrowhead Lake has 9 inches of ice off the boat ramp. Bluegill – Slow: A few bluegill 7-8 inches have been caught along the east side of the lake.

Black Hawk Pits

There is 9 inches of ice off the boat ramp. Bluegill – Slow: Anglers have been catching a few bluegill using small lures tipped with wax worms.

Moorland Pond

Approximately 1,500 rainbow trout will be stocked into Moorland around noon on January 24th. 

For more information on the Black Hawk District call 712-657-2638.

Lower Pine Lake

Lower Pine Lake is becoming iced over with 7-8 inches of ice found west the island.  Crappie – Fair: A few panfish (bluegill and crappie) are being caught with grubs.

Upper Pine Lake

Upper Pine Lake: Bluegills are being caught through 8+ inches of ice along the rocks on the west shore.

Lake Smith

Ice is good with 12-14 inches. Anglers have been active and are doing well on bluegills with a few crappies.

Clear Lake

Ice is around 10-12 inches on the main lake, perhaps a little more on the little lake. Most of the fishing activity has been on the little lake around the deeper holes. There are a few permanent shacks on the west end of the main lake and a few anglers have ventured out near the island and Gilmore’s reef. Yellow Bass – Good: Yellows have been caught in 8-10 feet of water on the little lake and in the Baptist Camp area. Size of the catch is split between 5 inches and 8 inches. Larger yellows seem to be coming from shallower water (8-12 feet) while some anglers have had larger numbers of smaller yellows from deeper water (18-20 feet). Crappie – Good: Anglers are reporting decent numbers of crappies from 18-24 feet of water on the little lake. Most of the crappies being kept are 10-12 inches. Anglers should target that last hour of light for the best bite. Walleye – Slow: Anglers seeking walleye should try their luck on the main lake. An occasional walleye may be caught on the west end or perhaps near the island.

Lake Cornelia

Cornelia has around 11-13 inches of ice. Yellow Bass – Good: Activity has been hit or miss. Fishing success earlier in the winter was in the deeper water. Fish with small jigs tipped with spikes. Bluegill – Slow: Anglers are catching some small bluegills but not much for keepers.

Crystal Lake

Ice is around 12-15 inches thick. Anglers have reported a slow bite this week. Bluegill – Fair: Anglers are doing best on the dredge cut in 12-14 feet of water. They have been keeping fish in the 7.75-8.25 inch range. Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching 10-11 inch black crappies in 17 feet of water. They are suspended 2-4 feet off the bottom.

Black Pit

Anglers are catching a few crappies.

Blue Pit

Rainbow Trout – Good: 2,500 Rainbow trout were stocked on January 17th. Anglers should be able to catch them swimming along the shallower water along the edges. Try a small teardrop jig and a wax worm or a small jigging spoon.

Bluebill Lake

12 inches of ice, limited angler activity.

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 are variable with the snow being on the ice. Vehicle traffic is not advised. Ice reports have the ice being as thick as 17 inches in places with no snow cover, and 9 inches where there was snow cover.  Yellow Perch – Good: Some quality perch are being caught on the south end near the pump house, off Big Stoney, and along the north end near Anglers Bay. Size varies from 7-10 inch fish. Walleye – Good: Walleyes are being caught north of the pump house in 25 feet of water, also off Big Stoney many over the slot walleyes are being caught as well. Fisherman are using minnow head tipped jigs, also proving to catch fish is spoons tipped with minnow.

Center Lake

Bluegill – Fair: Fishermen are having varied success with bluegills, catching them on the south end and near the middle. Fish are being caught using tungsten to get through the smaller fish and get down deep to the larger gills.

East Okoboji Lake

Yellow Perch – Good: As the weather warms up perch activity has been increasing. Fish are being seen in the 20-25 feet range in various bays. Gold jigs tipped with wax worms are presenting the most success.

West Okoboji Lake

Yellow Perch – Good: Millers Bay is still presenting a quality bite for those who want to brave the wind and cold. These perch are being caught in 20 plus feet of water, size ranging from 7-10 inches. Anglers are having success using small jigs and wax worms. Fishermen are using jigging raps when the bite gets slow to bring fish back in. Most bays have been seeing an increase in perch activity with the warm weather coming. Crappie – Fair: Around 12:30 crappie move into the shallows of Millers suspending in about 7 feet of water. Working jigs high in the water column has led to success on multiple occasions for some anglers. Emerson has been seeing few of these crappies but they are beginning to school up in the deeper waters later in the afternoon. Right before dark these fish are beginning to show up in both Emerson and Millers. Bluegill – Good: Gills of nice size are being caught on the weed lines of Emerson and Millers bay. Slow falls and light jigging brings these fish in. Fish weed lines in less than 10 feet of water.

Five Island Lake

Walleye – Excellent: The walleye bite has really picked up and fish are being caught in dredge holes, and in Town Bay. Fish ranging in the 14-20 inch range are being caught. Yellow Perch – Excellent: Yellow perch are being caught in the deeper holes along with the walleye. Perch are ranging in size from 8-11 inches.

Scharnberg Pond

On January 31st Scharnberg Pond will be stocked with trout at noon.  Rainbow Trout – Fair: Working jigs right below the ice to catch these schooling trout.