Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Yellow Smoke has around 8-9 inches of good ice.  Water clarity is excellent. Fishing has been pretty slow, but the few bluegills that anglers are catching are big.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Fishing has been good.  Ice conditions are good.  Channel Catfish – Fair: Some decent sized catfish are being harvested while fishing for other species.  Bluegill – Good: Anglers have been doing very well for bluegill.  The mornings until noon have been the best.  Most anglers are fishing just southeast of the center of the lake and some are fishing over the Christmas trees.  Anglers are using wax worms and fishing a few feet off the bottom, but fish finders are also helping to pick up suspended fish when they move through.  Bluegills are very nice sized.  Crappie – Fair: Some nice crappie are being picked up while bluegill fishing.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Some nice perch are also being picked up while fishing.

Oldham Lake

Oldham has 7 to 10 inches of ice depending on location.  Fishing has been very slow.  Anglers are marking a lot of fish but are having difficulty getting them to bite.  Recent surveys show an abundance of 7.5 to 8.5-inch bluegills.

Brushy Creek Lake

There is around 10 inches of ice in the near shore areas and in the upper end of the lake.  Avoid the main body of the lake as ice conditions can be quite variable.  There is open water east of the beach. Most anglers are targeting the north end.  Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are biting, but most are on the smaller side.  Crappie – Good: Crappies are biting, but most are on the smaller side.

Bacon Creek Lake

Bacon Creek has around 8 inches of ice.  1,500 trout were stocked on Jan. 12 and fishing has been excellent.  Try fishing about 2 to 3 feet below the ice with bright/shiny lures.  Later in the season switch to baits, like Berkeley Power Bait.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing for walleye has been sporadic.  Anglers are spread out in search of fish.  A few white bass are being picked up while targeting walleye.  Ice is around 14 inches, but there was some open water near the north shore earlier in the week, likely from a pressure seam.  Water clarity is still poor.

Southwood Conservation Area Pond (east)

The east pond has around 9 inches of ice and the fishing has really turned on. Bluegill – Good: A lot of bluegill are being caught in the 8 to 9-inch size range. Waxies and spikes on a jig head fished in 8 and 18 feet of water is working best.  Fish in the middle of the water column and raise or lower your bait to the fish when located on the fish finder. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Some largemouth are being picked up fishing closer to shore.  Crappie – Good: A lot of 10 to 12-inch crappies are being caught.  Target the crappie in the same manner as the bluegill.  The crappies have been preferring waxies and spikes over minnows.

Southwood Conservation Area Pond (west)

The west pond has around 8 inches of ice.  Fishing in the west pond is slower than the east.  Some bluegills and crappie are being caught, but a lot of sorting is required.

Arrowhead Lake

Arrowhead Lake has around 7 inches of ice.  Anglers have reported catching some 7.5 to 8.5-inch bluegills and a few large yellow bass.

Black Hawk Pits

Black Hawk Pit has around 7 inches of ice.  Anglers have been fishing it pretty hard, but are having difficulty locating fish.  Keep moving around as the fish are likely stacked into a small area of the pit.

Moorland Pond

Moorland Pond will be stocked with trout on Jan. 18 around 1:30 p.m.  Fishing for trout should be excellent as soon as the trout are stocked.

For more information or questions contact the Black Hawk Fish Management Office in Lake View at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake

Anglers are saying that action is slow; a few bluegills.

Maynes Grove Lake

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

Briggs Woods Lake

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

Lower Pine Lake

Bluegills in good numbers, average size are being caught deep. Fish right on the bottom.

Upper Pine Lake

Not much activity on Upper Pine.  There is 7 inches of good ice.

Lake Smith

Ice thickness is 13 inches plus. Bluegill fishing has been fair with the best bite later in the day.

Lake Catherine

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

Clear Lake

Ice depth is 11-14 inches. Some anglers are doing okay on the main lake. Warning: Be cautious around the pressure ridges that have developed near shore on the main lake.  Crappie – Fair: Crappies are mostly being found in 15-20 feet of water and are being caught on minnows or wax worms.  Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch are being caught in the little lake. A few of them are over 10 inches. Try a small spoon and a minnow or minnow head.  Walleye – Slow:   Yellow Bass – Fair: Yellow bass are scattered. Move till you find numbers of them. They seem willing to bite whole minnows, cutbait, or wax worms.

Lake Cornelia

Lots of 6 to 8-inch yellow bass along with some small walleyes.

Crystal Lake

Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are still biting well. Some sorting will be needed. Anglers are finding an occasional walleye or largemouth bass. Fish near the dredged area 8 to 12 feet of water.

Bluebill Lake

Yellow Perch – Good: Perch have been caught in 12-15 feet of water.

Interstate Park Lake

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

Little Wall Lake

Ice thickness is 8 to 10 inches.  Fishing has been slow. Try fishing in the deeper pockets of the lake with wax worms.

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

Big Spirit Lake

Expect to find 12-14 inches of ice across most of the lake with travel by ATV the preferred means.  Be aware a few trucks have put tires through the ice the biggest area of concern is between Marble Beach and Templar Point.  Northern Pike – Fair: Most pike are being caught by accident on walleye tackle but setting tip-ups with chubs around structure has been producing some results.  Bluegill – Slow: A few gills are being caught in Little Anglers Bay and off the grade.  Try small jigs and be very quite as they are spooky.  Yellow Perch – Slow: Look for perch off the ends of structure as well as in the main basin.  Moving around looking for active fish may be necessary to catch any numbers.  Wigglers, waxies, and minnow heads on either spoons or small jigs seem to be the go to lures.  Walleye – Slow: Action seems to be restricted to dawn and dusk without much of a pattern. Try spoons and jigging raps tipped with a minnow head.

West Okoboji Lake

There is currently 8-12 inches of ice. ATVs are driving on much of the lake. Be aware there were goose holes in a few areas so avoid discolored ice and when in doubt turn back or test the ice with a spud.  Northern Pike – Fair: Setting tip-ups in or near weeds is producing a few pike as well as setting them on drop offs.  Bluegill – Slow: Look for bluegills in the bays (Emerson and Millers seem to be the best) in or near standing weeds. Sight fishing has been the most popular method but a few choose to hole hop. Try small jigs tipped with wax worms or wigglers but don’t overlook some of the finesse plastics. Yellow Perch – Fair: Look for perch in 20 plus feet of water along drop-offs or on mudflats.  Try spoons tipped with live bait such as wigglers, wax worms, or minnow heads.

For more information contact the Spirit Lake Hatchery at 712-336-1840.