Northwest Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has released their weekly fishing report for northwest Iowa. This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. You can check the activity of your favorite lake or stretch of river, including which species are being caught, a rating of the bite (slow, fair, good or excellent), as well as a hot bait or lure pattern.

NORTHWEST Arrowhead Lake Water temperature is around 70 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie along shore near woody structure; use small jigs and minnows.

Black Hawk Lake The dredge is working in the east basin of the lake. The floating and submerged portions of pipe is marked with buoys. Dredge barges are marked with buoys; boaters should use caution and stay away from the equipment and pipe. Water levels are about 9 inches below the crest of the spillway. Surface water temperature is around 70 degrees. Water clarity is roughly 3 feet. Black Crappie – Good: Most fish are 8- to 11-inches. Find fish close to shore in 1-3 feet of water. Use small hair jigs (with or without bait), small live minnows or marabou jigs fished from shore. Areas along the stone pier, the fish house and along Ice House Point are the most popular spots; fish are being seen anywhere along rocky shorelines and dock/boat lift poles. Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegills along shore. Fish are 6- to 7-inches. Areas along shore in Town Bay and near the stone piers may be most productive. Walleye – Good: The walleye bite has turned on. Anglers are catching fish from shore and by boat. Boat anglers are trolling crankbaits with good success. Shore anglers are doing well using twisters or shallow diving crankbaits. Water clarity is roughly 3 feet. Also try leaches or crawler fished under a bobber from shore.

Brushy Creek Lake Fishing action has picked up with the warming water temperatures. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie action has picked up; they are being caught from the jetty and along shore in 5-20 feet of water near submerged trees. Use a small jig (with or without bait) or small minnows on a jig. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use plastics and traditional bass lures along submerged woody structure near shore. Walleye – Fair: Shore anglers are having luck near the beach and at the north end. Try throwing twisters or fishing with minnows or leaches under a bobber. Yellow Perch – Slow.

North Twin Lake With low water levels, boaters should use caution when launching boats. Black Crappie – Fair: Use small jigs and minnows from shore and along the docks.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) Surface water temperatures are around 70 degrees. Water clarity is around 16 inches in the marina and 2 feet in the main lake. All walleye between 19 and 25-inches must be immediately released unharmed at Storm Lake; no more than one walleye longer than 25-inches can be taken per day. Black Crappie – Fair: Use small live minnows and small jigs along shore docks, lifts and anywhere with rocky structure. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait or liver fished on the bottom along shore. Walleye – Fair: The Walleye action has picked up. Try fishing from shore with a lead head with a twister tail. Also try a jig with a crawler or tipped with a minnow. Shallow diving crankbaits can also work well from shore. Boat anglers are having luck with crawler harnesses and trolling crankbaits.

Surface water temperatures are around 70 degrees in most areas lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake Black Crappie – Good: Try small tube jigs fished along downed shoreline trees and the causeway area. Yellow Bass – Fair: Use small jigs or bobbers with live bait.

Clear Lake Black Crappie – Good: Crappie have moved into rush beds to spawn. Use small jigs and minnows fished in open pockets of the rush beds. Walleye – Good: Try crankbaits trolled over the top of aquatic vegetation in the western basin. Spinner rigs and slip bobbers with live bait are also providing good action. Yellow Bass – Fair: Yellow Bass have moved in to spawn on shallow rocky shorelines. Use small jigs or plastics. Best bite is early morning.

Lake Smith Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie have moved near shore to spawn. Try small jigs along the dam and off the fishing piers. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits and spinnerbaits along the shoreline.

Rice Lake Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs tipped with a piece of night crawler. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs.

Silver Lake (Worth) Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill are starting to move into shoreline areas to spawn. Use small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Try crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs.

Water temperatures have reached the mid to upper 60s on most northern Iowa lakes. For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

East Okoboji Lake Lake temperature is in the upper 60s. The water level is 3 inches over crest. The walleye season is open. There has been a fairly good crappie bite recently. Anglers using electronics have been fairly successful finding schools of fish. Fish are moving shallower. Black Crappie – Good. Bluegill – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair.

Minnewashta Lake Bluegill and crappie fishing has been; some sorting may be needed. Black Crappie – Good. Bluegill – Good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson) Walleye – Fair.

Spirit Lake Water temperature is in the mid-60s. The lake is 17 inches below crest, making launching boats more difficult. Courtesy docks are in place. The walleye season is open. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a tube jig and bobber. Bluegill – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair.

West Okoboji Lake Water temperature is in the lower 60s. The water level is 3 inches over crest. The walleye season is open. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Smallmouth Bass – Fair.

Courtesy docks are in place. Area water temperatures have been rising quickly due to very warm weather. Most lakes are in the 60s and at crest or higher levels. Water clarity has been fairly good on most area lakes. Bass and panfish are moving to shallower water from the basins, making shore and dock fishing easier. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

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