Northwest Iowa Fishing Reports

[Rick]

 

Nelson Park Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers have had some luck using traditional catfish baits (e.g., dip baits, cut bait, chicken liver). Bluegill - Fair: Some keeper bluegills are being picked up near the dam. Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers are catching largemouth bass off spinners and crawlers; some are above the 15 inch minimum length limit.

 

Brushy Creek Lake

Walleye - Fair: Successful anglers are fishing with leeches in about 15-20 feet of water. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill are being caught on wax worms and leeches in about 10-15 feet of water. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie are being picked up in 10 feet of water. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Some largemouth bass are being picked up.

 

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Boaters should use caution around the dredge barge, booster pump barge, and pipeline. Walleye regulations for Storm Lake are three fish per day, all fish between 17 and 22 inches must be released and only one over 22 inches may be kept. Walleye - Fair: Anglers are picking up walleye trolling crankbaits and fishing leeches in the dredge cuts. Those fishing in 10-12 feet of water are having the best luck. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers are catching catfish using dip baits, cut bait, and chicken liver fishing from boat and from shore. White Bass - Fair: White bass are being caught on crankbaits while fishing for walleyes.

 

Black Hawk Lake

Lake level is 11 inches above crest. Bluegill - Fair: Fish for bluegill along weed lines and out deeper near rock piles. Use crawlers or leeches. Walleye - Fair: 14-17 inch walleye have been picked up using leeches fished near rock piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching largemouth bass using spinners, crawlers, or minnows and jigs. Most fish are below the 15 inch minimum length limit. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish have been picked up with leeches. Fish the rock piles located offshore of Shotgun Hill and the rock pile located mid-lake straight north of Cottonwood Point.

 

Browns Lake

Largemouth Bass – Fair. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have caught a few bluegill with crawlers fished under a bobber.

 

Snyder Bend Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers have picked up some channel catfish using crawlers and stink bait. Shortnose gar - Good: Anglers are picking up gar fishing from shore.

 

Southwood Conservation Area Pond (east)

Channel Catfish - Fair: Some catfish are being picked up using dip baits and crawlers.

 

Peters Park

Largemouth Bass - Good: Anglers have had luck picking up largemouth bass over 15 inches.

 

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

 

Beeds Lake

Crappie - Good: Anglers have had success this week drift fishing or slow trolling with a light tube jig. Crappies (7-9 inch) are suspended in about 6-8 feet of water.

 

Briggs Woods Lake

Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth are being caught on deep diving crankbaits.

 

Upper Pine Lake

Crappie - Good: Fish with small crank baits at/or around 8-10 feet of water.

 

Lake Smith

Bluegill – Good. Largemouth Bass – Good.

 

Clear Lake

Walleye - Fair: Anglers trolling are catching a few keepers. Shore fisherman have caught a few under docks or wading near the edges of reeds. Muskellunge – Good. Yellow Bass - Good: Anglers fishing the main lake reefs, particularly the state artificial reef, are doing well. Larger sized ones are being caught (8-8.5 inches). Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching a few largemouths with plastic worms near the edges of vegetation in the little lake. Channel Catfish - Fair: A few catfish have been caught at dark or early morning on the little lake. Target the edges of the rushes/cattails with cut bait or stink bait.

 

Iowa River (Iowa Falls to Marshalltown)

Smallmouth Bass - Good: The Iowa River at Steamboat Rock is producing a few very nice smallmouth bass.

 

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

Smallmouth Bass - Good: River levels are good, smallmouth should be biting well.

 

Winnebago River

Smallmouth Bass - Good: River levels are good, smallmouth should be biting well.

 

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

 

Lake Pahoja

Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are schooled up off the jetties. . Bluegills are very large with many 7-8 inch fish. Fish a worm and bobber. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth are beginning to bed in the shallows along the south banks in shallower water. Throwing spinner baits or soft plastics for the aggressive males will produce bites.

 

Big Spirit Lake

Largemouth Bass - Good: Bass can be found near weed choked areas at this time as they are protecting their fry. Fish are being caught in trickles using top water frogs. Anglers are also catching bass on boat hoists along the north banks in the deeper water. Try crankbaits or swimbaits to pull these bass out from under the hoists. Walleye - Good: Local anglers are catching walleye around 5:00 till dark at the North Grade. Fish above and below the slot are being caught and creeled. Successful anglers are using jigging raps, bobber and leech, or just jigging a leech. Walleyes are also being caught along the weed line in Anglers bay in 16-17feet of water. This weed line runs east to west and larger walleyes are swimming along this edge. Fish jigs tipped with a leech. Yellow Perch - Good: Anglers being creeled are catching good numbers of 10+ inch perch. Most fish are coming from 20 feet of water along the north end of Big Spirit Lake. Fish are also coming off Templar point and also the south end of Spirit. Fish are being caught using lindy rigs, bottom bouncers, and small jigs. Black Bullhead - Fair: The bullhead bite at the north grade is slowing. Creeled anglers are taking home single. These fish are 12-14 inches. The most successful anglers are leaving the worm on the bottom and fishing around submerged vegetation. Northern Pike - Good: Anglers using weedless frogs or surface lures back in the north grade in the dense weeds are catching smaller northerns.

 

Center Lake

Bluegill - Fair: 6-8 inch bluegill are being caught in low numbers along the north bank of Center Lake. Fish were being harvested using small lipstick jigs tipped with night crawler. Crappie - Good: Smaller crappies are being caught on the north and east side of Center Lake. Anglers are using jigs tipped with wax worms.

 

East Okoboji Lake

Yellow Bass - Good: Large numbers of yellow bass are being caught near East Okoboji beach near the boat docks. Fish vary from small to a few larger 8-9 inch fish. Throw soft plastic shad for them. Anglers fishing under the highway 9 bridge are catching fair numbers of yellows using small plastic minnows. Yellow Perch - Fair: Numbers of smaller yellow perch are being caught while anglers are fishing for yellow bass. Pulling similar baits near the bottom will force more perch into your bucket. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Fish near the inlet to upper gar along the rocks to find a fast paced bass bite. Anglers are seeing bass bedding up in the upper gar then swimming into East Okoboji. Walleye - Fair: Parks Marina and Lone Tree Point are reporting a hot bite for walleye. Anglers are drifting minnows along the bottom before dark. Larger walleye are being caught in 10-12 feet of water. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching low numbers of 8 inch bluegills while fishing docks throughout East Okoboji. Anglers are fishing small jigs under docks tipped with wax worms.

 

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Walleye - Good: Anglers are catching limits of walleye on Silver Lake in Lake Park. Many anglers are catching limits using leeches, crankbaits while trolling, or slip bobbers with minnows. Anglers are catching these fish throughout the water body. Yellow Perch - Fair: While setting hoop nets 10+ inch yellow perch were seen in the west end of Silver Lake. Higher numbers of 8-9 inch perch have been seen in nets in the north bay. Channel Catfish - Fair: While setting hoop nets over a dozen 5-6 pound channel catfish were caught. These fish were found along the west shore of the south bay.

 

West Okoboji Lake

Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth can be found under boat hoists, near weed lines, and on the drop offs. Fish these spots with football jigs, crankbaits, or Texas rigs. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Smallmouths have moved off beds and are headed towards the rocky drop offs. Fish the rock points that shoot out into the main basin of West Lake, Pillsbury, Fort Dodge, and Gull Point. Try fishing with jerk baits, football jigs, or swimbaits. Walleye - Fair: A number of interviewed anglers fishing off Manhattan point after dark are reporting an increase in quality non-slot walleyes. Anglers are trolling deep diving crankbaits and as they come up the point they are picking up these walleyes. Yellow Bass - Good: In Smiths bay just north of the amusement park anglers are reporting a high catch rate of large yellow bass. Anglers using orange twister tails, or plain hook with worm and split shot are catching yellows on every cast. Yellow Perch - Fair: A perch bite is going on in Millers and Emerson bays with most fish being 9-11 inches. These fish are being caught in 12-18 feet of water.

 

Five Island Lake

Walleye - Fair: Anglers fishing just north of town bay are catching 14-17 inch walleye. Anglers using bottom bouncers are stumbling upon numbers of walleyes as they approach the shallows.

 

Lost Island Lake

Yellow Bass - Good: Large yellow bass can be caught at the outlet of little lake. They are being seen and caught under the overhang of the outlet structure. A large number of smaller fish can be caught near the bridge where Lost Island dumps into little lake. Black Bullhead - Excellent: A very large number of bullhead are being seen while crews are electrofishing on Lost Island. These large numbers of bullhead are being seen at the mouth of little lake just west of the bridge.

 

[Rick]

NORTHWEST Iowa fishing reports

Nelson Park Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers have had some luck using traditional catfish baits (e.g., dip baits, cut bait, chicken liver). Bluegill - Fair: Some keeper bluegills are being picked up near the dam.

 

Yellow Smoke Park Lake

A hoop netting survey designed to collect catfish was conducted on 7-24-15. Nice sized channel catfish ranging from 9 - 28 inches and bluegill 6-9 inches were collected. Target catfish using leeches, cut bait, or dip baits fished on or near bottom in areas 5-10 feet deep. Fish for bluegills using crawlers, minnows, or leeches in 3-10 feet of water.  

 

Brushy Creek Lake

Surface water temperatures are 82-84 degrees. Walleye - Slow: Some walleye have been picked up in about 20 feet of water. Bluegill - Fair: Bluegill are being caught on crawlers and leeches in about 10-15 feet of water. Black Crappie - Fair: Crappie are being picked up in 10-15 feet of water. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Some largemouth bass are being picked up.

 

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Boaters should use caution around the dredge barge, booster pump barge, and pipeline. Walleye regulations for Storm Lake are three fish per day, all fish between 17 and 22 inches must be released and only one over 22 inches may be kept. Walleye - Fair: Anglers are picking up walleye trolling crankbaits and fishing leeches in the dredge cuts. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers are catching catfish using dip baits, cut bait, and chicken liver fishing from boat and from shore. White Bass - Fair: White bass are being caught on crankbaits while fishing for walleyes.

 

Black Hawk Lake

Lake level is 8 inches above crest. Bluegill - Fair: Fish for bluegill out deeper near rock piles. Use crawlers or leeches. Walleye - Fair: 14-17 inch walleye have been picked up near rock piles. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers are catching largemouth bass using spinners, crawlers, or minnows and jigs. Most fish are below the 15 inch minimum length limit for largemouth bass. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish have been picked up in town bay near the floating dock and also out deeper near rock piles.

 

Browns Lake

Largemouth Bass – Fair. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have caught a few bluegill with crawlers fished under a bobber.

 

Snyder Bend Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers have picked up some channel catfish using crawlers and stink bait. Shortnose gar - Good: Anglers are picking up gar fishing from shore.

 

Southwood Conservation Area Pond (east)

Channel Catfish - Fair: Some catfish are being picked up using dip baits and crawlers.

 

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

 

Upper Pine Lake

Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are being caught on crawlers from both lakes. Largemouth Bass - Good: Largemouth bass are being caught from Upper Pine with deep diving crankbait.

 

Clear Lake

Walleye - Slow: Fish the rock reefs or the weed edges. Muskellunge - Good: Anglers have had good success fishing docks and weed lines. Yellow Bass - Good: Anglers are catching yellows in a variety of locations. Some are being caught on the state artificial reef on the main lake, the Baptist camp area, or in the little lake in 8 feet of water. Use a small jig tipped with a piece of worm. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Anglers have been catching a few largemouths with plastic worms near the edges of vegetation in the little lake. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers have had good success fishing with jigs and worms near the state artificial reef on the main lake. Some cats have been caught off MacIntosh point.

 

Little Wall Lake
Channel Catfish - Slow: A few catfish are being caught in the early morning and evenings using stink bait or chicken liver.

 

Bluebill Lake

Largemouth Bass - Good: Successful anglers are catching largemouth bass on top water baits.  Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are biting on live bait fished on the bottom.

 

Iowa River (Iowa Falls to Marshalltown)

Smallmouth Bass - Good: The Iowa River at Steamboat Rock is producing a few very nice smallmouth bass. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are biting on livers.

 

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

Smallmouth Bass - Good: River levels are good, smallmouth should be biting well.

 

Winnebago River

Smallmouth Bass - Good: River levels are good, smallmouth should be biting well.

 

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

 

Lake Pahoja

Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are schooled up off the jetties. Bluegills are very large with many 7-8 inch fish. Fish a worm and bobber. Largemouth Bass - Good: Throwing spinner baits or soft plastics for the aggressive males will produce bites.

 

Big Spirit Lake

Largemouth Bass - Good: Fish are being caught under boat hoists around the lake. Fish jigs, wacky worms, or spinner baits. Go out into 8-9 feet of water and fish the inside and outside edge of weed lines with Texas rigs, drop shots, swimbaits, or crankbaits. During the evening smallmouth are hitting top water along the west shore. Walleye - Good: Local anglers are catching walleye around 7:00 till dark at the North Grade. Fish above and below the slot are being caught, and creeled. Successful anglers are using jigging raps, bobber and leech, or just jigging a leech. Walleyes are also being caught along the weed line in Anglers bay in 16-17 feet of water. This weed line runs east to west and larger walleyes are swimming along this edge. Fish jigs tipped with a leech. Yellow Perch - Good: Yellow perch are biting on the south end in 12-20 feet of water. Use small jigs and wigglers. Black Bullhead - Fair: The bullhead bite at the north grade is slowing. Creeled anglers are taking home single digits of 12-14 inch fish. Successful anglers are leaving the worm on the bottom and fishing around submerged vegetation. Northern Pike - Good: Anglers using weedless frogs or surface lures back in the north grade in the dense weeds are catching smaller northerns.

 

Center Lake

Bluegill - Fair: 6-8 inch bluegill are being caught in low numbers along the north bank. Fish were being harvested using small lipstick jigs tipped with a night crawler. Crappie - Good: Smaller crappies are being caught on the north and east side of Center lake. Anglers are using jigs tipped with wax worms.

 

East Okoboji Lake

Yellow Bass - Good: Large numbers of yellow bass are being caught near East Okoboji beach near the boat docks. Fish vary from small to a few larger 8-9 inch fish. Throw soft plastic shad for them. Anglers fishing under the highway 9 bridge are catching fair numbers of yellows using small plastic minnows. Yellow Perch - Fair: Numbers of smaller yellow perch are being caught while anglers are fishing for yellow bass. Pulling similar baits near the bottom will force more perch into your bucket. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Fish near the inlet to upper gar along the rocks to find a fast paced bass bite. Anglers are seeing bass bedding up in upper gar then swimming into East Okoboji. Walleye - Fair: Parks Marina and Lone Tree Point are reporting a hot bite for walleye. Anglers are drifting minnows along the bottom before dark. Larger walleye are being caught in 10-12 feet of water. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching low numbers of 8 inch bluegills while fishing docks throughout East Okoboji. Anglers are fishing small jigs under docks tipped with wax worms. Crappie - Fair: Large numbers of crappie are being caught on the north side of the narrows. 10 inch fish are being caught using pilkies, small jigs, or minnows.

 

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Walleye - Good: Anglers are catching limits of walleye on Silver Lake in Lake Park. Many anglers are catching limits using leeches, crankbaits while trolling, or slip bobbers with minnows. Anglers are catching these fish throughout the water body. Yellow Perch - Fair: While setting hoop nets 10+ inch yellow perch were seen in the west end of Silver Lake. Higher numbers of 8-9 inch perch have been seen in nets in the north bay.  Channel Catfish - Fair: Over a dozen 5-6 pound channel catfish were caught along the west shore of the south bay while setting hoop nets.

 

West Okoboji Lake

Largemouth Bass - Good: Fish football jigs, crankbaits, or Texas rigs under boat hoists, near weed lines, and on the drop offs. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Smallmouth have moved off beds and are headed towards the rocky drop offs. Fish the rock points that shoot out into the main basin of West Lake, Pillsbury, Fort Dodge, or Gull Point. Use jerk baits, football jigs, or swimbaits. Walleye - Fair: Many anglers fishing off Manhattan point after dark are reporting an increase in quality non-slot walleyes.  Anglers are trolling deep diving crankbaits and are picking up these walleyes as they come up the point.  Yellow Bass - Good: In Smiths bay just north of the amusement park anglers are reporting a high catch rate of large yellow bass. Anglers using orange twister tails or plain hook with worm and split shot are catching yellows on every cast. Yellow Perch - Fair: A perch bite is going on in Millers and Emerson bays with 9-11 inch fish caught in 12-18 feet of water.

 

Five Island Lake

Walleye - Fair: Anglers fishing just north of town bay are catching 14-17 inch walleye. Anglers using bottom bouncers are stumbling upon numbers of walleyes as they approach the shallows.

 

Lost Island Lake

Yellow Bass - Good: Large yellow bass can be caught under the overhang at the outlet of little lake. A large number of smaller fish can be caught near the bridge where Lost Island dumps into little lake. Black Bullhead - Excellent: A large number of bullhead are being seen at the mouth of little lake just west of the bridge while crews are electrofishing on Lost Island.