Northwest Iowa Fishing Reports

[hondarider550]

NORTHWEST

Nelson Park Lake

Some pan fish and catfish are being taken. It's slow.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Fishing is starting to pick up. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching medium-size (7 inch) fish. Crappie - Slow: A few 8.5 inch crappies have been taken.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Fishing has slowed. Shore anglers are beginning to catch a few panfish.

Badger Lake

North of Ft. Dodge. Fishing has been improving as the weather warms. Crappie - Fair: Some 9 – 10-inch fish have been caught on small twister.

Brushy Creek Lake

Fishing has picked up. Brushy Creek has a lot of deep water and takes some time to warm. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are biting on a small worm on a plain hook. Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching some fish on small minnows. Walleye - Slow: A few nice walleye have been caught on leeches.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing is starting to pick up. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17-22-inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be released. White Bass - Slow: Crappie - Fair: People are catching some 8 to 10-inch crappies in marina. Use small jigs tipped with a wax worm or piece of night crawler. Walleye - Good: Anglers are having best luck while trolling slowly with Shad Raps. Good colors are: blue, silver, tiger and purple. People are starting to have luck casting with live bait.

North Twin Lake

Fishing is improving. People are starting to be successful catching several species of pan fish. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers have been having good luck using night crawlers or liver. Most fish are 1 to 2 pounds. Bluegill - Slow: Anglers are having best luck with small jigs tipped with a piece of night crawler. Crappie - Slow: Small to medium sized crappie are starting to bite on small jigs Yellow Bass - Fair: Yellow bass are being caught small jigs and a piece of night crawler.

Swan Lake

Fishing has been improving. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching some small bluegill; use small jigs tipped with a piece of night crawler or wax worm. Crappie - Fair: Anglers have been catching some small (6 – 7-inch) fish. Use small jigs tipped with a wax worm or piece of night crawler.

Black Hawk Lake

Fishing is improving. Anglers are catching a few more catfish. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are having good luck using various baits. Walleye - Fair: Anglers are having good luck casting leeches.

Browns Lake

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

Arrowhead Lake

Fishing is improving. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching some bluegill using small jigs tipped with a wax worm or small piece of night crawler.

North Raccoon River (above State Highway 175 Bridge near Auburn)

Fishing has slowed down. Channel Catfish - Good: Various baits have been successful.

Fishing is improving, especially on warm, sunny days. For more information about these lakes and rivers call Lannie Miller (712-657-2638) at the Black Hawk District Office in Lake View.

Beeds Lake

Crappies are biting fishing the jetty in the morning and evening. Drifting tube jigs during the day works for catching suspended crappies.

Lower Pine Lake

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

Upper Pine Lake

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

Little Wall Lake

Small crappies (6 to 8 inch) are biting.

Crystal Lake

The lake was renovated last fall, and only fish fry have been restocked thus far.

West Twin Lake

Bullhead fishing is good using a night crawler on the bottom.

East Fork Des Moines (state line to Algona)

Walleye fishing has been good using a jig and minnow. Channel Catfish are biting on dead chubs and night crawlers fished off the bottom. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are biting on dead chubs and night crawlers fished off the bottom Walleye - Good: use a jig and minnow

Winnebago River

Northern pike and smallmouth bass fishing has been good.

East Fork Des Moines (Algona to Humboldt)

Walleye fishing has been good using a jig and minnow. Channel Catfish are biting on dead chubs and night crawlers fished off the bottom.

Clear Lake

Channel Catfish - Good: A few catfish are being caught with night crawlers fished on the bottom at the Ventura grade and McIntosh State Park shoreline. Walleye - Slow: Anglers are picking up a few walleyes while fishing on the reefs for yellow bass using live bait. A few walleyes are also being caught on crankbaits trolling the north shore by the pump house and in the little lake. Yellow Bass - Excellent: Yellow bass fishing has been great. Try using small jigs tipped with cut bait or minnows or a jig and twister tail combo. Billy’s reef, dodges point, the island, and the McIntosh sandbar have all been producing fish. Mornings and evenings are best but they will continue to bite throughout the day. The fishing club dock on the north side and the public docks on the east shoreline have also been good for yellow bass.

Lake Cornelia

Bullhead fishing is good.

Rice Lake

Bullhead fishing is good

Silver Lake (Worth)

Yellow Perch and Bullhead fishing is good. Bullheads are biting on night crawlers fished off the bottom.

For more information on fishing in the area lakes and rivers, call us at the Clear Lake Fisheries Office at (641) 357-3517.

Lake Pahoja

Crappie - Good: Fish at the pier using small jigs or a bobber and minnow.

Big Spirit Lake

Bullhead - Fair: Use night crawlers on the bottom at the Grade. Northern Pike - Good: Use white twister tails or jerk baits from Big Stoney Point east towards the Hales Slough Fish trap and North towards the Sand Bar. Bluegill - Good: Use a pink and white ice jig tipped with a wax worm around boat docks in Templar Lagoon or use a small slip bobber and leach on the North end of Angler's Bay. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use jerk baits or blade baits along rock reefs. Crappie - Fair: Use a small jig or minnow under a slip bobber at Templar Lagoon and the Grade. Walleye - Good: Troll with crankbaits or back troll with a lindy rig along rock reefs in the evenings. Use a twister tail and lead head at the Footbridge and Little Spirit Outlet at sunset. Fish are also being caught off docks using a lighted slip bobber and leach or a jig and shiner at night.

East Okoboji Lake

White Bass - Fair: Fish at the Highway 9 Bridge at sunset or at the spillway near the fish hatchery with a lead head and shiner. Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs tipped with wax worms at the Trestle or at the fishing pier along Highway 9. Crappie - Fair: Use small jigs tipped with wax worms or minnows at the Trestle and at the fishing pier along Highway 9. Walleye - Good: Drift or troll in the Parks Marina and Stoney Point areas with lindy rigs baited with night crawlers, leaches, or minnows. Fish from shore at the Highway 9 bridge using a lead head and shiner at sunset.

Minnewashta Lake

Bluegill - Good: Use ice jigs tipped with live bait around boat docks. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use soft plastics and pitch to boat docks.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Walleye - Good: Use a jig and minnow, twister tail, or crankbaits in the evenings.

West Okoboji Lake

Northern Pike - Good: Use white spinner baits or jerk baits in Miller's and North Bay along remaining weed beds. Bluegill - Good: Use small ice jigs tipped with wax worms along the docks at Triboji or along docks and downed trees in Turtle Lake. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Use jerk-baits in North Bay along remaining weed beds.

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait fished on the bottom or while drifting on the north end of the lake.

Lost Island Lake

Walleye - Fair: Use jig and minnow, twister tail, or small crankbaits after sunset.

Upper Gar Lake

Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs along boat docks. Crappie - Good: Use small jigs along boat docks.

Tuttle Lake

Crappie - Good: Use small jigs or a minnow and bobber at the inlet.

Big Sioux River

Channel Catfish - Good: Use night crawlers or cut bait in deep holes with brush piles.

For more fishing report information on Spirit Lake area rivers and lakes, call 712-336-1840.

[Rick]

Nelson Park Lake

Some pan fish and catfish are being taken. Fishing is slow.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Fishing is starting to pick up. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching medium-size (7 inch) fish. Crappie - Slow: A few 8.5 inch crappie have been taken.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Fishing has slowed. Shore anglers are beginning to catch a few panfish.

Badger Lake

North of Ft. Dodge. Fishing has been improving as the weather warms. Crappie - Fair: Some 9 - 10 in fish have been caught on small twister.

Brushy Creek Lake

Cold fronts that pass through the area are slowing the fishing down. Many nice bluegill, crappie and a few walleye have been caught. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are biting on a small worm on a plain hook. Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching some fish on small minnows. Walleye - Slow: A few nice walleye have been caught on leeches.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing is starting to pick up. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17-22 inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be released. White Bass - Slow: Crappie - Fair: People are catching some 8 to 10 inch crappies in marina. Use small jigs tipped with a wax worm or piece of night crawler; some people are using a bobber. Walleye - Good: Anglers are having best luck while trolling slowly with Shad Raps. Good colors are: clown, wonder bread, hot steel, purple haze and tiger. Live bait has picked up under a bobber.

North Twin Lake

Fishing is improving. People are starting to be successful catching several species of pan fish. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers have been having good luck using night crawlers or liver. Most fish are 1 to 2 pounds. Bluegill - Slow: Anglers are having best luck with small jigs tipped with a piece of night crawler. Crappie - Slow: Small to medium sized crappie are starting to bite on small jigs. Yellow Bass - Fair: Yellow bass are being caught small jigs and a piece of night crawler.

Swan Lake

Fishing has been improving. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching some small bluegill; use small jigs tipped with a piece of night crawler or wax worm. Crappie - Fair: Anglers have been catching some small (6 - 7 inch) fish. Use small jigs tipped with a wax worm or piece of night crawler.

Black Hawk Lake

Fishing is improving. Anglers are catching a few more catfish. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are having good luck using various baits. Walleye - Fair: Anglers are having good luck casting leeches.

Browns Lake

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

Arrowhead Lake

Fishing is improving. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching some bluegill using small jigs tipped with a wax worm or small piece of night crawler.

North Raccoon River (above State Highway 175 Bridge near Auburn)

Fishing has slowed down. Channel Catfish - Good: Various bait have been successful.

Fishing is improving, especially on warm, sunny days. For more information about these lakes and rivers call Lannie Miller (712-657-2638) at the Black Hawk District Office in Lake View.

Clear Lake

Yellow bass fishing is still good but the fish are getting finicky. Try using small jigs tipped with bait. Channel Catfish - Good: A few catfish are being caught with night crawlers fished on the bottom at the Ventura grade and McIntosh State Park shoreline. Walleye - Slow: Anglers are picking up a few walleyes while fishing on the reefs for yellow bass using live bait. A few walleyes are also being caught on crankbaits trolling the north shore by the pump house and in the little lake. Yellow Bass - Good: Yellow bass fishing has been good. Try using small jigs tipped with a piece of night crawler or minnow or a jig and twister tail combo. Billy’s Reef, Dodges Point, the island, and the McIntosh sandbar have all been producing fish. Mornings and evenings are best but they will continue to bite throughout the day. The fishing club dock on the north side and the public docks on the east shoreline have also been good for yellow bass.

Lake Cornelia

Bullhead fishing is good.

Rice Lake

Bullhead fishing is good

Silver Lake (Worth)

Yellow perch and bullhead fishing is good. Bullheads are biting on night crawlers fished off the bottom.

For more information on fishing in the area lakes and rivers, call us at the Clear Lake Fisheries Office at (641) 357-3517.

Lake Pahoja

Crappie - Slow: Fish at the pier using small jigs or a bobber and minnow has slowed.

Mill Creek (Lake)

Largemouth Bass - Good: Use crankbaits, spinner baits, or rattle baits along shorelines with cover.

Big Spirit Lake

Bullhead - Excellent: Use night crawlers on the bottom at Templar Lagoon. Northern Pike - Good: Use white twister tails or jerk baits from Big Stoney Point east towards the Hales Slough, Fish Trap and north towards the Sand Bar. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use jerk baits or blade baits along rock reefs at Little and Big Stoney points. Walleye - Good: Troll or drift with a Lindy rig along rock reefs in the evenings or anchor on the edges of rock bars and jig a leadhead tipped with a shiner. Use a twister tail and lead head at the Footbridge and Little Spirit Outlet at sunset. Fish are also being caught off docks using a lighted slip bobber and leech or a jig and shiner at night.

Center Lake

Bullhead - Good: Fish in the southwest corner of the lake near the culvert with worms.

East Okoboji Lake

White Bass - Fair: Fish at the Highway 9 Bridge at sunset or at the spillway near the fish hatchery with a lead head and shiner. Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs tipped with wax worms at the Trestle or at the fishing pier along Highway 9 with small micro jigs. Walleye - Good: Drift or troll in the Parks Marina and Stoney Point areas with Lindy rigs baited with night crawlers, leeches or minnows. Fish from shore at the Highway 9 bridge using a lead head and shiner at sunset. Yellow Bass - Good: Fish at the spillway and wind blown shorelines with a small jig tipped with a minnow or shiner.

Minnewashta Lake

Bluegill - Good: Use ice jigs tipped with live bait around boat docks. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use soft plastics and pitch to boat docks. Walleye - Good: Fish at the Sawmill Bridge at sunset with a jig and minnow or split shot and leech drifted below the bridge.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

White Bass - Excellent: Use a jig and minnow at sunset. Walleye - Good: Use a jig and minnow, twister tail, or crankbaits in the evenings.

West Okoboji Lake

Northern Pike - Good: Use white spinner baits or jerk baits in Miller's and North Bay along remaining weed beds. Bluegill - Good: Use small ice jigs tipped with wax worms along the docks at Triboji or along docks and downed trees in Turtle Lake. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Use jerk baits or soft plastics along boat docks in the bays.

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Use cut bait fished on the bottom or while drifting on the north end of the lake.

Lost Island Lake

Walleye - Fair: Use jig and minnow, twister tail, or small crankbaits after sunset.

Swan Lake

Bullhead - Excellent: Fish the west shore near the inlet with worms on the bottom.

Upper Gar Lake

Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs along boat docks. Crappie - Good: Use small jigs along boat docks.

Tuttle Lake

Crappie - Good: Use small jigs or a minnow and bobber at the inlet.

Big Sioux River

Channel Catfish - Good: Use night crawlers or cut bait in deep holes with brush piles. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes are being caught while fishing for catfish.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

Channel Catfish - Good: Use minnows or chubs around brush piles.

Spirit Lake District Farm Ponds

Channel Catfish - Good: Use large minnows fished on the bottom close to deep water. Bluegill - Fair: Fish along shorelines and cover with small jigs. Crappie - Good: Fish along shorelines with cover using small jigs or a small bobber and minnow.

[Rick]

Nelson Park Lake

Some pan fish and catfish are being taken. It's slow.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Fishing is starting to pick up. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching 7-inch fish. Crappie - Slow: A few 8.5 inch crappies have been taken.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Fishing has slowed. Shore anglers are beginning to catch a few panfish.

Badger Lake

North of Ft. Dodge. Fishing has been improving as the weather warms. Crappie - Fair: Some 9 - 10 inch fish have been caught on small twister.

Brushy Creek Lake

Cold fronts that passed through the area are slowing the fishing down. Many nice bluegills, crappies and a few walleyes have been caught. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are hitting on stink bait and night crawlers along the shore line. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are biting on a small worm on a plain hook. Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching some fish in 3 to 6 feet of water on small minnows or jigs. Walleye - Good: Walleye have been caught on leeches and crankbaits.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing has been very good. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17-22 inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be released. White Bass - Good: Walleye - Good: Anglers are having best luck while trolling slowly with Shad Raps. Good colors are: clown, wonder bread, hot steel, purple haze and tiger. Anglers have also been using more live bait while drifting or wading and casting.

North Twin Lake

Fishing is improving. People are starting to be successful catching several species of pan fish. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers have been having good luck using night crawlers or liver. Most fish are 1 to 2 pounds. Bluegill - Slow: Anglers are having best luck with small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler. Crappie - Slow: Small to medium sized crappie are starting to bite on small jigs. Yellow bass - Fair: Yellow bass are being caught small jigs and a piece of night crawler.

Swan Lake

Fishing has been improving. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching some small bluegill; use small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler or wax worm. Crappie - Fair: Anglers have been catching some small (6 - 7 in) fish. Use small jigs tipped with a wax worm or piece of crawler.

Black Hawk Lake

Channel catfish - Fair: Anglers are having good luck using various baits. Walleye - Good: Anglers are having good luck casting leeches. More anglers have been fishing from boats and trolling.

Browns Lake

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

Arrowhead Lake

Fishing is improving. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers are catching some bluegills using small jigs tipped with a wax worm or small piece of crawler.

North Raccoon River (above State Highway 175 bridge near Auburn)

Fishing has slowed down. Channel catfish - Good: Various bait have been successful.

Fishing is improving, especially on warm, sunny days.

Beeds Lake

Crappies are biting fishing the jetty.

Clear Lake

Yellow bass fishing is still good but the fish are getting finicky. Try using small jigs tipped with bait. Channel catfish - Good: A few catfish are being caught with night crawlers fished on the bottom at the Ventura grade and McIntosh State Park shoreline. Walleye - Slow: Anglers are picking up a few walleyes while fishing on the reefs for yellow bass using live bait. A few walleyes are also being caught on crankbaits trolling the north shore by the pump house and in the little lake. Yellow bass fishing has been good. Try using small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler or minnow or a jig and twister tail combo. Billy’s Reef, Dodges Point, the island, and the McIntosh sandbar have all been producing fish. Mornings and evenings are best but they will continue to bite throughout the day. The fishing club dock on the north side and the public docks on the east shoreline have also been good for yellow bass.

Lake Cornelia

Bullhead fishing is good using a night crawler fished on the bottom.

Rice Lake

Bullhead fishing is good fishing with a crawler off the bottom.

Bluebill Lake

Fishing has been slow.

Mill Creek (Lake)

Largemouth Bass - Good: Use crankbaits, spinner baits, or rattle baits along shorelines with cover.

Big Spirit Lake

Bullhead - Excellent: Use night crawlers on the bottom at Templar Lagoon on the west and south shores. Northern Pike - Good: Troll with crankbaits in Angler's Bay along weed edges or cast white or chartreuse colored spinner-baits. Bluegill - Excellent: Fish at Buffalo Run or Trickles Slough with small hair jigs tipped with wigglers or wax worms. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use jerk baits or blade baits along rock reefs at Little and Big Stoney points. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Use spinner-baits in Angler's Bay along the bulrush beds. Crappie - Good: Use a small bobber and minnow at Buffalo Run or go to the bulrush beds in Angler's Bay and sight fish using a small hair jig beneath a bobber. Walleye - Good: Troll or drift with a Lindy rig or bottom bouncer along rock reefs and weed lines. Or fish after sunset with a twister tail and lead head at the Footbridge.

Center Lake

Bullhead - Good: Fish in the southwest corner of the lake near the culvert with worms.

East Okoboji Lake

White Bass - Fair: Fish at the Hwy 9 Bridge at sunset or at the spillway near the fish hatchery with a lead head and minnow. Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs tipped with wax worms at the Trestle. Walleye - Good: Drift or troll in the Parks Marina, Stoney, and Jingles Point areas with Lindy rigs baited with night crawlers, leeches, or minnows. Fish from shore at the Hwy 9 and Triggs bridge using a lead head and minnow at night. Yellow bass - Good: Fish at the spillway and wind blown shorelines with a small jig tipped with a minnow or shiner

Little Spirit Lake

Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Cast spinner baits or soft plastics to shoreline habitat.

Minnewashta Lake

Bluegill - Good: Use ice jigs tipped with live bait around boat docks. Largemouth bass - Good: Use soft plastics and pitch to boat docks. Walleye - Fair: Fish at the Sawmill Bridge at sunset with a jig and minnow or split shot and leech drifted below the bridge.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

White Bass - Excellent: Use a jig and minnow at sunset. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig and minnow, twister tail, or crankbaits in the evenings.

West Okoboji Lake

Northern Pike - Good: Use white spinner-baits or jerk baits in Miller's, Emerson, and North Bay along remaining weed beds. Bluegill - Good: Use small ice jigs tipped with wax worms along the docks at Triboji or along docks and downed trees in Turtle Lake. Largemouth bass - Excellent: Use jerk baits or soft plastics along boat docks in the bays. Muskellunge - Fair: Some fish activity has been reported with fish over 50 inches being caught with large blade or jerk baits.

Five Island Lake

Channel catfish - Fair: Drift along shallow flats next to deeper water with cut bait. Crappie - Fair: Use small jigs around shoreline brush.

Lost Island Lake

Crappie - Good: Use a bobber and minnow or micro jig in the canal.

Willow Creek

Bluegill - Excellent: Cast to spawning bluegills with a small bobber and jig tipped with live bait.

Swan Lake

Bullhead - Excellent: Fish the west shore near the inlet with worms on the bottom.

Upper Gar Lake

Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs along boat docks.

Tuttle Lake

Crappie - Good: Use small jigs or a minnow and bobber at the inlet.

Silver Lake (Palo Alto)

Bullhead - Excellent: Fish with worms on the bottom on the east or northwest side of the lake.

East Hottes

Bluegill - Good: Cast a small bobber and hair jig tipped with wigglers to open holes in weed beds or along cattail edges. Largemouth bass - Excellent: Cast spinner-baits along edges of weed beds.

Hale Slough

Bluegill - Excellent: Cast a small bobber and hair jig tipped with wigglers off the boat ramp or fish the cattail edges with a small boat.

Big Sioux River

Channel Catfish - Good: Use night crawlers or cut bait in deep holes with brush piles. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes are being caught while fishing for catfish.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

Channel Catfish - Good: Use minnows or chubs around brush piles.

Spirit Lake District Farm Ponds

Channel catfish - Good: Use large minnows fished on the bottom close to deep water. Bluegill - Fair: Fish along shorelines and cover with small jigs. Crappie - Good: Fish along shorelines with cover using small jigs or a small bobber and minnow.

Kids Corner

Fish for bullheads at Templar Lagoon on Big Spirit Lake. Use a small weight and hook with worms fished on the bottom. Shore lines access is good from the parking lot.

[hondarider550]

Nelson Park Lake

Some panfish and catfish are being taken.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Anglers are catching some panfish.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Anglers are doing well for panfish. Bluegill - Good: Shore and boat anglers are catching bluegill with small hooks and jigs. Crappie - Good: Anglers are catching some crappie using small hooks and jigs with small minnows.

Badger Lake

North of Ft. Dodge. Fishing has been improving as the weather warms. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching some hand-size bluegills. Crappie - Fair: Some 9 - 10 inch fish have been caught on small twisters.

Brushy Creek Lake

Many nice bluegills, crappie and a few walleye are being caught. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are hitting on stink bait and night crawlers along the shore line. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are biting on a small worm on a plain hook in 4 to 10 feet of water. Crappie - Fair: Anglers are catching some fish in 3 to 6 feet of water on small minnows or jigs. Walleye - Good: Walleye have been caught on leeches and crank baits. Most anglers using leeches fish with a slip bobber from 5 to 9 p.m.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing has been very good, but a little spotty after fronts move through. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17-22 inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be released. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are starting to bite on worms and cut bait from shore and in the rocks. White Bass - Good: White bass are being caught at Frank Starr Park and off the rocks on the big island by throwing twisters and crankbaits. Walleye - Excellent: Anglers are still catching fish while trolling slowly with Shad Raps. Good colors are: hot steel, clown, purple haze and perch. People have been having good luck drifting with live bait using 1/8 ounce jig heads around Frank Starr, south of big island and the college island.

North Twin Lake

People are starting to catch several species of panfish. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers have been having good luck using night crawlers or liver. Most fish are 1 to 2 pounds. Bluegill - Good: Anglers are having best luck with small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler. Yellow Bass - Good: Yellow bass are being caught on small jigs and a piece of night crawler.

Swan Lake

Anglers have been having some success catching panfish. Bullhead - Fair: Anglers have been catching a few large bullheads. Bluegill - Good: Anglers have been catching small bluegill; use small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler or wax worm. Crappie - Fair: Anglers have been catching some small (6 - 7 inch) fish. Use small jigs tipped with a wax worm or piece of crawler.

Black Hawk Lake

Walleye fishing has slowed. Bullhead - Excellent: Anglers are doing well at night, for 8 to 9 inch bullheads. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are starting to bite on various baits from shore and in rocks.

Arrowhead Lake

Anglers are catching panfish when weather is stable. Bluegill - Good: Anglers are catching some bluegill using small jigs tipped with a wax worm or small piece of crawler.

Fishing is improving, especially on warm, sunny days.

Beeds Lake

Crappies are biting fishing the jetty.

Briggs Woods Lake

Crappie and bluegill fishing is good.

Eldred Sherwood Lake

Bluegill fishing has been good using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the weed edge.

Lake Smith

Bluegill fishing has been good, try a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber.

Lake Catherine

Bluegill fishing has been slow. Largemouth bass fishing is good using jigs and plastic baits.

Clear Lake

Yellow bass fishing is still good but the fish are getting finicky. Try using small jigs tipped with bait. Channel Catfish - Good: A few catfish are being caught with night crawlers fished on the bottom at the Ventura Grade and McIntosh Woods State Park shoreline. Walleye - Slow: Anglers are picking up a few walleyes while fishing on the reefs for yellow bass using live bait. A few walleyes are also being caught on crankbaits trolling the north shore by the pump house and in the little lake. Yellow bass fishing continues to be good but the spawn is winding down. The best bite is in the early morning fishing the rocky areas.

Lake Cornelia

Bullhead fishing is good using a night crawler fished on the bottom.

Little Wall Lake

Small crappies are biting. Channel Catfish are biting on crawlers and cut bait.

West Twin Lake

Bullhead fishing is good using a night crawler fished on the bottom.

Rice Lake

Bullhead fishing is good fishing with a crawler off the bottom.

Bluebill Lake

Bluegill fishing has been fair fishing the weed edges.

Boone River

Channel catfish and smallmouth bass are being caught near Bells Mill Park

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

Channel catfish and smallmouth bass are being caught.

Winnebago River

Channel catfish and smallmouth bass are being caught.

Silver Lake (Worth)

Bullhead fishing is excellent. Night crawlers fished on the bottom are producing the best results.

Big Spirit Lake

Bullhead - Excellent: Use night crawlers on the bottom under the bridge at Buffalo Run. Northern pike - Good: Fish the north end of Angler's Bay and Trickles casting spinner baits or trolling crankbaits. Bluegill - Fair: Use small hair jigs on the northeast end of Angler's Bay or in Trickles Slough. Smallmouth bass - Good: Use jerk baits or blade baits along rock reefs that connect with weed lines. Crappie - Fair: Use small hair jigs or a bobber and minnow on the south end of Angler's Bay along the bulrush beds. Yellow perch - Fair: Use bottom bouncers baited with worms or minnows while drift fishing south of the Footbridge in water 20 feet or deeper. Walleye - Good: Fish are still being caught off docks at night with lighted slip bobbers using leaches. Anglers are also reporting good catches slip bobber fishing on rock reefs near developing weed beds. Fish are also being caught trolling crankbaits over weed beds or drift fishing with live bait.

East Okoboji Lake

White bass - Fair: Fish at the Hwy 9 Bridge at sunset or at the spillway near the fish hatchery with a lead head and minnow. Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs tipped with wax worms at the trestle. Walleye - Good: Drift or troll in the Parks Marina, Stoney, and Jingles Point areas with Lindy rigs baited with night crawlers, leaches, or minnows. Fish from shore at the Hwy 9 and Triggs bridges using a lead heads and a minnow at night. Yellow bass - Good: Vertical jig from Stony Point towards Jingle's Point using wigglers in the morning.

Little Spirit Lake

Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Cast spinner baits or soft plastics to shoreline habitat.

Minnewashta Lake

Bluegill - Good: Use ice jigs tipped with live bait around boat docks. Largemouth bass - Good: Use soft plastics and pitch to boat docks. Crappie - Fair: Use small jigs at docks and along the east shore. Walleye - Fair: Fish at the Sawmill Bridge at sunset with a jig and minnow or split shot and leach drifted below the bridge.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

White bass - Excellent: Use a jig and minnow at sunset. Walleye - Fair: Use a leadhead and twister tail at night or trolling with crankbaits.

West Okoboji Lake

Northern pike - Good: Use white spinner baits or jerk baits in Miller's, Emerson, and North Bay along remaining weed beds. Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs tipped with wax worms along the docks in the bays. Smallmouth bass - Good: Fish the rock bars using jigs tipped with soft plastics or jerk baits. Largemouth bass - Excellent: Use jerk baits or soft plastics along boat docks in the bays.

Five Island Lake

Channel catfish - Fair: Drift along shallow flats next to deeper water with cut bait. Crappie - Fair: Use small jigs along the shoreline. Walleye - Fair: Drift with live bait or troll with crankbaits on flats near drop offs.

Lost Island Lake

Bullhead - Good: Fish in the south bay with worms on the bottom. Walleyes - Fair: Fish are being caught of docks with lighted slip bobbers using live bait after sunset and trolling crankbaits with planer boards.

Willow Creek

Bluegill - Excellent: Cast to spawning bluegills with a small bobber and jig tipped with live bait.

Swan Lake

Bullhead - Excellent: Fish the west shore near the inlet with worms on the bottom.

Tuttle Lake

Walleye - Fair: Troll crankbaits or drift with Lindy rigs with live bait.

Silver Lake (Palo Alto)

Bullhead - Excellent: Fish with worms on the bottom on the east or northwest side of the lake.

East Hottes

Largemouth bass - Excellent: Cast spinner baits along edges of weed beds.

Big Sioux River

Channel catfish - Good: Use night crawlers or cut bait in deep holes with brush piles. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes are being caught while fishing for catfish.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

Channel catfish - Good: Use minnows or chubs around brush piles.

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)

Walleye - Good: Use a twister tail or jig and minnow along current breaks and holes.

Spirit Lake District Farm Ponds

Channel Catfish - Good: Use large minnows fished on the bottom close to deep water. Bluegill - Fair: Fish along shorelines and cover with small jigs. Crappie - Good: Fish along shorelines with cover using small jigs or a small bobber and minnow.

[Rick]

Nelson Park Lake

Some panfish and catfish are being taken.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Anglers are catching some panfish. It has been fairly slow.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Anglers are doing well for panfish in shallow water. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers have been doing well using night crawlers and stink bait. Bluegill - Good: Shore and boat anglers are catching good sized bluegill with small hooks and jigs. Anglers have been fishing in shallow water and setting the bobber at about 6 inches. Crappie - Good: Anglers are catching some nice crappie using small hooks and jigs with small minnows. Fish in shallow water with a bobber.

Badger Lake

North of Ft. Dodge. Fishing has been improving as the weather warms. Bluegill - Good: Anglers have been catching some hand-size bluegill close to shore. Crappie - Good: Some 9 - 10 inch fish have been caught on small jigs and minnows.

Brushy Creek Lake

Water clarity is great. Nice bluegill, crappie and a few walleye are being caught. Please clean your fish at the floating fish cleaning platform at the west ramp. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are hitting on stink bait and night crawlers along the shore line. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill can be found under trees and in the weeds. Use a small worm on a plain hook in 4 to 10 feet. Crappie - Good: A few nice crappies have been caught on a plain minnow rig or a small jig tipped with a minnow. Walleye - Good: Best walleye angling has been from 6 to 9 p.m.; try leeches on a slip bobber just off the bottom.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing has been good. A little spotty after fronts move through. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17-22 inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be released. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are starting to bite on worms and cut bait from shore and in the rocks. White Bass - Good: White bass are being caught at Frank Starr Park and off the rocks on the big island by throwing twisters and crankbaits. Anglers have also started to catch whites off the north shore west of Chautauqua jetty. Walleye - Good: Anglers are still catching fish while trolling slowly with Shad Raps. Good colors are: hot steele, clown, purple haze and perch. People have been having good luck drifting with live bait using 1/8 ounce jig heads around Frank Starr, south of big island and the college island. Anglers have been having some luck wading off Stoney and Schaller Points.

North Twin Lake

Fishing has slowed; anglers are catching some nice bullheads. Bullhead - Good: Fair numbers of big bullhead are being caught.

Swan Lake

Anglers have been having some success catching panfish. Bullhead - Fair: Anglers have been catching a few large bullheads. Bluegill - Good: Anglers have been catching 6 to 8 inch bluegill; use small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler or wax worm under a bobber. Crappie - Fair: Anglers have been catching some small (6 - 7 in) fish. Use small jigs tipped with a wax worm or piece of crawler under a bobber.

Black Hawk Lake

Bullheads and catfish are biting. Bullhead - Excellent: Anglers are doing well, at night, for 8 to 9 inch bullheads. Channel Catfish - Good: Shore anglers are having good luck catching 1.5 to 2 pound catfish on various baits including leeches, night crawlers and stink bait.

Fishing has been good; water temperature has been relatively cool for this time of year. Water clarity has been good to excellent in most lakes. For more information about these lakes and rivers call Lannie Miller (712-657-2638) at the Black Hawk District Office in Lake View.

Beeds Lake

Crappies and Bluegill fishing is fair.

Briggs Woods Lake

Crappie and bluegill fishing is good.

Eldred Sherwood Lake

Bluegill fishing has been good using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the weed edge. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait.

Lower Pine Lake

Bluegill fishing is good using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the brush piles.

Upper Pine Lake

Largemouth bass fishing is fair using crankbaits.

Lake Smith

Bluegill fishing has been good, try a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait.

Lake Catherine

Bluegill fishing has been slow. Largemouth bass fishing is good using jigs and plastic baits.

Clear Lake

The yellow bass spawn is mostly over and fishing has slowed. The best bite is still in the early morning. Channel Catfish - Good: A few catfish are being caught with night crawlers or cut bait fished on the bottom at the Ventura grade and McIntosh State Park shoreline. Walleye - Slow: Anglers are picking up a few walleyes while fishing on the reefs using live bait. A few walleyes are also being caught on crankbaits trolling the north shore by the pump house and in the little lake.

Lake Cornelia

Bullhead fishing is good using a night crawler fished on the bottom.

Little Wall Lake

Small crappies are biting. Channel Catfish are biting on crawlers and cut bait.

West Twin Lake

Bullhead fishing is good using a night crawler fished on the bottom.

Rice Lake

Bullhead fishing is good fishing with a crawler off the bottom.

Bluebill Lake

Bluegill fishing has been fair fishing the weed edges.

Big Spirit Lake

Northern Pike - Good: Troll with crankbaits or spoons over weed beds in Angler's Bay or Reed's Run. Bluegill - Fair: Use 1/16 ounce pink lead head tipped with a leach while vertical jigging over the rock bar at Big Stoney Point and Cottonwood. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use jerk baits or a leadhead and leach along rock reefs that connect with weed lines. Yellow Perch - Fair: Use a bottom bouncer or jigging lure baited with worms in 20 plus feet of water in the main lake basin. Walleye - Good: Fish are still being caught off docks at night with lighted slip bobbers using leaches. Anglers are also reporting good catches slip bobber fishing on rock reefs near developing weed beds. Fish are also being caught trolling crankbaits over weed beds or drift fishing with live bait.

East Okoboji Lake

Channel Catfish - Good: Fish from shore on the north end of the lake or from the Hwy. 9 Bridge using chubs or large minnows for bait. Drift fish by boat north of the Hwy. 9 Bridge using cut bait. White Bass - Fair: Fish at the Hwy. 9 Bridge at sunset or at the spillway near the fish hatchery with a lead head and minnow. Walleye - Good: Drift or troll in the Parks Marina, Stoney, and Jingles Point areas with Lindy rigs baited with night crawlers, leeches or minnows. Fish at night from shore at the Hwy 9 and Triggs bridges using a lead head and minnow. Yellow Bass - Good: Vertical jig from Stony Point towards Jingle's Point using wigglers in the morning.

Minnewashta Lake

Bluegill - Good: Use ice jigs tipped with live bait around boat docks. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use soft plastics and pitch to boat docks. Crappie - Fair: Use small jigs at docks and along the east shore.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

White Bass - Excellent: Use a jig and minnow at sunset. Walleye - Fair: Troll with crankbaits near the island or along the north shore.

West Okoboji Lake

Northern Pike - Good: Use white spinner baits or jerk baits in Miller's, Emerson, and North Bay along remaining weed beds. Bluegill - Good: Fish with a small jig tipped with a wax worm or a small split shot and leach around wooden docks. Make long casts to avoid spooking fish in the clear water. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Fish the rock bars using jigs tipped with soft plastics or jerk baits. Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Use jerk baits or soft plastics along boat docks in the bays.

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Drift along shallow flats next to deeper water with cut bait. Crappie - Fair: Use small jigs along the shoreline. Walleye - Fair: Drift with live bait or troll with crankbaits on flats near drop-offs.

Lost Island Lake

Bullhead - Good: Fish in the south bay with worms on the bottom. Walleye - Fair: Fish are being caught off docks with lighted slip bobbers using live bait after sunset and trolling crankbaits with planer boards.

Willow Creek

Bluegill - Excellent: Cast to spawning bluegills with a small bobber and jig tipped with live bait.

Swan Lake

Bullhead - Excellent: Fish the west shore near the inlet with worms on the bottom.

Tuttle Lake

Walleye - Fair: Troll crankbaits or drift with Lindy rigs with live bait.

Silver Lake (Palo Alto)

Bullhead - Excellent: Fish with worms on the bottom on the east or northwest side of the lake.

East Hottes

Largemouth Bass - Excellent: Cast spinner baits along edges of weed beds.

Big Sioux River

Channel Catfish - Good: Use night crawlers or cut bait in deep holes with brush piles. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes are being caught while fishing for catfish.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

Channel Catfish - Good: Use minnows or chubs around brush piles.

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)

Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use worms, chubs, or cut bait fished on the bottom above brush piles. Walleye - Good: Use a twister tail or jig and minnow along current breaks and holes.

Spirit Lake District Farm Ponds

Bluegill - Good: Fish along shorelines looking for spawning beds with small hair or micro jigs.

Kids Corner: If you are looking for a place to take a child fishing then take them to Scharnburg Park located 5 miles west of Spencer on B24. Use a small bobber and piece of night crawler on the fishing jetty located on the west shore. Expect to catch bluegill, green sunfish, bullheads, and bass along the rocks or willows located along the shore.

[Esox_Magnum]

Well the bite wasn't anything to write home about but was somewhat steady. Wife and I didn't get out early but still caught a few fish. Trolled leadcore with #5 raps getting all the fish. Weekend total was 11 slot fish, 4 keeper eyes, 2 keeper perch, 15-20 smalleyes and near 40 7-8.5" perch. Lots of boats out but didn't see to many caught. Most were after perch I think, just guessing though. We'll be out again this coming weekend for 1 more go before I turn my attention fully on the Muskies. A guy still needs to eat you know.

[hondarider550]

NORTHWEST

Nelson Park Lake

Some panfish and catfish are being taken. Fishing has slowed.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Anglers are catching some panfish. It has been fairly slow.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Fishing has slowed somewhat. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers have been doing well using night crawlers and stink bait. Bluegill - Good: Shore and boat anglers are catching a few good sized bluegills with small hooks and jigs. Anglers have been fishing in shallow water and setting the bobber at about 6 inches. Crappie - Good: Anglers are catching some nice crappie using small hooks and jigs with small minnows. Fish in the shallows with a bobber.

Badger Lake

North of Ft. Dodge. Fishing has been improving as the weather warms. Bluegill - Good: Anglers have been catching some hand-size bluegill close to shore. Crappie - Good: Some 9 - 10 inch fish have been caught on small jigs and minnows.

Brushy Creek Lake

Water is not as clear, but still good. Nice bluegill, crappie and a few walleye are being caught. Please clean your fish at the floating fish cleaning platform at the west ramp. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are hitting on stink bait and night crawlers along the shore line. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill can be found under trees and in the weeds. Use a small worm on a plain hook in 4 to 10 feet. Crappie - Good: A few nice crappies have been caught on a plain minnow rig or a small tube jig tipped with a minnow. Walleye - Good: Best walleye angling has been in late evening; try leeches on a slip bobber just off the bottom in 6 to 10 feet.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing has been good. A little spotty after fronts move through. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17-22 inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be immediately released. Channel Catfish - Good: As lake warms the catfishing has improved. They are biting on a variety of baits from shore and in the rocks. White Bass - Excellent: White bass are being caught at Frank Starr Park and off the rocks on the big island by throwing twisters and crankbaits. Anglers have also started to catch whites off the north shore west of Chautauqua jetty. Walleye - Good: Anglers are still catching fish while trolling slowly with Shad Raps. Good colors are: hot steele, clown, purple haze and perch. People have been having good luck drifting with live bait using 1/8 ounce jig heads around Frank Starr, south of big island and the college island. Anglers have been having some luck wading off Stoney and Schaller points.

North Twin Lake

Fishing has slowed; anglers are catching some nice bullheads.

Swan Lake

Anglers have been having some success catching panfish. Bullhead - Fair: Anglers have been catching a few large bullheads. Bluegill - Good: Anglers have been catching 6 to 8 inch bluegill; use small jigs tipped with a piece of crawler or wax worm under a bobber.

Black Hawk Lake

Bullhead and catfish fishing have been very good. Bullhead - Excellent: Anglers are doing well for 8 to 9 inch bullheads. Channel Catfish - Good: Shore anglers are having good luck catching 1.5 to 2 pound catfish on various baits including leeches, night crawlers and stink bait.

Fishing has been good; water temperature has been relatively cool for this time of year. Water clarity has been good to excellent in most lakes. For more information about these lakes and rivers call Lannie Miller (712-657-2638) at the Black Hawk District Office in Lake View.

Beeds Lake

Crappies and Bluegill fishing is fair.

Briggs Woods Lake

Crappie and bluegill fishing is good. Channel catfish are biting on liver.

Eldred Sherwood Lake

Bluegill fishing has been good using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the weed edge. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait.

Lower Pine Lake

Bluegill fishing is excellent using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the shoreline brush piles.

Upper Pine Lake

Bluegill fishing is excellent. Largemouth bass fishing is fair using a Lindy rig or Carolina rig with a worm or minnow. Bluegill - Excellent: Fish the shoreline with a small piece of worm.

Lake Smith

Bluegill fishing has been good, try a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait.

Lake Catherine

Bluegill fishing has been slow. Largemouth bass fishing is good using jigs and plastic baits.

Clear Lake

Yellow bass fishing is slow, try drift fishing the reefs with live bait. Channel Catfish - Good: A few catfish are being caught with night crawlers or cut bait fished on the bottom at the Ventura grade and McIntosh State Park shoreline. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes (mostly sub-legal) are being caught off the jetty using minnows. .

Lake Cornelia

Bullhead fishing is fair using a night crawler fished on the bottom. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are biting cut bait and liver. Walleye - Slow: A few Walleyes are being caught on trolled crankbaits.

Little Wall Lake

Small crappies, largemouth bass and channel catfish fishing are good.

West Twin Lake

Bullhead fishing is good using a night crawler fished on the bottom.

Rice Lake

Bullhead fishing is good fishing with a crawler off the bottom.

Bluebill Lake

Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits and plastic baits. Bluegill fishing has been fair fishing the weed edges.

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

Channel Catfish and Smallmouth bass fishing is fair. Channel Catfish - Fair: using cut bait or liver. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: using jigs and crankbaits.

Winnebago River

Channel Catfish and Smallmouth bass fishing is fair.

For more information on fishing in the area lakes and rivers, call us at the Clear Lake Fisheries Office at (641) 357-3517.

Big Spirit Lake

Weed beds have been slow to grow but with recent warm weather they should expand quickly. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use jerk baits or drift fish along rock bars and connecting weed lines with leaches. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use soft plastics or live bait around weed beds or at Buffalo Run. Yellow Perch - Fair: Use bottom bouncers or small jigging spoons tipped with wigglers in 20 foot of water or deeper in the main lake basin. Walleye - Good: Fish are being caught off docks using slip bobbers and leeches, drifting and vertical jigging with live bait, or trolling with crankbaits along weed beds and rock bars.

East Okoboji Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Drift fish with cut bait or fish from the Hwy 9 Bridge or the north shore with stink bait or chubs. Walleye - Fair: Drift or troll from Stony Point towards Parks Marina or at Jingles Point in the morning with Lindy rigs baited with worms or leeches or crankbaits. Yellow Bass - Excellent: Vertical jig with small spoons tipped with live bait from Parks Marina towards the Hattie Elston Park boat ramp. Or fish off docks with a bobber and live bait.

Minnewashta Lake

Bluegill - Good: Fish along boat docks with small jigs.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Walleye - Fair: Troll with crankbaits on the north shore and around the island.

West Okoboji Lake

Weed beds are growing well but have not gotten established yet in deeper water. Northern Pike - Good: Troll crankbaits or spoons along weed lines. White Bass - Good: Use twister tails or a jig and minnow around Gull Point at sunset. Bluegill - Excellent: Use small jigs tipped with a wax worm or small split shot and leach around docks with long casts to avoid spooking fish. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Fish rock bars with jerk baits. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use soft plastics or jerk baits along boat docks and weed beds. Walleye - Fair: Use slip bobbers and leeches around weed beds or cast to rock bars at sunset.

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish - Good: Drift fish along shallow flats with cut bait or fish from shore with stink bait near docks or the railroad bridge. Walleye - Good: Troll with crankbaits with planer boards.

Lost Island Lake

Walleye - Excellent: Trolling with crankbaits.

Willow Creek

Bluegill - Good: Fish along edge of weed beds with small micro jigs. Large Pumpkinseed sunfish are also being caught.

Swan Lake

Bullhead - Good: Use worms along the north shore.

Upper Gar Lake

Bluegill - Good: Fish along boat docks with small jigs.

Tuttle Lake

Walleye - Good: Troll with planer boards using crankbaits.

Silver Lake (Palo Alto)

Bullhead - Good: Use worms on the east shore.

Big Sioux River

Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use cut bait or stink bait in holes with brush piles. Flathead Catfish - Good: Use large live bait along brush piles, cut banks, and rock shorelines.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

Channel Catfish - Good: Use large minnow or chubs in holes and above brush piles.

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)

Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use chubs or worms on the bottom just above brush piles. Walleye - Fair: Use twister tails or crankbaits along current breaks and holes.

East Hottes

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

Spirit Lake District Farm Ponds

Be sure to ask for permission before fishing a private pond. Bluegill - Good: Fish along shorelines looking for spawning beds with small hair or micro jigs.

Kids Corner: If you are looking for a place to take a child fishing then take them to Scharnburg Park located 5 miles west of Spencer on B24. Use a small bobber and piece of night crawler on the fishing jetty located on the west shore. Expect to catch bluegill, green sunfish, bullheads, and bass along the rocks or willows located along the shore.

[Rick]

Nelson Park Lake

Some panfish and catfish are being taken. Fishing has slowed.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Anglers are catching some panfish. It has been fairly slow.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Fishing has slowed somewhat. Bluegill - Good: Shore and boat anglers are catching a few good sized bluegills with small hooks and jigs. Anglers have been fishing in shallow water and setting the bobber at about 6 inches. Crappie - Good: Anglers are catching some nice crappie using small hooks and jigs with small minnows. Fish in shallows with a bobber.

Badger Lake

North of Ft. Dodge. Fishing has slowed as mid summer weather conditions have arrived. They are still catching some panfish. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching some hand-size bluegill close to shore. Crappie - Fair: Some 9 - 10 inch fish have been caught on small jigs and minnows.

Brushy Creek Lake

Water clarity is still good. Nice bluegill, crappie and a few walleye are being caught. Please clean your fish at the floating fish cleaning platform at the west ramp. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are hitting on stink bait and night crawlers along the shore line. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill can be found under trees and in the weeds. Use a small worm on a plain hook in 4 to 10 feet. Crappie - Good: Crappies are in the trees; try a small jig or minnow rig and fish in 10 to 14 feet of water. Walleye - Good: Walleye have been hitting on leeches.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing has been good. A little spotty after weather fronts moved through. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17-22 inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be immediately released. Channel Catfish - Excellent: As lake warms the catfishing has improved. They are biting on a variety of baits from shore and in the rocks. White Bass - Good: White bass are being caught at Frank Starr Park and off the rocks on the big island by throwing twisters and crankbaits. Anglers have also started to catch whites off the north shore west of Chautauqua jetty. Walleye - Good: Anglers are still catching fish while trolling slowly with Shad Raps. Good colors are: hot steele, clown, purple haze and perch. People have been having good luck drifting with live bait using 1/8 ounce jig heads around Frank Starr, south of big island and the college island.

North Twin Lake

Fishing has slowed; anglers are catching some nice bullheads. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching a few catfish on liver.

Black Hawk Lake

Bullhead and catfish fishing have been very good. Water has warmed considerably the last week. Bullhead - Excellent: Anglers are doing well for 8 to 9 inch bullheads. Channel Catfish - Good: Shore anglers are having good luck catching 1.5 to 2 pound catfish on various baits including leeches, night crawlers and stink bait.

Fishing has been good; water temperatures have been relatively cool for this time of year. Water clarity has been good to excellent in most lakes.

Beeds Lake

Crappies and Bluegill fishing is fair.

Briggs Woods Lake

Crappie and bluegill fishing is good. Channel catfish are biting on liver.

Eldred Sherwood Lake

Bluegill fishing has been good using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the weed edge. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait.

Lower Pine Lake

Bluegill fishing is fair using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the shoreline brush piles. Channel Catfish - Good: using liver.

Upper Pine Lake

Largemouth bass fishing is fair using a Lindy rig or Carolina rig with a worm or minnow. Channel catfish are biting on liver. Bluegill - Excellent: Fish the shoreline with a small piece of worm.

Lake Smith

Bluegill fishing has been good, try a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait.

Lake Catherine

Bluegill fishing has been slow. Largemouth bass fishing is good using jigs and plastic baits.

Clear Lake

Yellow bass fishing is slow, try drift fishing the reefs with live bait. Channel Catfish - Good: A few catfish are being caught with night crawlers or cut bait fished on the bottom at the Ventura grade and McIntosh State Park shoreline. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes (mostly sub-legal) are being caught off the jetty using minnows. Yellow Bass – Fair, try drift fishing the reefs with live bait until you find the fish.

Lake Cornelia

Bullhead fishing is fair using a night crawler fished on the bottom. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are biting cut bait and liver. Walleye - Slow: A few Walleyes are being caught on trolled crankbaits.

Little Wall Lake

Small crappies, largemouth bass and Channel catfish fishing is good.

West Twin Lake

Bullhead fishing is good using a night crawler fished on the bottom.

Rice Lake

Bullhead fishing is good fishing with a crawler off the bottom.

Bluebill Lake

Bluegill fishing has been slow. Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits and plastic baits. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill fishing has been fair fishing the weed edges. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits and plastic baits.

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

Channel Catfish and Smallmouth bass fishing is fair. Channel Catfish - Fair: using cut bait or liver. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: using jigs and crankbaits.

Winnebago River

Channel Catfish and Smallmouth bass fishing is fair.

Big Spirit Lake

Weed beds have expanded quickly and can be seen almost to the surface. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use twister tails or a slip bobber and leech along rock bars that connect with weed lines. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use soft plastics or live bait around weed beds or at Buffalo Run. Yellow Perch - Good: Drift fish while using bottom bouncers or anchor and vertical jig with small jigging spoons tipped with worms in 20-22 foot of water. Walleye - Good: Drift fish with Lindy rigs, vertical jig with leeches, or slip bobber fish around weed beds. Fish are also being caught trolling with crankbaits along weed lines. Muskellunge - Fair: Fish are being caught while trolling with large crankbaits or inline spinners.

East Okoboji Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Use stink bait or chubs around the bridges or off the docks. Yellow Bass - Excellent: Drift fish along boat docks with jigging spoons tipped with worms or slip bobber fish from docks.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Walleye - Fair: Troll with crankbaits on the north shore and around the island.

West Okoboji Lake

Weed beds are growing well with warm weather and just about any species can be caught around them. Northern Pike - Good: Troll crankbaits or spoons along weed lines. White Bass - Good: Fish along points with jigs at sunset. Bluegill - Excellent: Fish with small hair jigs or a split shot and hook with live bait around boat docks or in 15-18 foot water along weed beds. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Fish the rock bars at Fort Dodge and Gull points with jerk baits or a lead head and leech. Walleye - Fair: Use slip bobber and leech around weed beds at sunset.

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait or chubs at the railroad bridge. Walleye - Fair: Troll with crankbaits along drop-offs.

Lost Island Lake

Walleye - Good: Trolling with crankbaits.

Willow Creek

Bluegill - Good: Fish along edge of weed beds with small jigs or a bobber and small hook with a piece of worm. Large pumpkinseed sunfish are also being caught.

Swan Lake

Bullhead - Good: Use worms along the north shore.

Tuttle Lake

Crappie - Fair: Fish the south shore along boat docks with small jigs. Walleye - Good: Troll with planer boards using crankbaits.

Silver Lake (Palo Alto)

Bullhead - Good: Use worms on the east shore.

Big Sioux River

Blue catfish have also been caught using large cut bait in deep holes, current seams, and brush piles near its confluence with the Missouri River. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use cut bait, chubs, or stink bait in deep holes and brush piles. Flathead Catfish - Good: Use large live bait along brush piles, cut banks, and rock shorelines.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

With recent rains water levels have risen. Channel Catfish - Good: Use large minnow or stink bait in holes and above brush piles.

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)

With recent rains water levels have risen. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use chubs or stink bait in holes and around brush piles. Walleye - Slow: Use twister tails or crankbaits along current breaks and holes. Fishing has slowed with rising water levels.

Kids Corner: If you are looking for a place to take a child fishing then take them to Scharnburg Park located 5 miles west of Spencer on B24. Use a small bobber and piece of night crawler on the fishing jetty on the west shore. Expect to catch bluegill, green sunfish, bullheads, and bass along the rocks or willows located along the shore.

[hondarider550]

NORTHWEST

Nelson Park Lake

Some panfish and catfish are being taken. Fishing has slowed.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Anglers are catching some panfish. It has been fairly slow.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Fishing has slowed somewhat. Bluegill - Good: Shore and boat anglers are catching a few good sized bluegills with small hooks and jigs. Anglers have been fishing in shallow water and setting the bobber at about 6 inches. Crappie - Good: Anglers are catching some nice crappie using small hooks and jigs with small minnows. Fish in shallows with a bobber.

Badger Lake

North of Ft. Dodge. Fishing has slowed as mid summer weather conditions have arrived. They are still catching some panfish. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching some hand-size bluegill close to shore. Crappie - Fair: Some 9 - 10 inch fish have been caught on small jigs and minnows.

Brushy Creek Lake

Water clarity is still good. Nice bluegill, crappie and a few walleye are being caught. Please clean your fish at the floating fish cleaning platform at the west ramp. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are hitting on stink bait and night crawlers along the shore line. Bluegill - Good: Bluegill can be found under trees and in the weeds. Use a small worm on a plain hook in 4 to 10 feet. Crappie - Good: Crappies are in the trees; try a small jig or minnow rig and fish in 10 to 14 feet of water. Walleye - Good: Walleye have been hitting on leeches.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing has been good. A little spotty after weather fronts moved through. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17-22 inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be immediately released. Channel Catfish - Excellent: As lake warms the catfishing has improved. They are biting on a variety of baits from shore and in the rocks. White Bass - Good: White bass are being caught at Frank Starr Park and off the rocks on the big island by throwing twisters and crankbaits. Anglers have also started to catch whites off the north shore west of Chautauqua jetty. Walleye - Good: Anglers are still catching fish while trolling slowly with Shad Raps. Good colors are: hot steele, clown, purple haze and perch. People have been having good luck drifting with live bait using 1/8 ounce jig heads around Frank Starr, south of big island and the college island.

North Twin Lake

Fishing has slowed; anglers are catching some nice bullheads. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching a few catfish on liver.

Black Hawk Lake

Bullhead and catfish fishing have been very good. Water has warmed considerably the last week. Bullhead - Excellent: Anglers are doing well for 8 to 9 inch bullheads. Channel Catfish - Good: Shore anglers are having good luck catching 1.5 to 2 pound catfish on various baits including leeches, night crawlers and stink bait.

Fishing has been good; water temperatures have been relatively cool for this time of year. Water clarity has been good to excellent in most lakes. For more information about these lakes and rivers call Lannie Miller (712-657-2638) at the Black Hawk District Office in Lake View.

Beeds Lake

Crappies and Bluegill fishing is fair.

Briggs Woods Lake

Crappie and bluegill fishing is good. Channel catfish are biting on liver.

Eldred Sherwood Lake

Bluegill fishing has been good using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the weed edge. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait.

Lower Pine Lake

Bluegill fishing is fair using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the shoreline brush piles. Channel Catfish - Good: using liver.

Upper Pine Lake

Largemouth bass fishing is fair using a Lindy rig or Carolina rig with a worm or minnow. Channel catfish are biting on liver. Bluegill - Excellent: Fish the shoreline with a small piece of worm.

Lake Smith

Bluegill fishing has been good, try a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait.

Lake Catherine

Bluegill fishing has been slow. Largemouth bass fishing is good using jigs and plastic baits.

Clear Lake

Yellow bass fishing is slow, try drift fishing the reefs with live bait. Channel Catfish - Good: A few catfish are being caught with night crawlers or cut bait fished on the bottom at the Ventura grade and McIntosh State Park shoreline. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes (mostly sub-legal) are being caught off the jetty using minnows. Yellow Bass – Fair, try drift fishing the reefs with live bait until you find the fish.

Lake Cornelia

Bullhead fishing is fair using a night crawler fished on the bottom. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are biting cut bait and liver. Walleye - Slow: A few Walleyes are being caught on trolled crankbaits.

Little Wall Lake

Small crappies, largemouth bass and Channel catfish fishing is good.

West Twin Lake

Bullhead fishing is good using a night crawler fished on the bottom.

Rice Lake

Bullhead fishing is good fishing with a crawler off the bottom.

Bluebill Lake

Bluegill fishing has been slow. Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits and plastic baits. Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill fishing has been fair fishing the weed edges. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits and plastic baits.

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

Channel Catfish and Smallmouth bass fishing is fair. Channel Catfish - Fair: using cut bait or liver. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: using jigs and crankbaits.

Winnebago River

Channel Catfish and Smallmouth bass fishing is fair.

For more information on fishing in the area lakes and rivers, call the Clear Lake Fisheries Office at (641) 357-3517.

Big Spirit Lake

Weed beds have expanded quickly and can be seen almost to the surface. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use twister tails or a slip bobber and leech along rock bars that connect with weed lines. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use soft plastics or live bait around weed beds or at Buffalo Run. Yellow Perch - Good: Drift fish while using bottom bouncers or anchor and vertical jig with small jigging spoons tipped with worms in 20-22 foot of water. Walleye - Good: Drift fish with Lindy rigs, vertical jig with leeches, or slip bobber fish around weed beds. Fish are also being caught trolling with crankbaits along weed lines. Muskellunge - Fair: Fish are being caught while trolling with large crankbaits or inline spinners.

East Okoboji Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Use stink bait or chubs around the bridges or off the docks. Yellow Bass - Excellent: Drift fish along boat docks with jigging spoons tipped with worms or slip bobber fish from docks.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Walleye - Fair: Troll with crankbaits on the north shore and around the island.

West Okoboji Lake

Weed beds are growing well with warm weather and just about any species can be caught around them. Northern Pike - Good: Troll crankbaits or spoons along weed lines. White Bass - Good: Fish along points with jigs at sunset. Bluegill - Excellent: Fish with small hair jigs or a split shot and hook with live bait around boat docks or in 15-18 foot water along weed beds. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Fish the rock bars at Fort Dodge and Gull points with jerk baits or a lead head and leech. Walleye - Fair: Use slip bobber and leech around weed beds at sunset.

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait or chubs at the railroad bridge. Walleye - Fair: Troll with crankbaits along drop-offs.

Lost Island Lake

Walleye - Good: Trolling with crankbaits.

Willow Creek

Bluegill - Good: Fish along edge of weed beds with small jigs or a bobber and small hook with a piece of worm. Large pumpkinseed sunfish are also being caught.

Swan Lake

Bullhead - Good: Use worms along the north shore.

Tuttle Lake

Crappie - Fair: Fish the south shore along boat docks with small jigs. Walleye - Good: Troll with planer boards using crankbaits.

Silver Lake (Palo Alto)

Bullhead - Good: Use worms on the east shore.

Big Sioux River

Blue catfish have also been caught using large cut bait in deep holes, current seams, and brush piles near its confluence with the Missouri River. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use cut bait, chubs, or stink bait in deep holes and brush piles. Flathead Catfish - Good: Use large live bait along brush piles, cut banks, and rock shorelines.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

With recent rains water levels have risen. Channel Catfish - Good: Use large minnow or stink bait in holes and above brush piles.

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)

With recent rains water levels have risen. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use chubs or stink bait in holes and around brush piles. Walleye - Slow: Use twister tails or crankbaits along current breaks and holes. Fishing has slowed with rising water levels.

Kids Corner: If you are looking for a place to take a child fishing then take them to Scharnburg Park located 5 miles west of Spencer on B24. Use a small bobber and piece of night crawler on the fishing jetty on the west shore. Expect to catch bluegill, green sunfish, bullheads, and bass along the rocks or willows located along the shore.

[Joe]

Nelson Park Lake

Fishing has slowed. Anglers are catching a few catfish on stink bait.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Anglers are catching some panfish. It has been fairly slow.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Fishing has slowed somewhat. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers have been catching some catfish at night using various baits. Bluegill - Good: Shore and boat anglers are catching a few good-sized bluegills with small hooks and jigs. Try from boat ramp to the dam, or any place that's easy to get to from the ramp parking lot. Crappie - Good: Anglers are catching some nice crappie using small hooks and jigs with small minnows. Fish have moved into deeper water; try from boat ramp to dam, or anywhere in between.

Badger Lake

North of Ft. Dodge. Fishing has slowed as mid summer weather conditions have arrived. Bluegill and catfish have moved into deeper water. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing is picking up; try cut bait and chicken liver. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching some hand-size bluegill off shore. Crappie - Fair: Some 9 - 10 inch fish have been caught on small jigs and minnows.

Brushy Creek Lake

Warmer weather and rains have slowed fishing. Water clarity is still good. Nice bluegill, crappie and a few walleye are being caught. Please clean your fish at the floating fish cleaning platform at the west ramp. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are hitting on liver, stink bait and night crawlers along the shore line. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills have moved out from shore; try fishing just off the bottom in 8 to 12 feet of water. Crappie - Fair: Crappies are in the trees; try a small jig or minnow rig and fish in 10 to 14 feet of water. Walleye - Fair: Walleye have been biting on minnows.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing has slowed. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17-22 inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be immediately released. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Still catching cats with various baits; try drifting a night crawler, under a bobber, along the rocks. White Bass - Fair: White bass are still being caught with mini-jigs tipped with night crawlers or minnows; try casting along the rocks. Walleye - Fair: Walleye catch has slowed considerably.

North Twin Lake

Fishing has slowed; anglers are catching some nice bullheads. Bullhead - Good: Fair numbers of big bullhead are being caught. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching a few catfish on liver.

Black Hawk Lake

Bullhead and catfish fishing have been very good. Water has warmed considerably the last week. Bullhead - Excellent: Anglers are doing well for 8 to 9 inch bullheads. Channel Catfish - Good: Shore anglers are having good luck catching 1.5 to 2 pound catfish on various baits including liver, leeches, night crawlers and stink bait.

Fishing has slowed this week across district. Water clarity has been relatively good in most lakes.

Beeds Lake

Crappies and Bluegill fishing is fair.

Briggs Woods Lake

Crappie and bluegill fishing is good. Channel catfish are biting on liver.

Eldred Sherwood Lake

Bluegill fishing has been good using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the weed edge. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait.

Lower Pine Lake

Bluegill fishing is fair using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the shoreline brush piles. Channel Catfish - Good: using liver

Upper Pine Lake

Largemouth bass fishing is fair using a Lindy rig or Carolina rig with a worm or minnow. Channel catfish are biting on liver. Bluegill - Fair: Fish the shoreline with a small piece of worm.

Lake Smith

Bluegill fishing has been good, try a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the weed edge. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait.

Lake Catherine

Bluegill fishing has been slow. Largemouth bass fishing is good using jigs and plastic baits.

Clear Lake

Yellow bass fishing is slow, try drift fishing the reefs with live bait until you find the fish. Channel Catfish - Good: A few catfish are being caught with night crawlers or cut bait fished on the bottom at the Ventura grade and McIntosh State Park shoreline. Walleye - Fair: Walleyes (mostly sub-legal) are being caught off the jetty using minnows.

Lake Cornelia

Bullhead - Good: Bullhead fishing is fair using a night crawler fished on the bottom. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are biting cut bait and liver. White Bass - Fair: Biting on small white twister tails. Walleye - Slow: A few Walleyes are being caught on trolled crankbaits.

Little Wall Lake

Small crappies, largemouth bass and Channel catfish fishing is good.

West Twin Lake

Bullhead fishing is good using a night crawler fished on the bottom.

Rice Lake

Bullhead fishing is good fishing with a crawler off the bottom.

Bluebill Lake

Bluegill - Slow: Bluegill fishing has been fair fishing the weed edges. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits and plastic baits.

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

Channel Catfish - Fair: using cut bait or liver. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: using jigs and crankbaits.

Winnebago River

Channel Catfish and Smallmouth bass fishing is fair.

Mill Creek (Lake)

Bullhead - Fair: Use worms near the swimming area. Channel Catfish - Good: Use worms, stink bait, or live bait fished on the bottom around brush piles or rocks. Bluegill - Fair: Use small micro jigs around docks and weed beds. Largemouth Bass - Good: Fish with soft plastics around weed beds and rocks. Use weedless surface lures over weed beds in the evening

Big Spirit Lake

Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use twister tails or a slip bobber and leech along rock bars that connect with weed lines. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use soft plastics around weed beds and boat docks. Yellow Perch - Good: Drift fish while using bottom bouncers or anchor and vertical jig with small jigging spoons tipped with worms in 20-22 foot of water. Walleye - Fair: Drift fish with Lindy rigs, vertical jig with leeches, or slip bobber fish around weed beds. Fish are also being caught trolling with crankbaits along weed lines.

East Okoboji Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Use stink bait or chubs around the bridges or off the docks. Yellow Bass - Good: Drift fish along boat docks with jigging spoons tipped with worms or slip bobber fish from docks.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Walleye - Good: Troll with crankbaits on the north shore and around the island.

West Okoboji Lake

Northern Pike - Good: Troll crankbaits or spoons along weed lines. White Bass - Good: Fish along points with jigs at sunset. Bluegill - Excellent: Fish with small hair jigs or a split shot and hook with live bait around boat docks or along weed bed edges. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Fish the rock bars at Fort Dodge and Gull Points with jerk baits or a lead head and leech. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use soft plastics around boat docks and weed lines. Walleye - Fair: Use slip bobber and leech around weed beds at sunset.

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait or chubs at the railroad bridge. Walleye - Fair: Troll with crankbaits along drop-offs.

Lost Island Lake

Walleye - Good: Trolling with crankbaits.

Willow Creek

Bluegill - Good: Fish along edge of weed beds with small jigs or a bobber and small hook with a piece of worm. Large Pumpkinseed sunfish are also being caught.

Swan Lake

Bullhead - Good: Use worms along the north shore.

Tuttle Lake

Crappie - Fair: Fish the south shore along boat docks with small jigs. Walleye - Good: Troll with planer boards using crankbaits.

Silver Lake (Palo Alto)

Bullhead - Good: Use worms on the east shore.

Big Sioux River

Blue catfish have also been caught using large cut bait in deep holes, current seams, and brush piles near its confluence with the Missouri River. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use cut bait, chubs, or stink bait in deep holes and brush piles. Flathead Catfish - Good: Use large live bait along brush piles, cut banks, and rock shorelines.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

Channel Catfish - Good: Use large minnow or stink bait in holes and above brush piles. Walleye - Fair: Use twister tails around holes and riffles.

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)

Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use chubs or stink bait in holes and around brush piles. Walleye - Fair: Use twister tails or crankbaits along current breaks and holes.

Kids Corner: If you are looking for a place to take a child fishing then take them to Scharnburg Park located 5 miles west of Spencer on B24. Use a small bobber and piece of night crawler on the fishing jetty located on the west shore.

[hondarider550]

NORTHWEST

Nelson Park Lake

Fishing has slowed. Anglers are catching a few catfish on stink bait.

Yellow Smoke Park Lake

Anglers are catching some panfish. It has been fairly slow.

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Fishing has improved somewhat the last week; lots of smaller crappie. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers have been catching some catfish at night using various baits. Bluegill - Good: Shore and boat anglers are catching a few good sized bluegills with small hooks and jigs. Try from boat ramp to the dam, or any place that's easy to get to from the ramp parking lot. Crappie - Good: Anglers are catching some nice crappie using small hooks and jigs with small minnows. Fish have moved into deeper water; try from boat ramp to dam, or anywhere in between.

Badger Lake

North of Ft. Dodge. Fishing has slowed as mid summer weather conditions have arrived. Bluegill and catfish have moved into deeper water. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfishing is picking up; try cut bait and chicken liver. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching some hand-sized bluegill off shore. Crappie - Fair: Some 9 - 10 inch fish have been caught on small jigs and minnows.

Brushy Creek Lake

Nice bluegill, crappie and a few walleye are being caught. Try the weed line for pan fish. Water clarity is still good. Please clean your fish at the floating fish cleaning platform at the west ramp. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are hitting on liver, stink bait and night crawlers along the shore line. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills have moved out from shore; try fishing just off the bottom in 8 to 12 feet of water. Anglers have been having good luck using wax worms. Crappie - Fair: Crappies are in the trees; try a small jig or minnow rig and fish in 10 to 14 feet of water. Walleye - Fair: Walleye have been biting on minnows.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Fishing has slowed. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17-22 inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be immediately released. Channel Catfish - Excellent: Still catching cats with various baits; try drifting a night crawler, under a bobber, along the rocks. White Bass - Fair: White bass are still being caught with mini-jigs tipped with night crawlers or minnows; try casting along the rocks. Walleye - Fair: Walleye catch has slowed considerably.

North Twin Lake

Fishing has slowed; anglers are catching some nice bullheads. Bullhead - Good: Fair numbers of big bullhead are being caught. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching a few catfish on liver.

Black Hawk Lake

Bullhead and catfish fishing have been very good. Water has warmed considerably the last week. Bullhead - Good: Anglers are doing well for 8 to 9 inch bullheads. Channel Catfish - Good: Shore anglers are having good luck catching 1.5 to 2 pound catfish on various baits including liver, leeches, night crawlers and stink bait.

Fishing has slowed this week across district. Water clarity has been relatively good in most lakes. For more information about these lakes and rivers call Lannie Miller (712-657-2638) at the Black Hawk District Office in Lake View.

Beeds Lake

Crappies and Bluegill fishing is fair.

Briggs Woods Lake

Crappie and bluegill fishing is good. Channel catfish are biting on liver.

Eldred Sherwood Lake

Bluegill fishing has been good using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the weed edge. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait.

Lower Pine Lake

Bluegill fishing is fair using a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the shoreline brush piles. Channel Catfish - Good: using liver.

Upper Pine Lake

Largemouth bass fishing is fair using a Lindy rig or Carolina rig with a worm or minnow. Channel catfish are biting on liver. Bluegill - Fair: Fish the shoreline with a small piece of worm.

Lake Smith

Bluegill fishing has been good, try a piece of night crawler fished under a bobber near the weed edge. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait.

Lake Catherine

Bluegill fishing has been slow. Largemouth bass fishing is good using jigs and plastic baits. Bluegill - Slow: Largemouth Bass - Good:

Clear Lake

Yellow bass fishing is slow, try the Little Lake area or drift fishing the reefs with live bait until you find the fish. Channel Catfish - Fair: A few catfish are being caught with night crawlers or cut bait fished on the bottom at the Ventura grade and McIntosh State Park shoreline. Walleye - Slow:

Lake Cornelia

Bullhead fishing is fair using a night crawler fished on the bottom. Channel Catfish - Fair: Channel catfish are biting cut bait and liver. White Bass - Fair: Biting on small white twister tails. Walleye - Slow: A few Walleyes are being caught on trolled crankbaits.

Little Wall Lake

Small crappies, largemouth bass and Channel catfish fishing is good.

West Twin Lake

Bullhead fishing is good using a night crawler fished on the bottom.

Rice Lake

Bullhead fishing is good fishing with a crawler off the bottom.

Bluebill Lake

Largemouth bass are biting on crankbaits and plastic baits. Bluegill fishing has been fair fishing the weed edges.

Boone River

Channel catfish are biting on stink bait.

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

Channel Catfish - Fair: using cut bait or liver. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: using jigs and crankbaits.

Winnebago River

Channel Catfish and smallmouth bass fishing is fair.

For more information on fishing in the area lakes and rivers, call the Clear Lake Fisheries Office at (641) 357-3517.

Mill Creek (Lake)

Bluegill - Good: Use a small jig or a slip bobber with live bait near docks and weed lines. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use weed-less top-water lures over the weed beds and along shorelines.

Big Spirit Lake

Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use live bait, jerk baits, or jigs at rock bars and connected weed lines. Largemouth Bass - Fair: Use soft plastics around weed beds and boat docks. Yellow Perch - Good: Drift fish while using bottom bouncers or anchor and vertical jig with small jigging spoons tipped with worms in 20-22 foot of water. Walleye - Fair: Drift fish with Lindy rigs or slip bobber fish around weed beds. Fish are also being caught trolling with deep running crankbaits on the main lake basin.

East Okoboji Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Use stink bait or chubs around the bridges or off the docks. Yellow Bass - Good: Vertical jig around Stoney Point and deeper water areas or near boat docks with jigging lures tipped with worms. Fish are also being caught at wooden docks using a slip bobber and minnow.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Walleye - Good: Troll with crankbaits on the north shore and around the island.

West Okoboji Lake

Bluegill - Excellent: Fish with small hair jigs or a split shot and hook with live bait around boat docks or along weed bed edges in 15-18 foot of water. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Fish the rock bars at Fort Dodge and Gull Points with jerk baits or live bait below a slip bobber. Largemouth Bass - Good: Use a slip bobber and leech or spinner baits near boat docks and weed lines. Walleye - Fair: Use slip bobber and leech around rock bars and connected weed beds.

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use stink bait or chubs at the railroad bridge. Crappie - Fair: Fishing has been inconsistent but anglers are reporting occasional good catches around boat docks or drifting for suspended fish in deeper water. Walleye - Fair: Troll with crankbaits along drop-offs.

Lost Island Lake

Crappie - Fair: Fishing has been inconsistent but good catches have been made using small jigs around boat docks. Walleye - Fair: Trolling with crankbaits.

Willow Creek

Bluegill - Good: Fish along edge of weed beds with small jigs or a bobber and small hook with a piece of worm.

Tuttle Lake

Crappie - Fair: Fish the south shore along boat docks with small jigs. Walleye - Good: Troll with planer boards using crankbaits.

Big Sioux River

Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use cut bait, chubs, or stink bait in deep holes and brush piles. Flathead Catfish - Good: Use large live bait along brush piles, cut banks, and rock shorelines.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

Channel Catfish - Good: Use large minnow or stink bait in holes and above brush piles. Walleye - Fair: Use twister tails around holes and riffles.

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)

Channel Catfish - Excellent: Use crawdads in holes and around brush piles. Walleye - Fair: Use twister tails or crankbaits along current breaks and holes.

Kids Corner: If you are looking for a place to take a child fishing then take them to Scharnburg Park located 5 miles west of Spencer on B24. Use a small bobber and piece of night crawler on the fishing jetty located on the west shore. Expect to catch bluegill, green sunfish, bullheads, and bass along the rocks or willows located along the shore. For more fishing report information on the Spirit Lake area call 712-336-1840.

[hondarider550]

SCOUR HOLES CAUSING PROBLEMS AT BOAT RAMPS

STORM LAKE – Boaters using the Bel Air Beach boat ramp on the south side of Storm Lake should pay special attention to their props when loading their boat on the trailer. A large scour hole has developed at the end of the ramp from boaters who use the motor to push their way onto the trailer, instead of using the trailer winch to load the boat.

The hole has exposed the end of the concrete ramp pad. If the motor is not trimmed up enough, the prop can break when it makes contact with the concrete while the boat is being pulled out, or the trailer can be damaged when its tires fall into the hole while backing down the ramp.

The problem with prop wash out at boat ramps is not unique to Storm Lake. The issue can be prevented by using the winch cable to load the boat instead of gunning the boat motor.

[Rick]

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Bluegill - Fair: Shore and boat anglers are catching bluegill with small hooks and jigs. Majority of fish are medium size. Crappie - Fair: Boat and shore anglers have been catching some crappie on various baits. Majority of fish are medium to fairly small.

Brushy Creek Lake

A few bluegill and crappie are being caught. Fish near trees and cover a lot of areas. Docks will remain in the lake until freezing weather moves in. Bluegill - Fair: Anglers have been catching bluegill in 12 to 18 feet of water, just off the bottom. Use small hooks and live bait. Walleye - Slow: Cooler water may get walleye hitting on minnows; try the shoreline at dusk.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Anglers are catching catfish and a few walleye. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17 to 22-inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be immediately released. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching catfish on various baits; try areas near Shorty's Island and Boy Scout Island. Walleye angling has slowed; anglers are trolling shad rap type lures (hot steel) along the dredge cuts.

North Twin Lake

Anglers are starting to catch a few panfish. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small hook and piece of crawler. Crappie - Fair: Use small minnows and fish around docks. Yellow Bass - Good: Use a small hook and piece of crawler or small piece of cut bait; cast toward or jig around docks and keep moving.

Black Hawk Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching some 1.5 to 2 pound catfish fish.

As the temperature drops water is clearing up a bit. Cold fronts moving across the area have slowed fishing again.

Beeds Lake

Bluegills and Largemouth bass are biting. Channel Catfish - Slow:

Briggs Woods Lake

Bluegill fishing is fair. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Channel catfish are biting on liver. Crappie fishing is slow.

Eldred Sherwood Lake

Largemouth bass and channel catfish are biting. Channel Catfish - Good: biting on cut bait. Bluegill - Fair:

Lower Pine Lake

Bluegill fishing is slow. Channel catfish are biting on crawlers.

Upper Pine Lake

Bluegill fishing is slow. Largemouth bass fishing is fair using jigs. Channel catfish are biting on liver and stink baits.

Lake Smith

Bluegill fishing is good. Channel catfish are biting on cut bait and liver.

Lake Catherine

Bluegill fishing is fair. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. Channel catfish are biting on chicken liver or night crawlers.

Clear Lake

Yellow bass fishing is still good, the best bite is early in the morning; try drifting cut bait or a worm until you find the fish then work that area. Shore fish the wind swept side of the lake for best results. A few walleyes and channel fish are being caught. Channel Catfish - Fair: Walleye - Slow: Muskellunge - Slow:

Lake Cornelia

A few walleyes are being caught slow trolling crankbaits. White bass are biting. Channel catfish are biting chicken liver. Bullhead - Slow: Channel Catfish - Good: White Bass - Fair: Walleye - Fair: Yellow Bass - Fair:

Little Wall Lake

Small crappies and largemouth bass fishing is fair. Channel catfish fishing is fair at night using stink bait.

West Twin Lake

Bullhead fishing is good using a night crawler fished on the bottom.

Bluebill Lake

Bluegill fishing has been good. Largemouth bass fishing is picking up.

West Fork Des Moines (Emmetsburg to Humboldt)

Walleyes and channel catfish are biting on crawlers. Channel Catfish - Good: Walleye - Fair:

Boone River

Channel catfish are biting on stink bait.

Iowa River (Iowa Falls to Marshalltown)

Fishing has been good for smallmouth bass, channel catfish and walleye.

Shell Rock River (above Greene)

Channel catfish and smallmouth bass fishing is fair. Channel Catfish - Fair: using cut bait or liver. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: using jigs and crankbaits.

Winnebago River

Channel catfish and smallmouth bass fishing had been fair.

Lake Pahoja

Bluegill - Good: Vertical jig near brush piles with mini jigs tipped with live bait. Crappie - Good: Vertical jig near brush piles with mini jigs tipped with live bait or a bobber and small hook and minnow at the dam.

Big Spirit Lake

The water temperature is 61 degrees. Northern Pike - Good: Troll crankbaits and spoons near weed lines or cast in Angler's Bay. White Bass - Excellent: Use top-water lures in black or perch colors in the mornings. Look for surface feeding fish at Cottonwood, Little and Big Stoney points. Bluegill - Good: Use small jigging lures tipped with a piece of worm along weed beds in Anglers Bay and the main lake. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Use top-water lures in the mornings. Smallmouth will be mixed in with white bass schools. Crappie - Fair: Some black crappies are being caught around Big Stoney Point trolling minnow crankbaits or bobber fishing with minnows along weed beds. Yellow Perch - Excellent: Using jigging lures or small jigs tipped with wax worms, minnows, or Belgian worms while anchored in 17 to 22 feet of water near Big and Little Stoney points. Walleye - Good: Wader fish after sunset at the Footbridge, Buffalo Run, and Marble Beach with a twister tail.

Center Lake

Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait in the evenings from the south shore.

East Okoboji Lake

Northern Pike - Fair: Troll spoons along weed lines. Bluegill - Good: Tip small jigs with a piece of worm and fish around boat docks and weed lines. Yellow Perch - Good: Vertical jig along weed lines or in the deep basin on the south end of the lake. Walleye - Fair: Fish are being caught while fishing around boat docks with small jigs or trolling crankbaits from Parks Marina towards the Hattie Elston boat ramp and at Jingles Point. A few walleyes are also being caught at the bridges in the evenings. Yellow Bass - Excellent: Fish boat docks with small jigs tipped with a piece of worms or along weed lines.

Minnewashta Lake

Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs around boat docks and weed lines. Yellow Perch - Fair: Vertical jig along the weed line with a small jig tipped with live bait. Yellow Bass - Excellent: Use small jigs tipped with live bait along boat docks and weed lines on the east shore near the bike trail bridge.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

White Bass - Good: Troll crankbaits or look for surface feeding fish to cast to. Fish are also being caught around boat docks. Yellow Perch - Fair: Perch are being caught while trolling with crankbaits. Walleye - Fair: Wader fish after sunset with a jig and minnow, twister-tail, or shallow diving crankbait.

West Okoboji Lake

Water temperature is 64 degrees. Northern Pike - Good: Troll crankbaits or cast spinnerbaits and rattle trap lures along weed lines. White Bass - Good: Fish the points with surface lures in the morning and evenings. Look for surface feeding activity. Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs tipped with wax worms or worms along weed lines. Smallmouth Bass - Fair: Fish at Pikes, Gull, and Pillsbury points in the mornings and evening with top-water lures. Look for schools of white bass feeding on the surface. Yellow Perch - Good: Fish are being caught with small jigs tipped with live bait along weed lines and rock piles. Walleye - Fair: Wader fish after sunset at Pikes and Gull points along the beach using a twister tail or jig and minnow. Muskellunge - Fair: Fish are being caught in the evenings toward dark with blade or glide baits.

Five Island Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Use stink bait or chubs near the trestle. Walleye - Fair: A few fish are being caught while trolling crankbait near drop-offs. Some fish are also being caught close to shore in the evenings casting jigs.

Schmerse W.A. Pond

Northern Pike - Fair: Use spinner baits or top-water lures along weed beds. Bluegill - Fair: Use small micro jigs from shore along the weed beds.

Big Sioux River

Channel Catfish - Good: Fish are being caught using cut bait near holes and riffles. Flathead Catfish - Good: Use green sunfish or bullheads near river holes with wood debris.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove)

Channel Catfish - Good: Use cut bait or stink bait in holes near snags. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig and minnow shallow running crankbait along eddies and holes.

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg)

Channel Catfish - Good: Fish with cut bait near snags. Walleye - Good: Use a jig and minnow in eddies and deep water areas.

Kids Corner: If you want to take a child fishing then take them dock fishing at the Iowa Great Lakes. Use a small micro jig tipped with a piece of worm jigged along the bottom around the edge of the dock for any species or fish after sunset with a lighted slip bobber and a minnow for walleyes.

[hondarider550]

NORTHWEST

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Anglers are catching fair numbers of medium size bluegill. Channel Catfish - Slow: People have reported catching a few 3 to 4-pound catfish. Bluegill - Fair: Shore and boat anglers are catching bluegill with small hooks and jigs. Majority of fish are medium size. Crappie - Fair: Boat and shore anglers have been catching some crappie on various baits. Majority of fish are medium to fairly small.

Brushy Creek Lake

A few bluegill and crappie are being caught. Fish near trees and cover a lot of areas. Docks will remain in the lake until freezing weather moves in. Bluegill - Good: Anglers have been catching bluegill in 10 to 18 feet of water, just off the bottom. Use small hooks and a slip bobber set up; best baits are red worms or wax worms. Walleye - Slow: Try minnows along the rock shoreline in the evening hours.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) Walleye and catfish angling is slowly improving. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17 to 22-inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be immediately released. Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers are doing well using chubs and minnows. Walleye - Fair: Walleye angling has improved. Try chubs and minnows. Some anglers have caught fish casting twisters from shore or trolling shad rap type lures (hot steel or blue) along the dredge cuts and other traditionally good areas. Make sure immediately return slot length (17 to 22-inch) fish to the water.

North Twin Lake

Anglers are catching a few panfish. Bluegill - Fair: Use a small hook and piece of crawler. Crappie - Fair: Use small minnows and fish around docks. Yellow Bass - Good: Use a small hook and piece of crawler or small piece of cut bait; cast toward or jig around docks and keep moving.

Black Hawk Lake

Anglers have been catching a few small crappie and bluegill in Town Bay. Channel Catfish - Fair: Anglers are catching a few 1.5 to 2-pound fish.

Cold fronts moving across the area have disrupted fishing, but fishing seems to be slowly improving. For more information about these lakes and rivers call Don Herrig (712-657-2638) at the Black Hawk District Office in Lake View.

Clear Lake

The recent cold rainy weather has slowed fishing down. Yellow bass are still biting; the best bite is in the early morning, try drifting cut bait or a worm until you find the fish then work that area. Walleye fishing is still slow but a few small fish are being caught. Channel Catfish - Fair: Walleye - Slow: Muskellunge - Slow: Yellow Bass - Good:

Rice Lake

Crappies are biting.

For more information on fishing in the area lakes and rivers, call the Clear Lake Fisheries Office at (641) 357-3517.

Lake Pahoja

Bluegill - Good: Vertical jig near brush piles with mini jigs tipped with live bait. Crappie - Good: Vertical jig near brush piles with mini jigs tipped with live bait or a bobber and small hook and minnow at the dam.

Big Spirit Lake

The water temperature at the lake is 54 degrees. Northern Pike - Good: Troll spoons or rattling lures along weed beds. White Bass - Good: Cast jigs tipped with minnows along shorelines late in the evening. Bluegill - Good: Use small jigging lures tipped with a piece of worm along weed beds in Anglers Bay and the main lake. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Cast jerk baits or rattling lures along rock bars and weed edges. Largemouth Bass - Good: Cast jerk baits, rattling lures, or soft plastics along weed beds. Crappie - Fair: Use a small bobber and minnow along weed beds. A few are also being caught on jigs in the evenings by walleye anglers. Yellow Perch - Excellent: Using jigging lures or small jigs tipped with wax worms, minnows, or Belgian worms while anchored in 17 to 22-feet of water near Big and Little Stoney points. Walleye - Excellent: Wader fish after sunset at the Footbridge, Buffalo Run, and Marble Beach with a twister tail. Walleye of all sizes are being caught.

Center Lake

Channel Catfish - Good: Use stink bait in the evenings from the south shore. White Bass - Fair: Cast a jig and minnow in the evenings along the shorelines.

East Okoboji Lake

Channel Catfish - Fair: Fish in the evenings off boat docks or the bridges in the evenings with stink bait or cut bait. Bluegill - Good: Tip small jigs with a piece of worm and fish around boat docks and weed lines. Yellow Perch - Good: Vertical jig along weed lines or in the deep basin on the south end of the lake. Walleye - Fair: Fish at sunset off boat docks, the bridges, or along shorelines with a twister tail or jig and minnow. Yellow Bass - Excellent: Fish boat docks with small jigs tipped with a piece of worms or along weed lines.

Minnewashta Lake

Bluegill - Good: Use small jigs around boat docks and weed lines. Yellow Perch - Fair: Vertical jig along the weed line with a small jig tipped with live bait. Yellow Bass - Excellent: Use small jigs tipped with live bait along boat docks and weed lines on the east shore near the bike trail bridge.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)

Walleye - Good: Wader fish after sunset with a jig and minnow or twister-tail along the east shore line or at the Trappers Bay Bridge.

West Okoboji Lake

Northern Pike - Good: Troll rattle trap lures along weed lines. Smallmouth Bass - Good: Use jerk baits at rock bars and weed edges. Yellow Perch - Fair: Fish are being caught with small jigs tipped with live bait along weed lines and rock piles. Walleye - Fair: Wader fish after sunset with a twister tail or jig and minnow. Muskellunge - Fair: Fish are being caught in the evenings toward dark with blade or glide baits.

Five Island Lake

Walleye - Fair: Fish are also being caught close to shore in the evenings casting a jig and minnow or twister tail.

Lost Island Lake

Walleye - Good: Wader fish along the east shore line and bridge at sunset.

Tuttle Lake

Walleye - Fair: Fish at sunset with a jig and minnow or twister tail.

Silver Lake (Palo Alto)

Walleye - Fair: Wader fish at sunset with a jig and minnow or twister tail.

Big Sioux River

Channel Catfish - Good: Fish are being caught using cut bait near holes and riffles. Flathead Catfish - Good: Use green sunfish or bullheads near river holes with wood debris. Sauger - Fair: Use a jig and minnow at deep holes and eddies. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig and minnow along the edges of holes and eddies.

Little Sioux River (state line to Linn Grove) Channel Catfish - Good: Use cut bait or stink bait in holes near snags. Walleye - Fair: Use a jig and minnow shallow running crankbait along eddies and holes.

West Fork Des Moines (state line to Emmetsburg) Recent rains have raised the river which has slowed the fishing some. Walleye - Excellent: Use a jig and minnow in eddies and deep water areas.

Fishing right now is good for most species as they prepare for the upcoming winter. Weather conditions (wind and precipitation) have made it difficult for all anglers. Kids Corner: If you would like to take a child fishing, then take them dock fishing at the Iowa Great Lakes. Use a small micro jig tipped with a piece of worm jigged along the bottom around the edge of the dock for any species or fish after sunset with a lighted slip bobber and a minnow for walleyes. For more information on fishing in the Iowa Great Lakes area, call the Spirit Lake hatchery at 712-336-1840.

[scoutWBL]

When do you anticipate fishable ice on Big Spirit? I'm looking forward to getting back to the cabin for some harwater action!

[muc33]

Hard say down here, look to the 2nd week of December at the earliest, likely a week or so later than that. Big water, and our wind, usually make it sketchy. I spend most every weekend down there and will keep the board updated.

[scoutWBL]

I'm itching to get back out there...I'm headed to the lake tonight to do some pheasant hunting in MN. Bought a new portable today though so I cant stop thinking hard water.

[Esox_Magnum]

I average Dec 4th around here, been on as early as Nov 28th. If things stay as they are Dec1 will be possible.

[hondarider550]

This has been a different year with the weather so its anybody's guess as to first ice. I usually dont like to take chances so I get alittle hunting in first before I go out to the ice...

[hondarider550]

Kind of a short report this time but here it is...

NORTHWEST

Crawford Creek Impoundment

Anglers have been catching a few medium-size bluegils and crappies.

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)

Walleye, catfish and white bass fishing have been fair this week. Remember that Storm Lake has a 17-22 inch slot length limit. All walleye in that range must be immediately released. Channel Catfish - Fair: Try using a minnow or chub below a slip bobber. White Bass - Fair: Anglers are having some luck casting twisters; chartreuse has been a good color. Walleye - Fair: They are still catching fish using a minnow or chub under a slip bobber and fishing in the marina, but anglers are also catching walleye fishing rocky points. People are also having luck using twisters (chartreuse) and also floating crank baits, like traditional Rapalas; black and silver has been a good color. Walleye seem to be really shallow. Make sure to immediately return slot length (17 to 22 inch) fish to the water.

Swan Lake

The water has cleared at Swan Lake and anglers are catching medium size crappie and bluegill. Crappie - Good: Anglers have been doing well fishing for crappie, but they are fairly small (6 to 7 inches).

Fishing has been generally fair this week. Weekend forecasts say it will be mostly sunny and in the low 50s; should be a good time to give your local lake or river a try.

[pointerboat]

I can't figure out why everyone seems to want to fish through a 8" hole in the ice , rather than move around on the schools of fish with a boat? Please explain your reasoning. I like to ice fish ... but I would rather be in my boat & mobile. Seems people are wishing for ice, I'm wishing for 1 more weekend of 50 degees, they will bite either way just wondering , your comments.

Thanks in advance

[Esox_Magnum]

I love both, each has it;s merits. Ice for me is to fill the freezer to eat, open waters for chasing the elusive muskie. After 8 months of chucking lures up to 14oz I'm ready for a break to heal up for next years 8 months.

I have been known to catch supper in the morning on the ice and chase muskies in the afternoon from the boat though I do have a fishing addiction to, so whatever the season I'm out there. I only miss 2-3 weekends a year not counting the weeknights I'm out almost daily in the summer. If we get ice anytime soon I'll hit 140 days on the water/ice this year

[hondarider550]

Wow Esox, The word addiction comes to mind.. But its the best addiction that you can have.

[Esox_Magnum]

Other than work all I do is fish. Helps living where I do I can be on the water casting 15 minutes after I get off work. Also helps having a partner that fishes more than me.

[scoutWBL]

I'll second Esox...I love to chase open water but for me it's been 90% muskie for the past 2 seasons. Ice is time to get out, target some pannies and eyes, and put some fish in the pan. Plus just having something to do ALL winter long is great.

Ask me in oct if I like open water or hard water more and I'll say hard water all the way..... ask me in may and I can't wait for muskie opener.