Northwest

Black Hawk Management District

• Contact Person: Ben Wallace – 712-657-2638

Water temperatures are in the mid-70s on most area lakes. Last updated on 06/03/2026

Arrowhead Lake (Sac)

• Water Temperature (°F): 70.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills guarding nests in the shallow areas along shore. Use a small jig or a piece of crawler under a bobber.

Black Hawk Lake (Sac)

• Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Black Crappie – Fair: Most crappies have moved offshore; anglers are picking up some in the fish house in Town Bay.
• Walleye – Fair: Try drifting or trolling along the dredge cuts and the rock piles in the east basin.

Brushy Creek Lake (Webster)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

All boat ramp courtesy docks are in.

• Black Crappie – Fair: Look for crappie near woody structure along shore in 2-8 feet of water. Use a small minnow under a bobber or a small jig.
• Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegill along shore. Cast a piece of crawler or a small jig under a bobber along shore where you see bluegill beds.
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use traditional bass lures, weedless lures, and crawlers along shoreline structure and weedlines.

Crawford Creek Impoundment (Ida)

• Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Water clarity is 6 feet.

• Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills are on spawning beds near shore. Bigger fish are 7- to 8-inches long.
• Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers have had luck from shore using cut bait and crawlers on the bottom.
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find bass near shore. Try traditional bass lures along weedlines.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake) (Buena Vista)

• Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for catfish around rocky shorelines. Use cut bait, stink bait, or a crawler on the bottom.
• Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having good luck. Most action has been offshore. Use crankbaits and bottom bouncer rigs.

Swan Lake (Carroll)

• Water Temperature (°F): 72.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Water clarity is about 2 feet.

• Black Bullhead – Fair: Most fish are in 10- to 11-inches; look for them along shore.
• Bluegill – Fair: Use a small jig under a bobber or a small piece of crawler under a bobber fished near shore. Most bluegill are 7-inches with a few reaching 8-inches.

Clear Lake Management District

• Contact Person: Scott Grummer – 641-357-3517

For information on lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office. Last updated on 04/09/2026

Beeds Lake (Franklin)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs in 4 to 8 feet of water along the north shore.
• Bluegill – Fair

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo)

• Water Temperature (°F): 70.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

The lake is 1.32 inches over crest. Water clarity is around 20 inches.

• Black Crappie – Slow
• Walleye – Good: Anglers are catching walleyes on a variety of baits. Try fishing near the rock reefs and submerged vegetation.
• Yellow Bass – Fair: Drift fish live bait.

Crystal Lake (Hancock)

• Water Temperature (°F): 73.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Water clarity is 48 inches.

• Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll small jigs in 3 to 6 feet of water in the morning.
• Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are on beds. Use a piece of crawler under a bobber near shore.

Lake Cornelia (Wright)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Black Crappie – Fair
• Yellow Perch – Fair

Lower Pine Lake (Hardin)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Black Crappie – Slow
• Bluegill – Fair: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.

Rice Lake (Winnebago)

• Water Temperature (°F): 60.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Water clarity is over 6 feet.

• Bluegill – Fair: Try a piece of crawler under a bobber near the edge of submerged vegetation.
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing near shore woody habitat or the edge of submerged vegetation. Slow presentations work best with the cool water temperatures.
• Yellow Perch – Slow

Silver Lake (Worth) (Worth)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Bluegill – Slow
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try small jigs tipped with bait. Best bite is afternoon on warmer days.
• Yellow Perch – Slow

Winnebago River (Cerro Gordo)

• Ramp Condition: Not applicable

River level is 5.41 feet.

• Northern Pike – Slow
• Smallmouth Bass – Slow

Spirit Lake Management District

• Contact Person: Jed Siegwarth – 712-330-2542

Lake temperatures have increased significantly over the last week; most lakes are in the mid-70s. Water levels are a couple inches above crest. The bite is fairly good for most species. Fish morality for various fish species has been observed on many lakes due to spawning stress and rapidly rising water temperatures. Last updated on 05/28/2026

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson)

• Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

The bass and panfish bite has been good. The northern most basin has a large stand of curly-leaf pondweed, making navigation difficult.

• Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are using electronics to stay on top of fish. Try 1/16th and 1/32nd ounce jigs with a minnow or plastic.
• Bluegill – Fair: Many anglers have been successfully fishing from shore or from docks. A simple hook, worm and bobber setup is working for many. An ultralight rod with a light monofilament line works best for finicky fish.
• Pumpkinseed – Good: Anglers are catching pumpkinseed while pursuing bluegill.

Ingham Lake (Emmet)

• Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

The lake has been very clear this spring with a good amount of plant structure to fish around.

Lost Island Lake (Palo Alto)

• Water Temperature (°F): 78.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

The lake is currently experiencing an algae bloom.

• Yellow Bass – Fair: Catch lots of 7- to 8-inch bass.

Silver Lake (Dickinson) (Dickinson)

• Water Temperature (°F): 75.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Water clarity is currently at a couple feet. Anglers are catching quality-size bullhead.

• Black Bullhead – Excellent: Anglers are catching large bullhead.
• Walleye – Fair: The bite is slow.

Spirit Lake (Dickinson)

• Water Temperature (°F): 76.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

The lake was very clear this spring, but has started to algae up considerably.

• Black Crappie – Good: Anglers are using electronics to stay on top of fish. Try 1/16th and 1/32nd ounce jigs with a minnow or plastic.
• Bluegill – Good: Many anglers have been successfully fishing from shore or from docks. A simple hook, worm and bobber setup is working for many. An ultralight rod with light monofilament line works best for finicky fish.
• Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers are catching 20-inch bass.
• Walleye – Good: Walleye can be finicky. Try fishing out deeper along weed lines with jig and crawler or twister tail; 1/8 to 1/4 oz jig head have worked well, but drop down to 1/16 oz if fishing shallow.
• Yellow Perch – Good: Anglers are catching 9- to 13-inch fish. Small jigging spoons or Shucks Pilkies/Jigger Minnows tipped with a minnow head or wax worms work well.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson)

• Water Temperature (°F): 72.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Water clarity has been down slightly this summer.

• Bluegill – Good: Large bluegill have been seen on beds.
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Anglers are fishing just off the end of docks. Most are using crank or chatter baits.