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 08/20/2026

Black Hawk Lake (Sac)

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

• Bluegill – Fair: Pick up bluegill from shore with a piece of crawler on a jig near patches of vegetation, the stone piers in Town Bay, and on the rock piles from boat. Most fish are 7-inches.
• Channel Catfish – Fair: There is a good population of 17- to 20-inch catfish. Use cut bait or crawlers fished on or near the bottom from shore and around the rock piles in deeper habitat.
• Walleye – Slow: Look for walleye along the dredge cuts and near the rock piles in the east basin. Try crankbaits, crawler harness rigs, or a minnow and jig.

Crawford Creek Impoundment (Ida)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills along the weedlines in 5-10 feet of water and near submerged brush piles. Bigger fish are 7- to 8-inches long.

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 and near the dredge cuts. Use cut bait, stink bait, or a crawler fished on the bottom.
• Walleye – Slow: Look for walleye off shore near the dredge cuts. Use crankbaits, a jig tipped with a minnow fished just off the bottom, or a bottom bouncer with a crawler harness.

Swan Lake (Carroll)

• Ramp Condition: Useable
• Black Bullhead – Fair: Catch 10- to 11-inch bullhead from shore along the jetties; use a piece of crawler fished on or near the bottom.
• Bluegill – Fair

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 – Good
• Bluegill – Slow

Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo)

• Water Temperature (°F): 74.0
• Ramp Condition: Useable

Lake level is 0.2 inches below crest. Water clarity is around 15 inches.

• Walleye – Fair: Try slip bobber fishing near the rock reefs and submerged vegetation. Best bite is early morning.
• Yellow Bass – Good: Anglers are catching mostly 7- to 8-inch fish.

Crystal Lake (Hancock)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll a small jig or minnow.
• Bluegill – Fair

Lower Pine Lake (Hardin)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

• Black Crappie – Fair
• Largemouth Bass – Fair

Rice Lake (Winnebago)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

Submerged aquatic vegetation is thick in areas.

• Bluegill – Fair
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use topwater and weedless baits.

Silver Lake (Worth) (Worth)

• Ramp Condition: Useable

Submerged aquatic vegetation is thick in areas.

• Bluegill – Slow
• Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use topwater and weedless baits.

Winnebago River (Cerro Gordo)

• Ramp Condition: Not applicable

River level is 4.9 feet.

• Northern Pike – Fair
• Smallmouth Bass – Fair

Spirit Lake Management District

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

Lake temperatures are in the low to mid-70s. Water levels are at crest. Some lakes are experiencing late summer algae blooms. Last updated on 08/20/2026

East Okoboji Lake (Dickinson)

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

The bass and panfish bite has been good, but has begun to slow a bit.

Ingham Lake (Emmet)

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

Little Swan Lake (Dickinson)

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

A lot of vegetation is reaching the surface, making navigation by boat more difficult.

Silver Lake (Dickinson) (Dickinson)

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

Elevated levels of Microcystin (blue-green algae) have been sampled on the lake recently. The lake is currently experiencing a blue-green algae bloom.

Spirit Lake (Dickinson)

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

A large blue-green algae bloom has been observed on the lake. The down-wind side typically has been worse. Lake level is at crest.

• Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers are catching quality-sized bass.

West Okoboji Lake (Dickinson)

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