02-04-2004, 10:32 PM
Northwest
Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Caution: There is still some open water around the lake so extreme caution is recommended if you choose to drive on the ice. Yellow perch fishing has been kind of slow with some fish being caught on the east side of the lake on both sides of Big Stoney Point. Anglers are catching perch on minnows and wigglers attached to pilkees and jigs. Walleye anglers are targeting areas way out from Marble Beach and along Reeds Run on the east side. There is also some action on the north end by Crandalls Beach, Big Stoney, and Mini-Wakan State Park. Anglers are using jigging raps, kastmasters, and other lures tipped with minnows, minnow heads, or perch eyes, when available. Out from Anglers Bay Resort is a great place for crappies and a few bluegills, but the perch have seemed to slow down quite a bit. The North Grade has a few crappies and bluegills being caught along the weed lines. Wax worms and smaller jigs seem to be the bait of choice, with some anglers using minnows for the crappie.
West Okoboji (Dickinson): Crappie and bluegills are being caught in Miller's and Smith's bay with most people using wax worms. Yellow perch are being caught in about 50 feet of water in Hayward's Bay. Using an electronic fish locator will help to find the depth where the fish are suspended. There is also some perch being caught in Millers Bay in about 15 to 20 feet of water. Northern pike are being caught in Smith's, Miller's, and Emerson bays, and at the north end. The preferred bait for pike is chubs.
Five Island (Palo Alto): Walleyes being caught on the north end of the third island late in the evening and into the night. Some crappies are being caught between the first island and the trestle.
Silver Lake (Palo Alto): Anglers having some luck on the south end of the lake for yellow perch and northern pike.
Lake Pahoja (Lyon): Lots of smaller bluegills are being caught, along with a few Channel Catfish, using small jigs tipped with a wax worm.
Dog Creek (O'Brien): Anglers are catching a few black crappies in the evenings.
Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Crappie and yellow bass fishing is fairly good.
Arrowhead Lake (Sac): Good for 7 - 8 inch bluegill.
Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Yellow bass fishing is fair. Yellows are being caught around the Island and Billy's Reef. Use minnows and jigging spoons for the best action.
Little Wall Lake (Hamilton): Crappies are being caught in the dredged area. Use minnows and wax worms on small spoons.
Rice Lake (Winnebago/Worth): Yellow perch are hitting minnows and small jigs. Many of the perch are small, so sorting is required. A few northern pike in the 2 to 5-pound range are being caught while fishing for perch.
Silver Lake (Worth): Yellow perch fishing is fair. Use small minnows and jigs for bait. Sorting is required to get larger fish.
For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at (712) 336-1840.
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Spirit Lake (Dickinson): Caution: There is still some open water around the lake so extreme caution is recommended if you choose to drive on the ice. Yellow perch fishing has been kind of slow with some fish being caught on the east side of the lake on both sides of Big Stoney Point. Anglers are catching perch on minnows and wigglers attached to pilkees and jigs. Walleye anglers are targeting areas way out from Marble Beach and along Reeds Run on the east side. There is also some action on the north end by Crandalls Beach, Big Stoney, and Mini-Wakan State Park. Anglers are using jigging raps, kastmasters, and other lures tipped with minnows, minnow heads, or perch eyes, when available. Out from Anglers Bay Resort is a great place for crappies and a few bluegills, but the perch have seemed to slow down quite a bit. The North Grade has a few crappies and bluegills being caught along the weed lines. Wax worms and smaller jigs seem to be the bait of choice, with some anglers using minnows for the crappie.
West Okoboji (Dickinson): Crappie and bluegills are being caught in Miller's and Smith's bay with most people using wax worms. Yellow perch are being caught in about 50 feet of water in Hayward's Bay. Using an electronic fish locator will help to find the depth where the fish are suspended. There is also some perch being caught in Millers Bay in about 15 to 20 feet of water. Northern pike are being caught in Smith's, Miller's, and Emerson bays, and at the north end. The preferred bait for pike is chubs.
Five Island (Palo Alto): Walleyes being caught on the north end of the third island late in the evening and into the night. Some crappies are being caught between the first island and the trestle.
Silver Lake (Palo Alto): Anglers having some luck on the south end of the lake for yellow perch and northern pike.
Lake Pahoja (Lyon): Lots of smaller bluegills are being caught, along with a few Channel Catfish, using small jigs tipped with a wax worm.
Dog Creek (O'Brien): Anglers are catching a few black crappies in the evenings.
Black Hawk Lake (Sac): Crappie and yellow bass fishing is fairly good.
Arrowhead Lake (Sac): Good for 7 - 8 inch bluegill.
Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo): Yellow bass fishing is fair. Yellows are being caught around the Island and Billy's Reef. Use minnows and jigging spoons for the best action.
Little Wall Lake (Hamilton): Crappies are being caught in the dredged area. Use minnows and wax worms on small spoons.
Rice Lake (Winnebago/Worth): Yellow perch are hitting minnows and small jigs. Many of the perch are small, so sorting is required. A few northern pike in the 2 to 5-pound range are being caught while fishing for perch.
Silver Lake (Worth): Yellow perch fishing is fair. Use small minnows and jigs for bait. Sorting is required to get larger fish.
For more information on fishing in northwest Iowa, call the regional office in Spirit Lake at (712) 336-1840.
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