05-19-2004, 04:34 AM
Northwest Iowa Fishing Forecast
![[Image: nwmap.gif]](http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/images/nwmap.gif)
[url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#bluegill"][#800080]Bluegill[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#bullhead"][#800080]Bullhead[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#walleye"][#800080]Walleye[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#yellow"][#800080]Yellow Perch[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#channel"][#800080]Channel Catfish[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#muskellunge"][#800080]Muskellunge[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#crappie"][#800080]Crappie[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#smallmouth"][#800080]Smallmouth Bass[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#largemouth"][#800080]Largemouth Bass[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#yellowwhite"][#800080]Yellow Bass[/#800080][/url] .
Top Surprise From Last Year
North Twin Lake (Calhoun County), has seldom experienced a fishery as good as last years. In 2003 it provided some tremendous fishing for 9-12 inch crappies and 7-9 inch bluegills. If that isn't enough to interest you, it also produced some great channel catfish, yellow bass and walleye fishing. Boat anglers did better than shore anglers, as the fish seemed to concentrate along the outside weed line or in the deep-water fish habitat. Small leadheads or live minnows were excellent choices for these panfish species. Look for another great year in 2004.
Best Hunch For This Year
Brushy Creek Lake (Webster County) has been a tremendous fishing lake since it was filled in 1998 and 2004 promises to be a banner year. A large number of slab crappie, from 9 to 13 inches, are present in the lake and should provide some tremendous fishing this spring. A huge year class of 7-9 inch bluegill is also present in the lake. On top of this, large numbers of 17-23 inch walleye are present as well as some great largemouth and smallmouth bass. Throw in some muskies that will top 20 pounds and you have a fishing bonanza. Spawning crappie and bluegill can be caught near the shoreline in May and June, while later in the summer, fish will suspend near the sunken timber that abounds in the lake. Walleye are caught all year long on the underwater points using a slip bobber and leeches.
A strong year class of yellow perch that averaged eight inches during 2003 should provide excellent opportunities at Lake Cornelia (Wright County) during 2004. Perch have always existed in Cornelia, but this is the greatest number of catchable-size fish in recent years. Fishing the north shoreline during the spring with small minnows or nightcrawlers will produce good results. After the water warms anglers should concentrate their efforts in deeper water along the old dredge cut near the north shore.
Best Place To Spend Time With The Family
Upper and Lower Pine Lakes (Hardin County) located in Pine Lake State Park near Eldora offer great opportunities for family fun. Both lakes provide good fishing for bluegill and crappie. Trophy bass up to seven pounds are available in both lakes, with the best population occurring in the lower lake. If you prefer to river fish, the Iowa River lies on the edge of the park and provides excellent fishing for channel catfish, walleye and smallmouth bass. The lower lake has a large swim beach and the upper lake has boats and canoes for rent. The campground is located on the upper lake and several cabins are available for rent on the Iowa River below the lower lake. A well-maintained trail system provides hiking between the lakes and a closeup view of the unique landscape surrounding the lake.
Hidden Jewel
Indian Lake located in Eldred Sherwood Park in Hancock County is a 21-acre artificial lake that provides excellent fishing for largemouth bass and bluegill. It also is stocked annually with channel catfish and walleye. The lake is managed by the Hancock County Conservation Board and is three miles east and one mile north of Goodell. The lake has a gravel boat ramp and allows boats with with electric motors only. Camping, swim beach and shelter are also available for visitors to the lake.
[/url]Bluegill [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/blg-card.html"][#0000ff]Bluegills[/#0000ff][/url] are a species worthy of attention. Small hocks, waxworms, a piece of crawler, or a 1/16 ounce (or smaller) dark jig are time tested baits. Warm July and August water temperatures means an increase activity for bluegill.
Lake or stream County Comments Brushy Creek Webster Huge year class of 7 - 8 inch fish. Fish for suspended fish near timber areas. North Twin Calhoun Losts 8 and 9 inch fish. Upper & Lower Pine Hardin Large numbers of 6 inch and larger fish Beeds Franklin Six to seven inch fish are plentiful use a small jig. West Okoboji Dickinson Excellent numbers, early spring and summer are best
[/url]Bullhead Lake or stream County Comments Black Hawk Sac 8 - 10 inch fish in large numbers Clear Cerro Gordo May and June are prime time Silver Lake Worth 9 - 10-inch fish Dog Creek O'Brien Large population sampled in 2003 North Twin Calhoun Large yellow bullheads available Spirit Lake Dickinson Really large fish and in good numbers Rice Winnebago 1/2 to 3/4 pound fish are abundant Silver Palo Alto 10-inch fish are abundant Center Dickinson Good numbers and good shoreline access Lost Island Palo Alto Traditional producer
[/url]Walleye Lake or stream County Comments Clear Cerro Gordo 12 - 16 inch fish; two strong year classes are present Des Moines River Kossuth & Humboldt The population is on the increase. Silver Dickinson 13 - 18 inch fish Iowa River Hardin Fish downstream from Alden Storm Buena Vista Lots of fish larger than 15 inches Five Island Palo Alto 18 - 20 inch fish sampled in 2003 Spirit Lake Dickinson Large number of age 3 fish Brushy Creek Webster Fish the points and flats with a slip bobber and leech Lost Island Palo Alto Good recruitment of 2001 year class Black Hawk Sac 17 - 20 inch fish available
[/url]Yellow Perch Lake or stream County Comments Silver Palo Alto 8 to 10-inch fish and in good abundance. Silver Worth 8 - 10 inch fish are common, fish with a small minnow. Spirit Lake Dickinson Good numbers were observed in last years creel and population surveys. Cornelia Wright 8 - 9 inch fish are common, fish the north shore for the best success. Little Swan Lake Dickinson Large fish are available and in good numbers.
[/url]Channel Catfish Lake or stream County Comments Clear Cerro Gordo Fish in July with chicken livers Storm Buena Vista Perhaps the best in Northwest Iowa! Boone River Hamilton 1 - 2 pound fish abundant below Webster City Iowa River Hardin Quality habitat from Alden to Union Snyder Bend Woodbury Good numbers of 10 pound fish available Black Hawk Sac Easy access and losts of 1 - 5 pound fish Pahoja Lyon Excellent numbers of 2 - 8 pound fish Silver Dickinson 2 - 3 pound fish are abundant Ingham Emmet Excellent numbers East Okoboji Dickinson Large fish are available
[/url]Muskellunge
Muskellunge populations in Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo County), Spirit and West Okoboji (Dickinson County) and Brushy Creek (Webster County) have grown in numbers and size of fish. Late summer and fall are traditional peak periods. Current state record is 50 pounds, 6 ounces and 52 inches long!
[/url]Crappie Lake or stream County Comments North Twin Calhoun Best fishing in recent years, 9 - 10 inch fish Browns Woodbury Excellent number of 9-12 inch fish Lower Pine Hardin Good numbers of 7 - 8 inch fish Beeds Franklin Drift fish above the thermocline during the summer months Brushy Creek Webster This past winter ice fishing was good expect crappie up to 10 inches in length
[/url]Smallmouth Bass Lake or steam County Comments Iowa River Hardin 12-inch fish or larger are common Spirit Dickinson Good numbers of large fish N. Raccoon River Sac & Carroll Growing population of all size fish, 8 - 18 fish Des Moines Webster Fish up to 5 pounds
[/url]Largemouth Bass Lake or stream County Comments Lower Pine Hardin Good numbers of legal size fish, with some over 5 pounds Beeds Lake Franklin Fish larger than 12 inches are abundant Briggs Woods Hamilton High densities of fish, work the edges of the weedline Brushy Creek Webster Lots of fish in the timber and along the shoreline Center
Dickinson
Good numbers over 15", practice catch and release
[/url]Yellow Bass
They're scrappy and good eating so enjoy our YELLOW BASS. Fish range in size from 8 inches at North Twin (Calhoun County) and Black Hawk (Sac County) to 11 inches at Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo County). Over 230,000 were harvested from Clear Lake this past year. Take all you want. Fish with the crowd or by yourself. Have fun!
Give these species a try -- take a kid fishing -- relax and enjoy the many outdoor recreational opportunities available to you in northwestern and north central Iowa.
--article by Tom Gengerke from the Iowa Conservationist
[signature]
[url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#bluegill"][#800080]Bluegill[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#bullhead"][#800080]Bullhead[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#walleye"][#800080]Walleye[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#yellow"][#800080]Yellow Perch[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#channel"][#800080]Channel Catfish[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#muskellunge"][#800080]Muskellunge[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#crappie"][#800080]Crappie[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#smallmouth"][#800080]Smallmouth Bass[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#largemouth"][#800080]Largemouth Bass[/#800080][/url] . [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/news/forcast/nwfrcst.html#yellowwhite"][#800080]Yellow Bass[/#800080][/url] .
Top Surprise From Last Year
North Twin Lake (Calhoun County), has seldom experienced a fishery as good as last years. In 2003 it provided some tremendous fishing for 9-12 inch crappies and 7-9 inch bluegills. If that isn't enough to interest you, it also produced some great channel catfish, yellow bass and walleye fishing. Boat anglers did better than shore anglers, as the fish seemed to concentrate along the outside weed line or in the deep-water fish habitat. Small leadheads or live minnows were excellent choices for these panfish species. Look for another great year in 2004.
Best Hunch For This Year
Brushy Creek Lake (Webster County) has been a tremendous fishing lake since it was filled in 1998 and 2004 promises to be a banner year. A large number of slab crappie, from 9 to 13 inches, are present in the lake and should provide some tremendous fishing this spring. A huge year class of 7-9 inch bluegill is also present in the lake. On top of this, large numbers of 17-23 inch walleye are present as well as some great largemouth and smallmouth bass. Throw in some muskies that will top 20 pounds and you have a fishing bonanza. Spawning crappie and bluegill can be caught near the shoreline in May and June, while later in the summer, fish will suspend near the sunken timber that abounds in the lake. Walleye are caught all year long on the underwater points using a slip bobber and leeches.
A strong year class of yellow perch that averaged eight inches during 2003 should provide excellent opportunities at Lake Cornelia (Wright County) during 2004. Perch have always existed in Cornelia, but this is the greatest number of catchable-size fish in recent years. Fishing the north shoreline during the spring with small minnows or nightcrawlers will produce good results. After the water warms anglers should concentrate their efforts in deeper water along the old dredge cut near the north shore.
Best Place To Spend Time With The Family
Upper and Lower Pine Lakes (Hardin County) located in Pine Lake State Park near Eldora offer great opportunities for family fun. Both lakes provide good fishing for bluegill and crappie. Trophy bass up to seven pounds are available in both lakes, with the best population occurring in the lower lake. If you prefer to river fish, the Iowa River lies on the edge of the park and provides excellent fishing for channel catfish, walleye and smallmouth bass. The lower lake has a large swim beach and the upper lake has boats and canoes for rent. The campground is located on the upper lake and several cabins are available for rent on the Iowa River below the lower lake. A well-maintained trail system provides hiking between the lakes and a closeup view of the unique landscape surrounding the lake.
Hidden Jewel
Indian Lake located in Eldred Sherwood Park in Hancock County is a 21-acre artificial lake that provides excellent fishing for largemouth bass and bluegill. It also is stocked annually with channel catfish and walleye. The lake is managed by the Hancock County Conservation Board and is three miles east and one mile north of Goodell. The lake has a gravel boat ramp and allows boats with with electric motors only. Camping, swim beach and shelter are also available for visitors to the lake.
[/url]Bluegill [url "http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/iafish/blg-card.html"][#0000ff]Bluegills[/#0000ff][/url] are a species worthy of attention. Small hocks, waxworms, a piece of crawler, or a 1/16 ounce (or smaller) dark jig are time tested baits. Warm July and August water temperatures means an increase activity for bluegill.
Lake or stream County Comments Brushy Creek Webster Huge year class of 7 - 8 inch fish. Fish for suspended fish near timber areas. North Twin Calhoun Losts 8 and 9 inch fish. Upper & Lower Pine Hardin Large numbers of 6 inch and larger fish Beeds Franklin Six to seven inch fish are plentiful use a small jig. West Okoboji Dickinson Excellent numbers, early spring and summer are best
[/url]Bullhead Lake or stream County Comments Black Hawk Sac 8 - 10 inch fish in large numbers Clear Cerro Gordo May and June are prime time Silver Lake Worth 9 - 10-inch fish Dog Creek O'Brien Large population sampled in 2003 North Twin Calhoun Large yellow bullheads available Spirit Lake Dickinson Really large fish and in good numbers Rice Winnebago 1/2 to 3/4 pound fish are abundant Silver Palo Alto 10-inch fish are abundant Center Dickinson Good numbers and good shoreline access Lost Island Palo Alto Traditional producer
[/url]Walleye Lake or stream County Comments Clear Cerro Gordo 12 - 16 inch fish; two strong year classes are present Des Moines River Kossuth & Humboldt The population is on the increase. Silver Dickinson 13 - 18 inch fish Iowa River Hardin Fish downstream from Alden Storm Buena Vista Lots of fish larger than 15 inches Five Island Palo Alto 18 - 20 inch fish sampled in 2003 Spirit Lake Dickinson Large number of age 3 fish Brushy Creek Webster Fish the points and flats with a slip bobber and leech Lost Island Palo Alto Good recruitment of 2001 year class Black Hawk Sac 17 - 20 inch fish available
[/url]Yellow Perch Lake or stream County Comments Silver Palo Alto 8 to 10-inch fish and in good abundance. Silver Worth 8 - 10 inch fish are common, fish with a small minnow. Spirit Lake Dickinson Good numbers were observed in last years creel and population surveys. Cornelia Wright 8 - 9 inch fish are common, fish the north shore for the best success. Little Swan Lake Dickinson Large fish are available and in good numbers.
[/url]Channel Catfish Lake or stream County Comments Clear Cerro Gordo Fish in July with chicken livers Storm Buena Vista Perhaps the best in Northwest Iowa! Boone River Hamilton 1 - 2 pound fish abundant below Webster City Iowa River Hardin Quality habitat from Alden to Union Snyder Bend Woodbury Good numbers of 10 pound fish available Black Hawk Sac Easy access and losts of 1 - 5 pound fish Pahoja Lyon Excellent numbers of 2 - 8 pound fish Silver Dickinson 2 - 3 pound fish are abundant Ingham Emmet Excellent numbers East Okoboji Dickinson Large fish are available
[/url]Muskellunge
Muskellunge populations in Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo County), Spirit and West Okoboji (Dickinson County) and Brushy Creek (Webster County) have grown in numbers and size of fish. Late summer and fall are traditional peak periods. Current state record is 50 pounds, 6 ounces and 52 inches long!
[/url]Crappie Lake or stream County Comments North Twin Calhoun Best fishing in recent years, 9 - 10 inch fish Browns Woodbury Excellent number of 9-12 inch fish Lower Pine Hardin Good numbers of 7 - 8 inch fish Beeds Franklin Drift fish above the thermocline during the summer months Brushy Creek Webster This past winter ice fishing was good expect crappie up to 10 inches in length
[/url]Smallmouth Bass Lake or steam County Comments Iowa River Hardin 12-inch fish or larger are common Spirit Dickinson Good numbers of large fish N. Raccoon River Sac & Carroll Growing population of all size fish, 8 - 18 fish Des Moines Webster Fish up to 5 pounds
[/url]Largemouth Bass Lake or stream County Comments Lower Pine Hardin Good numbers of legal size fish, with some over 5 pounds Beeds Lake Franklin Fish larger than 12 inches are abundant Briggs Woods Hamilton High densities of fish, work the edges of the weedline Brushy Creek Webster Lots of fish in the timber and along the shoreline Center
Dickinson
Good numbers over 15", practice catch and release
[/url]Yellow Bass
They're scrappy and good eating so enjoy our YELLOW BASS. Fish range in size from 8 inches at North Twin (Calhoun County) and Black Hawk (Sac County) to 11 inches at Clear Lake (Cerro Gordo County). Over 230,000 were harvested from Clear Lake this past year. Take all you want. Fish with the crowd or by yourself. Have fun!
Give these species a try -- take a kid fishing -- relax and enjoy the many outdoor recreational opportunities available to you in northwestern and north central Iowa.
--article by Tom Gengerke from the Iowa Conservationist
[signature]