The late night, annual walleye collection has started at Rathbun Reservoir, Storm Lake, East Okoboji and Spirt Lake. DNR fisheries crews set gillnets at night in traditional areas looking for walleyes that are ready to spawn.

The Rathbun and Spirit Lake fish hatcheries are open and ready for visitors. Contact the individual hatchery you intend to visit for visitor hours.

NORTHWEST

Black Hawk Lake
Water levels are several inches over the crest of the spillway. Anglers are doing well from shore. Look for walleye and crappie fishing to get even better as the water starts to warm up over the next week. Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers have picked up a few from the fish house.  Shore fishing will improve once water temperatures start to climb. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are picking up fish. Cast jigs along the east shore. Town Bay, Ice House Point shoreline and the inlet bridge area have been productive. Use a jig or a slip bobber with minnows  Yellow Perch – Fair.

Brushy Creek Lake
The courtesy dock is in on the west and south ramp.

North Twin Lake
Water clarity is about 2 feet. Water levels are about 12 inches below crest.  Courtesy docks are in at the South and SE ramps.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperatures have warmed to around 50 degrees.  Anglers are catching crappie, walleye, and yellow bass in the marina.  Expect shore fishing to improve as water temperatures warm up.  Black Crappie – Slow: Anglers have picked up a few fish in the marina. Walleye – Fair: Look for fish to be close to shore during walleye spawning activity.  Cast jigs and twisters or use a minnow on a slip bobber near shore. Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers are catching bass in the marina. Yellow Perch – Fair.

For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
Water temperatures is 44 degrees. The courtesy dock are in at most of the boat ramp.  Walleye – Good: Anglers wading and boat fishing are catching walleye. Try jigs, minnows, or slow retrieved crankbaits near reefs and shallow rocky shorelines.  Yellow Bass – Fair: Fish will move shallow on the north shore on warm afternoons. Use small jigs and plastics.

Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappie are suspended in the dredge cuts. Slowly retrieve jigs or slip bobbers with minnows.

Lake Cornelia
Black Crappie – Good: Use small jigs and minnows below a bobber.  Yellow Perch – Good: Anglers are catching perch on warm days with small jigs and minnows.

Rice Lake
Courtesy docks are in at both boat ramps. Yellow Perch – Slow: A few perch can be caught near cattail edges on the warmer days.

Winnebago River
Northern Pike – Fair: Use suckers, chubs, and jigs in slack current areas and where tributaries enter the river.

For additional information, contact Clear Lake Fisheries Office at 641-357-3517.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth bass. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow or cast and retrieve crankbaits or spinnerbaits.  Walleye – Fair: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

Manchester District Streams
Trout streams are in excellent condition. Trout stream stocking has started. Next week’s forecast calls for temperatures near the 60s; should be good aquatic insect hatches to provide great trout fishing.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
Anglers are catching walleye. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
Anglers are catching walleye. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

Wapsi River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Anglers are catching walleye. Northern pike bite should pick up in backwater areas and main channel areas post-spawn. Northern Pike – Fair: Try a live chub or shiner underneath a bobber or cast and retrieve spoon or spinnerbaits in backwater areas or the main channel.  Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Use a jig head with plastics with our without a live minnow or cast and retrieve crankbait or spinnerbaits. Walleye – Fair: Try a jig head with plastics with or without a live minnow. Look for the deeper pools current breaks and tail ends of riffles.

Interior river levels are falling along with some slight turbidity.  Anglers are catching walleye and smallmouth bass.  The weather pattern for next week looks to be more stable in temperatures, hopefully providing improved fishing.  No information on area lakes. For more information, contact Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.