The walleye season is open on spirit lake, east okoboji lake and west okoboji lake. Daytime try trolling flicker shads on off shore snap weights, or using leadcore line with cranks. Bottom bouncers and spinners harness with crawlers work also. Lakeside communities in iowa cant afford to go into hibernation during iowas long cold winters. Use larger baits and change location to find bigger fish. Fishing is good and anglers are catching 14 to 20inch rainbow trout, 12 to 16inch broodstock and 14 to 20inch channel catfish. Fishing report kabeles trading post spirit lake iowa. This weeks extended forecast calls for 50 to 65 weather.
Fishermen will find a variety of fish including drum, largemouth bass, walleye, muskie, crappie, carp, smallmouth bass, perch, breambluegill, northern pike, white bass and catfish here. Spirit lake offers two state parks and 4 public accesses to this popular fishing lake. Family and friends have been fishing the bays and said the gill bite has been pretty tough. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops. A crankbait only produced one bite but it was the biggest smallmouth of the day.
Anglers are catching walleyes by casting a jig and minnow at sunset around the little spirit outlet, slip bobber fishing with leeches at night around docks on the north side of marble beach, or trolling shiners on. In addition to its excellent fishing, spirit lake offers opportunities for swimming, sailing and boating. The spirit lake fishing map contains information about some of the best fishing spots this lake has to offer as well as the nearby cottages, campgrounds, and bait and tackle shops. If you like fishing, boating, snowmobiling, swimming or family fun. Spirit lake has been monitored by volunteers since 1986. Kind of lucked into some walleye while crappie fishing 22, 18. Across the street from iowas largest natural lake, with south shore beach and minutes away from launching your boat for the day.
Spirit lake, dickinson county iowa fishing reports and. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and. We are a licensed okoboji fishing guide business providing fully guided trips on the iowa great lakes. Modern anglers still must keep a weathereye out and employ common sense on the lake. Spirit lake chinook fishing a few reminders idaho fish. Iowa great lake water temperatures are ranging from 49 to 53. Not a lot of change in regards to the walleye fishing on big spirit lake. The largest of iowas great lakes, big spirit lake got its name, according to legend, from an evil spirit that inhabited its waters. Volunteers monitor water clarity with a black and white secchi disk.
It is one of the states most popular recreational areas and provides a wide variety of activities. Big spirit lake fishing guide tripsiowa great lakes outdoors. Wading fisherman are catching walleye in the curent areas at night. Lake okoboji fishing guide and spirit lake fishing guide. The dakotah indian name for the lake was minnewaukon. Current nw iowa hunting and fishing reports click here. You can check the activity of your favorite lake or stretch of river within each district, including which species are being caught, a rating of the bite slow, fair, good or excellent, as well as a hot. They are finding success using dough baits, minijigs, and roostertails.
An accessible fishing pier is located at the north grade of the lake. Some also collect water samples, which are sent to the state lab of hygiene to be analyzed. In addition to its excellent fishing, spirit lake offers opportunities. North spirit lake is a 224 acre lake located in price, taylor counties. Northwest black hawk lake black hawk lake is ice free. We have what you need big spirit resort is comfortably furnished rooms and fully equipped kitchens. Fishing spirit lake, alaska spirit lake fishing reports.
We have a complete line of fishing bait and tackle, along with gas, propane, ammo, pizza and sandwiches to make your fishing or camping trip fun. Big spirit resort is comfortably furnished rooms and fully equipped kitchens. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including panfish, perch, green sunfish, rock bass, sucker, largemouth bass, crappie, northern pike, pumpkinseed, bullhead, breambluegill, smallmouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, warmouth, walleye and muskie here. Okoboji fishing guide iowa great lakes outdoors, inc.
We will fish west okoboji, east okoboji, upper gar, lower gar, minnewashta, or big spirit lake the day of your trip and target the best bite going for the time of year. Small black crappie and bluegill currently exists in spirit lake. Walleyes and crappie fair, as well as a few pike, perch, and white bass. Any helpful advice for okaboji or big spirit would be greatly appreciated. The lake recieves water from 19 square miles plus the overflow from spirit lake. The northern edge of spirit lake borders the iowaminnesota state line and a majority of its 34,471 watershed acres approximately 75 sq. Fishing reports south dakota glacial lakes and prairies. North spirit lake wisconsin department of natural resources. Come fish okoboji in 2020 with iowa great lakes outdoors, inc. Spirit lake holds alltime big fish records for freshwater drum and muskellunge. Okoboji fishing report jim mcdonnell the fishing professor.
Take a fishing trip to big bear lake, california and catch your share of trout. Chinook can be found in several other lakes and reservoirs around the state. The fish are still biting at big bear lake as the 2016 season comes to a close. Okoboji fishing guide and spirit lake fishing reports. Spirit lake claims some 40 species of fish with species of sport fish sought. This will allow future generations to witness the natural recovery process. Spirit lake, pricetaylor counties wisconsin fishing. There are reports of anglers catching a decent amount of trout. Try fishing crappie jigs or a minnow under a bobber over structure, use electronics to locate structure. Wifi and parking are free, and this resort also features a bbq grill. On spirit lake, the ice fishing is so hot it warms. This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff.
Browse our selection of over hotels in spirit lake ia. Panfish anglers will see an improvement to this fishery as these species will be angler acceptable size in the next few years. The lake is at its best in may and june, slows in july and august and has good catches in september through november. Currentreport iowa department of natural resources. Spirit lake travel guide flights to spirit lake things to do in spirit lake car rentals in spirit lake spirit lake vacation packages. Spirit lake wisconsin department of natural resources. Pete thanks for the info ill be out there next week wednesday through monday the 20th.
Big spirit lake is a natural body of water, approximately 5,684 acres 2,300 ha in area, in dickinson county in northwest iowa in the united states. We cater to both families on vacation and the serious angler. Your guide trip will be filled with fun and a chance to catch big bass, walleye, pike, and panfish, maybe even a giant muskie. Brandon christians met tim at the templar park boat ramp with oxygenated water from kabeles to bring the fish in alive. Anglers are catching some crappie on big woods lake. The iowa great lakes offer fantastic fishing opportunities on a series of lakes. Prior to 2016, there were no chinook salmon in spirit lake. Northwest iowa fishing reports click here to sponsor this report. The map also shows hotspots where our fishing junkies have caught lunkers and posted photos and stories.
On spirit lake, the ice fishing is so hot it warms up local businesses. For more information contact the spirit lake fish hatchery at 712336 1840. Spirit lake is the largest in a series of seven lakes known as iowas great lakes. The only muskies ive caught have been on fox lake in sherburn, mn. Fishing spirit lake, idaho spirit lake fishing reports.
We found both walleye and smallmouth on rock points fishing with jigs and 4 power minnows. Spirit lake, iowa the iowa department of natural resources issues a weekly fishing report on thursdays in an effort to provide the latest information heading into the weekend. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff. For more information contact the spirit lake fish hatchery at 7123361840. Fishing report site2 okoboji fishing guide and spirit lake fishing. Jul 14, 2017 any helpful advice for okaboji or big spirit would be greatly appreciated. The bite should continue to pickup as water temperatures rise. Some smallmouth action on rock piles, most largemouth are around docksmuskies action is faironce the water cools the bite will get better. Ive only been on spirit lake for a 12 day and it took a little while to figure out a decent pattern. Jun 23, 2015 lakeside communities in iowa cant afford to go into hibernation during iowas long cold winters. It is part of the chain of lakes known as the iowa great lakes, the northern shore of the lake straddles the border with minnesota. The forest service and the state recognize the importance of spirit lake and its surroundings as a unique natural laboratory for research. Northwest black hawk lake water temperatures are in the low 40s. These chinook are landlocked meaning they do not migrate to the ocean, but can still reach large sizes in waters with abundant kokanee.
Up on spirit lake rock points in 8 feet have been producing walleye and smallmouth on both jigs and plastic as well as slip bobber rigs using leeches for bait. Fishing reports iowa department of natural resources. The bass have been deep due to the cold weather and spoons and ice jigs fished around rocky structure are your best bet. The iowa guide service offers guided fishing on okoboji and spirit lake.
Fish include musky, panfish, largemouth bass, northern pike and walleye. We use quality equipment to add to your experience which includes precision rods from jt outdoor products matched with abu garcia and pfleuger reels spinning and bait casting along with quality tackle. North spirit lake is a 224 acre lake located in taylor county. Tim hilbert of hartley, ia caught one of the tagged walleyes while fishing big spirit lake this morning. Chinook can be found in several other lakes and reservoirs. Below are the latest spirit lake fishing reports submitted by charter captains, fishing guides, cottage owners. Anchoring on a rock pile or fishing the running water. Apr 16, 2015 the weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff.
It is one of the states most popular recreational areas and provides a wide. Since 2016, spirit lake has been part of a statewide study to evaluate the performance of hatcherystocked chinook salmon. Over the years, spirit lake has produced several state record fish. Fishingreport iowa department of natural resources. A universally accessible fishing pier is located at the north end of the lake along hill avenue. Watch the latest video with legend john cantrell as he looks back at some of the visitors on the charter. The ramp is in on the south end of the lake, hopefully the dock will go in this week. This diverse fishery also has some good fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie, crappie, and bluegill. The road to the north access on lynn is closed for now. Utah fishing reports official fishing reports updated. We fish okoboji, big spirit lake and other surrounding local lakes and look forward to making your vacation or time away on the water or ice one you will. This destination may have covid19 travel restrictions in place, including specific restrictions for. Trolling or drifting live bait on spinners or cody crawler rigs w night crawlers big spirit can get finnicky as you probably have already figured that out.
Walleye abundant musky common panfish common largemouth bass common northern pike common before you go. Located across from big spirit lake with east okoboji lake to the south. To determine the water level in inches compared to crest level at which point water will flow over the dam at the spillway at the bottom end of big spirit lake use the following formula. Ive fished the weed lines on big spirit on the north shore to the humps and weed beds on the west side and i dont even see any big mamas. The washington state wildlife commission has closed spirit lake to fishing consistent with the monuments fish and wildlife plan. Yellow perch anglers will continue to see an improvement to the fishery with good numbers of acceptable size fish will continue to be caught.