Most lakes are now completely frozen over and have good access at ramp locations. Most area lakes have 7 or more inches of ice, but many of the larger lakes have holes that have frozen over more recently. Recent snows have covered some of these recently frozen areas making it difficult to differentiate. Check ice often when going out.

Black Crappie - Good: Anglers have been finding fish of quality size up to 14".

Bluegill - Good:

The lake is fully iced over. Some locations have up to 8 inches of ice, but there are areas that are thinner on the main basin that froze more recently. Templar lagoon and out from Hales Slough boat ramp have the best ice.

Walleye - Good: The night shore bite has been good. Evening has been best with leach and bobber from shore or crank baits and slip bobbers by boat.

Yellow Perch - Good: Sorting is needed, but anglers have been finding many of acceptable size.

• Bigmouth Buffalo
• Black Bullhead
• Black Crappie
• Bluegill
• Channel Catfish
• Common Carp
• Freshwater Drum
• Green Sunfish
• Largemouth Bass
• Longnose Gar
• Muskellunge
• Northern Pike
• Orangespotted sunfish
• Pumpkinseed
• Quillback
• Shortnose gar
• Smallmouth Bass
• Walleye
• White Bass
• White Sucker
• Yellow Bass
• Yellow Perch

• Bighead Carp
• Curlyleaf Pondweed
• Zebra Mussel

The Fishing Regulations brochure is available for download. The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit.

• Bigmouth Buffalo
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: none
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• Black Bullhead
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: unlimited
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• Black Crappie
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: combined black and white crappie, 25 fish
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other: No daily limit on private waters
• Bluegill
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other: No daily limit on private waters
• Channel Catfish
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 8 fish
• Possession Limit: combined: channel, blue and flathead catfish, 30 fish
• Length Limit: none
• Other: Except for border lakes
• Common Carp
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: none
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
• Freshwater Drum
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: none
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
• Green Sunfish
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: none
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• Largemouth Bass
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
• Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
• Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
• Other:
• Muskellunge
• Season: Open from May 21 - November 30
• Daily Bag Limit: combined: muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, 1 fish
• Possession Limit: combined: muskellunge and tiger muskellunge, 1 fish
• Length Limit: 40-inch minimum
• Other:
• Northern Pike
• Season: Continuous, except for boundary lakes
• Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
• Possession Limit: 6 fish
• Length Limit: none
• Other: Except for border lakes
• Pumpkinseed
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other: No daily limit on private waters
• Quillback
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: none
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
• Smallmouth Bass
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: combined black bass, 3 fish
• Possession Limit: combined black bass, 6 fish
• Length Limit: 15-inch minimum
• Other:
• Walleye
• Season: May 7, 2022 through Feb. 14, 2023
• Daily Bag Limit: 3 fish
• Possession Limit: 6 fish
• Length Limit: all 19 to 25-inch walleyes must be immediately released alive
• Other: No more than one walleye longer than 25 inches may be taken per day
• White Bass
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: none
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• White Sucker
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: none
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other: May be taken by hand fishing, by snagging, by spear or by bow and arrow, day or night.
• Yellow Bass
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: none
• Possession Limit: unlimited
• Length Limit: none
• Other:
• Yellow Perch
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
• Possession Limit: 50 fish
• Length Limit: none
• Other:

Spirit Lake's fishery continues to be one of the most diverse and healthy in the region. Gamefish in the lake experience high growth rates and most populations remain consistent. Spirit Lake is one of Iowa's Walleye broodstock lakes and as such receives large walleye fry stockings each spring. A protected slot limit implemented in 2007 helped to protect and build the broodstock population (>17"). This slot has created a very high quality adult population with great opportunities to catch large fish. Walleye recruitment has become more consistent in recent years helping to provide good numbers of young fish growing into the fishery. Our sampling indicates that in 2021, anglers should find good numbers of walleyes around 14 inches. Like in most natural lakes, Yellow Perch numbers are erratic, but the last few years have seen some fairly consistent harvest years for this species. Anglers seem to be catching perch in more shallow water in recent years, so fishing closer to shore may be something to try. Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass numbers and quality remain excellent on Spirit Lake with 2020 seeing huge numbers of nice smallies caught. Most smallmouth and largemouth bass are voluntarily released adding to their size structure. Most of the smallmouth are caught in April, May, and early June. Northern Pike numbers remain good but not as high as in the mid 2000's when the population swelled dramatically. Most fish are caught early in the spring and through the ice. Fish up to 35 and even 40 inches are caught each spring for hatchery operations. Bluegill and Crappie populations on Spirit Lake are not usually the highlight for the lake, but high quality aquatic plant beds favor these species. Water clarity has been good over the past few years, increasing plant diversity and density. Panfish populations have responded with good numbers of young fish present in our sampling. This could translate into continued or improved panfish numbers. Muskie populations and fishing have improved with good numbers of young fish dominating the population. There are still some trophy fish out there, but the highest catch rates seem to be for fish between 30 and 42 inches. Improved stocking programs from recent research are creating more consistent year classes, and should continually improve the size structure of the population.(2021)

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