Most area lakes are covered in ice ranging anywhere from 1 to 7 inches thick. Conditions are variable with pockets of open water in the bigger lakes. Check ice often if going out. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

The main part of the lake has open water. On Dec. 19, Ice thickness off of Ice House Point boat ramp was around 4-5 inches. This is the best ice on the lake - other areas are much thinner or open water. There are large open areas in the main basins. There are open water fishing opportunities at the fish house in Town Bay - the area underneath the structure is kept ice free with a water agitator.

Black Crappie - Fair: Use a waxworm or small minnow.

Walleye - Fair: Early ice anglers have had good luck using wigglers and small minnows. Ice is variable, some areas are open water, so check conditions often as you walk around. Most have been fishing around Ice House Pt boat ramp and near the Gunshot hill area.

• Black Crappie
• Bluegill
• Channel Catfish
• Largemouth Bass
• Muskellunge
• Walleye
• Yellow Perch

• Brittle Naiad
• Zebra Mussel

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

• 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
• 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: Continuous
• 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: except for West Okoboji, East Okoboji, and Spirit Lakes (Dickinson County)
• Walleye
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: 5 fish
• Possession Limit: 10 fish
• Length Limit: none
• Other: none
• Yellow Perch
• Season: Continuous
• Daily Bag Limit: 25 fish
• Possession Limit: 50 fish
• Length Limit: none
• Other:

Fishing at Black Hawk Lake has been good in recent years. Walleye fishing is best between mid April through mid June. Most fish harvested range from 16 to 22 inches. Fire tiger and white colored twisters, shad raps, and leeches are all lures/baits that work good for the walleye. Largemouth bass fishing is excellent. Bass can be caught throughout the open water season and there is strong population of adult bass over 15 inches. Yellow perch fishing is seasonal and can be good in the early spring and late fall. 2019 saw a record harvest of yellow perch on Black Hawk Lake. Many anglers target perch around the inlet bridge, from the fish house, the floating fishing pier, and the west stone pier. Crappie fishing is good in the spring with fish averaging 10 to 11 inches. Most anglers target the fish house the shoreline along Ice House Point. The bluegill fishing has declined in the last couple years, likely due to the gizzard shad infestation. However, quality size bluegill do exist and most are caught through the ice. The channel catfish population is strong with two large size classes of 3-4 pound fish and 5-7 pound fish. Muskie fishing can be good, especially in the spring. It is a young population, but there are 42 to 43 inch individuals out there. Muskie anglers may experience higher than average catch rates, but many will be in the 25 to 35 inch size range.(2020)

Tip: Click the arrow in the lower right corner to view the Fish Survey Data tool in full-screen mode.