Black Hawk Lake

Water temperatures are in the mid 40's. Look for shore fishing action to pick up throughout the week as temperatures continue to warm.

Water temperatures have slowly warmed up to the mid 40's in many area lakes throughout last week. Look for shore fishng to improve as water temps continue to climb.

Black Crappie - Fair: Try in and around the fish house in Town Bay and along Ice House Point shoreline.

Bluegill - Slow:

Walleye - Fair: The last week has been slow but look for shore fishing action to pick up as water temperatures warm throughout the week. Use twisters or live bait from shore.

Yellow Perch - Fair: Some perch are being picked up in Town Bay on minnows and crawlers.

Source: Iowa DNR

Area lakes are almost completely ice free. A few have some new skim ice that formed in the bays that will likely be gone by the weekend.

The lake is completely open. Courtesy docks are in at Ice House Point boat ramp and the state campground boat ramp.

Black Crappie - Fair: Catch crappie from the fish house in Town Bay and in the Marina.

Bluegill - Fair: Find bluegill in the Marina and near the inlet bridge.

Yellow Perch - Fair: Fish are being picked up along shore with a small jig under a bobber. Try along Ice Hoise Point, the marina, and near the inlet bridge. Sorting is needed.

All area lakes are now completely open. Shore angling has been fair to slow this last week. Boat anglers have been making there way out on a few lakes. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

The lake is completely open. Courtesy docks are in at Ice House Point boat ramp and the state campground boat ramp.

Black Crappie - Fair: Catch crappie from the fish house in Town Bay and in the Marina.

Bluegill - Fair: Find bluegill in the Marina and near the inlet bridge.

Yellow Perch - Fair: Fish are being picked up along shore with a small jig under a bobber. Try along Ice Hoise Point, the marina, and near the inlet bridge. Sorting is needed.

Source: Iowa DNR

Most area lakes are completely open but a few are holding onto some ice.

The lake is almost completely ice-free.

Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers picking up crappie from the fish house in Town Bay and in the Marina.

Bluegill - Fair: Find bluegill in the Marina and near the inlet bridge.

Yellow Perch - Fair: Fish are being picked up in the marina and near the inlet bridge.

Source: Iowa DNR

Some lakes are partially ice-free. Any remaining ice in the district is unsafe.

The lake is partially ice free. Most of Town Bay has opened up. There is open water around the fish house in Town Bay and near the inlet bridge.

Source: Iowa DNR

Ice fishing is not recommended in the district.

Unsafe ice conditions. Aerators are in operation in Town Bay. There is open water around the fish house in Town Bay and under the inlet bridge.

Source: Iowa DNR

As of Feb 1, ice in the district ranged from unsafe conditions to up to 12 inches thick in other areas. Conditions are highly variable and are beginning to deteriorate quickly. Be cautious of rapidly changing conditions with the warm weather. Many areas along shorelines will soften first.

On Jan 31, ice thickness was 8 inches near the Ice House Point boat ramp but conditions continue to deteriorate rapidly with the warm weather; use caution. There is open water in Town Bay from the winter aeration system. The area around the fish house in Town bay is kept ice-free with a water agitator to provide open water fishing opportunities.

Black Crappie - Fair: Pick up crappie using waxworms or crawlers on a jig.

Walleye - Fair: Use minnows or crawlers on jigging spoons.

Yellow Perch - Fair: Use waxworms or small minnows.

Source: Iowa DNR

Ice thickness is 3 to 11 inches in the district. Conditions will become more variable with the warmer temperatures throughout the week. Ice will likely soften along the shoreline.

Black Crappie - Fair: Pick up crappie using waxworms or crawlers on a jig.

Ice thickness is 8 inches near the Ice House Point boat ramp, with several inches of snow and slush on top. Conditions are variable; use caution. There is open water in Town Bay. The area around the fish house in Town bay is kept ice-free with a water agitator to provide open water fishing opportunities.

Yellow Perch - Fair: Use waxworms or small minnows.

Walleye - Fair: Use minnows or crawlers on jigging spoons.

Source: Iowa DNR

Ice thickness varies from 0 to 10 inches in the district. Conditions are difficult to see with the snow cover.

Ice near the Ice House Point boat ramp was 7 inches, with several inches of snow cover. Conditions are variable. Use caution. The area around the fish house in Town bay is kept ice free with a water agitator to provide open water fishing opportunities.

Black Crappie - Fair: There is open water at the fish house in Town Bay, crappie can be picked up with a small jig.

Yellow Perch - Fair: Use a small jig or a piece of crawler under a bobber.

Source: Iowa DNR

As of this report, ice thickness in the district ranges from 0 to 4 inches. With snow cover, the ice variability is difficult to see. Conditions on many lakes are considered unsafe at this time.

As of Thursday, Ice conditions are quite variable and are difficult to see due to snow cover. On Thursday, ice thickness near the Ice House Point boat ramp was 3 inches, with several inches of snow cover. At the time of this report ice fishing is not recommended. The area around the fish house in Town bay is kept ice free with a water agitator to provide open water fishing opportunities.

Black Crappie - Fair: There is open water at the fish house in Town Bay, crappie can be picked up with a small jig.

Yellow Perch - Fair: Try in the fish house in Town Bay. Use a small jig or a piece of crawler under a bobber.

Source: Iowa DNR

Most lakes in the area are completely open. With temperatures falling, expect ice to slowly build but still be too thin to walk on throughout this coming week.

Black Crappie - Fair: There is open water at the fish house in Town Bay, crappie can be picked up with a small jig.

The lake is open. Skim ice will likely form throughout the coming week. The area around the fish house in Town bay is kept ice free with a water agitator to provide open water fishing opportunities.

Yellow Perch - Fair: Try in the fish house in Town Bay. Use a small jig or a piece of crawler under a bobber.

Source: Iowa DNR