| Most area lakes are completely ice free allowing for anglers to fish by boat. Only a few permanent courtesy docks are in and useable. The Walleye season on the IGL's is closed until May 3rd. For the most up to date information, call 712-330-2542 |
| A few anglers have already launched boats. Courtesy docks at the Upper Gar boat ramp can be used. The Walleye season is currently closed. |
| Bluegill - Fair: |
| Black Crappie - Fair: |
| Largemouth Bass - Fair: |
| Yellow Perch - Fair: Many fish have been observed, but sorting will most likely be needed. |
The bass fishery on East Okoboji has been picking up over the last few years, namely due to the explosion of bluegill and pumpkinseed numbers. In recent surveys, bluegill averages have been around 6.5-7 inches with some pushing over 9 inches. Pumpkinseed have averaged around 7.5 inches and topped out around 8.5 inches. Yellow bass have still held a presence in East Okoboji over the last few years, with average lengths around 7.7 inches with some individuals almost pushing 11 inches. A couple good year-classes of largemouth bass were sampled in 2024. Many preferred sized individuals were sampled with an average around length 17 inches with one individual being 20 inches and 4.5 lbs.(2024)
In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal causes most of the problems regarding taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it. Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants than larger ones. Most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. For additional information, check out our resources for eating and cooking Iowa caught fish.
To learn more about fish tissue monitoring, visit our Fish Tissue Monitoring page .