| Area water temperatures are in the upper 70s to mid 80s. Most fish species have finished spawning and have moved off beds towards deeper waters. Most lakes are above crest level. Panfishing has continued to be very good even with the higher temps. For the most up to date information, call 712-330-2542 |
| Black Crappie - Good: |
| Bluegill - Good: Anglers have continued to have good luck on and off shore. |
| Largemouth Bass - Good: |
| Temps are in the low 80s. Anglers have been very successful catching many panfish species lately. |
| Yellow Bass - Good: |
| 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 .