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. - Last updated on 03/03/2021.
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 .
The summaries listed below are a partial listing provided for your benefit. Familiarize yourself with the complete Fishing Regulations here: Iowa DNR Fishing Regulations and Laws.