| Most ice in the district is anywhere from 5 to 9 inches thick and covered with several inches of snow. Even with the recent cold weather, ice conditions have not improved and many lakes have open water pockets. Use caution if venturing out. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638. |
| Ice thickness is 6-7 inches near the boat ramp. Areas in the middle of the lake may be thinner. Use caution and check ice thickness often as you move around. |
Bluegill fishing has been good at Arrowhead Lake. Bluegills are around 8.5-inches. Target shallow areas along the east shore during the spawning season and drift fish later in the year. The occasional nice crappie and yellow bass can be caught. There are good numbers of channel catfish and largemouth bass.(2020)
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 .