Fishing Big Spirit Lake

Popular Fish Species
Big Spirit Lake Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
Amenities
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Big Spirit Lake, IA

Popular Fish Species Big Spirit Lake, IA

Walleye Fishing

Thanks to a significant baitfish population, and presence of numerous small sunfish in the lake, walleye are thriving in the fertile waters of Big Spirit Lake this year. May and June tend to be the best time for weekend anglers to catch them. During this time they tend to move shallower, closer to shore and begin spawning. Rock and gravel are preferred areas for the spawn. Other times of the year they are more likely to roam around in deeper water. As always, stay around schools of baitfish. They are eager to feed throughout the lake, but tend to concentrate around structure on points, flats and ledges off the river channels. Walleye have excellent, low-light vision which helps them find food in deep or murky water. Make an effort to be on the water during low light conditions. A proven method for catching walleye here is trolling with spinners tipped with live bait, or trolling with long-billed, deep diving crankbaits. However casting live bait, jigs, worms and spoons also works well at times. When the lake freezes over in winter, ice fishing for walleye can be very productive. Use GPS to locate spots you normally fish during other times of the year.

Big Spirit Lake Popular Fish - Black Crappie

Black Crappie Fishing

Big Spirit Lake holds a plentiful population of black crappie, which are fat and healthy this year. Crappie fishing is easy and requires simple, basic gear. Any fishing pole, reasonably small line and crappie jigs or small hooks baited with live bait, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to maintain. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. When the lake freezes over, ice fishing is often a great way to catch a nice bunch of slabs. Because crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

Big Spirit Lake Popular Fish - Yellow Perch

Yellow Perch Fishing

Yellow perch tend to spawn in the April to May timeframe, and the spawn has been strong for years at Big Spirit Lake. As a result, the lake continues to maintain a very healthy population of yellow perch, which have been a mainstay in the fishery for decades. They are fun to catch in winter when ice fishing as well. Yellow perch are great table fare, and are a food source for many predator fish in the lake. Fishing for yellow perch is simple, their primary diet consists of minnows and other small fish, insects and worms. Yellow perch tend to gather in small groups and hang out on relatively deep structure, near cover and/or drop-offs. Use a small hook and sinker. Bait a small hook with minnows, worms or small jigs using 6 to 10 pound line.

Big Spirit Lake Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, walleye, bluegill, green sunfish, pumpkinseed sunfish, white bass, yellow bass, yellow perch, muskie and northern pike at Big Spirit Lake in Iowa.

Walleye and muskie are regularly stocked in Big Spirit Lake, a 5,700-acre lake in northwest Iowa on the Minnesota border, at the town of Spirit Lake. Walleye, crappie, bass, perch and musky are the most sought after species here.

There are nice populations of catfish, northern pike, white bass and sunfish as well. Anglers can enjoy over 15 miles of shoreline while in search of their favorite species. To enhance your stay, visitors will find fish cleaning stations, an accessible pier, several boat launch ramps, many great places for fishing from the bank and nearby camping.

Primary fish species residing in Big Spirit Lake

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Big Spirit Lake Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: NO
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: NEARBY
RV Hookups: NEARBY
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

Today's Weather & Forecast

Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

Marble Beach Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off 240th Avenue, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Mini-Wakan State Park Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, on the north side of the lake, off 100th Street, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Orleans Beach Boat Launch Ramp
Located in the southeast section of the lake, off 140th Street, this is a one-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking.

Templar State Recreation Area Boat Launch Ramp
Located mid lake, west side, off S Templar Drive, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking.