North Iowa fishing report for May 5

May 6th, 2019 by Keith Worrall 671

Modified May 6th, 2019 at 1:16 PM

Clear Lake: The water temp is in the low fifties. With cold rainy weather this week fishing has been slow. Expect the bite to get better as the water warms up. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success slip bobber fishing the rock reefs with jigs and minnow or leech. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish the edge of the rushes with a small minnow.

Cedar River (above Nashua): Temperature highs 60’s and lows 40’s. Area streams and rivers water slightly elevated with good clarity. Channel Catfish – Good: Use dead chubs fished in the impoundments or slack water areas. Keep bait on river bottom. Northern Pike – Fair: Pike are hitting spoons, crankbaits, and hooks tipped with dead chubs below dams and slack water areas. The bite is slowing. Smallmouth Bass – Slow: Smallies are beginning to show up. Use crankbaits for best luck. Walleye – Good: Try a jig tipped a minnow or ringworms for best luck.

Hunter Palmer, 10, of Mason City, caught and released a 37-inch Muskie off the south shore in Clear Lake in May 2018. He was trying out his new “Lost Look” hook that he had just got from the bait shop down the road from where he caught the Muskie. The hook was empty and didn’t have any bait on it. The fish was measured for length and quickly released back into the lake. Palmer reeled it in and a family friend helped him get it in the net. The Muskie is Palmer’s first big fish.

North Iowa fishing report for May 5

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