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Storm Lake Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

Northwest Iowa’s prairie lake: Storm Lake holds walleye, perch and a restoration story worth knowing.

4/5
Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.
Flow
78 cfs
Air / High
90 / 92 F
Wind
SSE 2 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 06605850, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
4
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

4/5Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Storm Lake sits in the sweet spot of the season: active fish and workable weather. The river is running 78 cfs, steady over the week. Today brings clear skies, wind SSE around 2 mph, falling pressure near 1009 hPa and a high of 92. Water sits around 66 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

WalleyeExcellent

Jig and minnow on rock reefs and points; the evening bite on wind-blown shores is the one to plan around.

Northern pikeExcellent

Weedline spinnerbaits, spoons and jerkbaits; bays with fresh green weed hold the active fish.

White bassGood

The spring river run: small crankbaits and roadrunners up the tributaries.

CrappieFair

Spawning shallow around cover in spring; jigs under a float near buck brush and laydowns.

Tomorrow: Similar at 91 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings from Little Sioux River at Linn Grove (regional).

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 06605850.

8910912878 cfs08/0508/1508/2509/04

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp90 F
High / Low92 / 70 F
WindSSE 2-3 mph
Pressure1008.8 hPa, falling
Sky / Rain4% cloud, 6%
Sunrise / Sunset06:49 / 19:50
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~66 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Overcast, 92/70 F, wind 9 mph, rain 6%

Fair or better. A 9 mph breeze puts a working chop on the banks it hits: fish the wind-blown side.

Species guide

The species that matter on Storm Lake: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Walleye illustration

Walleye

Best: May-Jun, Oct

The glass-eyed prize of northern lakes. Low light, wind-blown structure and live bait. Jig and minnow on rock reefs and points; the evening bite on wind-blown shores is the one to plan around.

White bass illustration

White bass

Best: Mar-May run

River-run spawners and open-water schoolers. Fast limits when you find them. The spring river run: small crankbaits and roadrunners up the tributaries.

Northern pike illustration

Northern pike

Best: spring, early winter

The ambush predator of weedbeds and cabbage edges. Aggressive, big and always worth a wire leader. Weedline spinnerbaits, spoons and jerkbaits; bays with fresh green weed hold the active fish.

Crappie illustration

Crappie

Best: Nov-Mar

Brush piles, bridge pilings and standing timber. The fish fry favorite. Spawning shallow around cover in spring; jigs under a float near buck brush and laydowns.

When to come: the Storm Lake calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Walleye
White bass
Northern pike
Crappie
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 66 F (estimated, not a reading).

304050607080JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~66 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Storm Lake today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Walleye led the card at excellent. High of 86 F, wind to 18 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Walleye led the card at excellent. High of 85 F, wind to 14 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Walleye led the card at excellent. High of 88 F, wind to 11 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
Only used to send you this water's report each week. No spam, ever.

Before you go

License

Iowa requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Iowa license. Walleye, perch and panfish limits per current Iowa DNR regulations.

Access

Public ramps and shoreline access around the lake; services in the city of Storm Lake.

About this water

A 3,100-acre shallow natural lake in Buena Vista County, Iowa, restored through dredging and watershed work.

Fishing Storm Lake: the full guide

A restored prairie lake

Storm Lake covers about 3,100 acres in northwest Iowa, a shallow natural lake that sat degraded for decades before a major dredging and watershed restoration project transformed it. Water clarity and habitat improved, and the fishery followed: walleye, yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass now support one of the region’s better lake fisheries.

Walleye and perch

Iowa stocks walleye heavily and they hold the rock reefs, points and drop-offs: jigs and live-bait rigs in spring, slip bobbers and trolling through summer, with low-light periods best in a shallow lake. Yellow perch school over the flats and around structure in numbers, providing steady action and anchoring the winter ice fishery.

Panfish and bass

Crappie and bluegill hold whatever vegetation and structure the lake offers, with spring the peak. Largemouth relate to the shoreline cover and rock. Channel catfish are abundant and reliable from the bank. The restoration work continues, and the fishery has trended upward for years as habitat improves.

Buena Vista County logistics

Public ramps and extensive shoreline access serve the lake, with the city of Storm Lake wrapping the eastern end and providing full services. Wind sweeps the open prairie and stirs a shallow lake quickly, which affects clarity for days. Ice fishing is popular and reliable given the shallow profile and Iowa winters.

Common questions

What was the restoration?

A major dredging and watershed project that improved clarity and habitat, with the fishery trending upward since.

What is the main species?

Walleye, backed by abundant yellow perch that also anchor a reliable winter ice fishery.

How does wind affect it?

Substantially: a shallow prairie lake stirs up quickly and stays turbid for days after a blow.

Is fishing good at Storm Lake right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Nearby waters

Lake Okoboji52 miEast Okoboji Lake53 miSpirit Lake58 miClear Lake97 miSaylorville Lake100 miBig Sioux River107 mi
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