It’s a fishing day

Spirit Lake fishing conditions · Iowa

Now until 7 pmWalleye

The bite peaks at 90.

Log a trip here
Right now: 86 for walleye, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 863 pm
  2. 90
  3. 86
  4. 866 pm
  5. 76
  6. 76
  7. 769 pm
  8. 76
  9. 80
  10. 80Sun
  11. 76
  12. 76
  13. 763 am
  14. 76
  15. 76
  16. 766 am
  17. 80
  18. 76
  19. 769 am
  20. 76
  21. 80
  22. 8012 pm
  23. 76
  24. 76
  25. 763 pm
  26. 80
  27. 80
  28. 766 pm
  29. 76
  30. 76
  31. 769 pm
  32. 76
  33. 80
  34. 80Mon
  35. 80
  36. 76
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
10 mph

From the southwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:04 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
55°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Iowa non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

90GoNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

3 a day

Release 19–25".

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Walleye from 19 to 25" must be released; 3 a day, only 1 over 25". Closed Feb 15 until the first Saturday in May (May 1, 2027).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Spirit Lake and the Okobojis

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

78Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

25 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Iowa: 25 yellow perch a day, 50 in possession, no size limit (no limit on the Missouri River).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Iowa non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Muskellunge

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Muskellunge bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Muskellunge is here May–Oct. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

40" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 40" minimum, 1 a day; open May 21–Nov 30.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Spirit Lake and the Okobojis

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on muskellunge

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Smallmouth bass is here Apr–Oct. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Iowa public lakes: 15" minimum, 3 black bass a day combined (6 in possession). Interior streams are 12"; the Mississippi River is 14" and 5 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Iowa non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

43Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here May–Oct. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Iowa: "All Other Fish", common carp included, have a continuous season, no length limit and no daily or possession limit.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Iowa non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.02 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:04 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:04 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:20 pm–12:20 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:20 am–7:20 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Iowa DNR publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: Iowa DNR · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The largest natural lake in Iowa — the headline water of the Iowa Great Lakes near the Minnesota line. A destination walleye fishery with jumbo yellow perch, muskellunge, and smallmouth bass over its rock and gravel. Fished hard from boats and through the ice, with multiple state-managed public accesses.

Walleye from 19 to 25" must be released; 3 a day, only 1 over 25". Walleye are closed Feb 15 until the first Saturday in May. Muskie 40" minimum, open May 21–Nov 30.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

West Okoboji Lake5 mi · IowaBest now until 7 pm
59Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Spirit Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Spirit Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Spirit Lake?

Spirit Lake is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Yellow Perch, Muskellunge, Smallmouth Bass, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Spirit Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Spirit Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Spirit Lake have?

Spirit Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Walleye from 19 to 25" must be released; 3 a day, only 1 over 25". Walleye are closed Feb 15 until the first Saturday in May. Muskie 40" minimum, open May 21–Nov 30.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Spirit Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Spirit Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Spirit Lake tidal water?

No. Spirit Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.