LOWER PINE LAKE
The 2006 fishery survey at Lower Pine Lake indicated strong populations of 7 1/2- and 8 1/2-inch fish weighing about a quarter-pound and good numbers of 10-inchers tipping the scales at a half-pound, according to central Iowa fisheries biologist James Wahl.

“During the spring, fish around downed trees along the shoreline and the recently riprapped shoreline east of the boat ramp,” he said. “Crappies utilize these areas heavily during the spawning season in May.”

A stakebed along Route 118 often gives shore-anglers access to some nice slabs. Brushpiles on the south end of the lake and the rock jetty located northwest of the dam also offer prime angling opportunities for crappies.

Once summer arrives, the lake stratifies, and anglers have to drift-fish throughout the main-lake basin. Most of the fishing’s in water 4 to 6 feet deep. The lake reaches 10 feet on the southwest end of the island.

A concrete boat ramp is available to anglers, as well as a trail system around much of the lake that offers access for shore-fishing. The ramp is off Route 118 on the southwest end of the lake.

In Hardin County’s Pine Lake State Park, Lower Pine Lake covers only 50 acres but should produce nice catches this spring. For more information, contact the Clear Lake Fish Management Unit at (641) 357-3517.

LAKE DELHI
“In my district in northeastern Iowa, the lakes are either river impoundments above low-head dams or borrow lakes created when material was mined out of the floodplain,” said IDNR fisheries biologist Brian Hayes. “By nature, fishing these waters is different than fishing the artificial impoundments that provide good crappie opportunities in the southern part of the state.”

Northeastern Iowa’s river impoundments are prone to a lot of flushing flows and sediment accumulation that interferes with fish populations, said Hayes. Impounding the Maquoketa River near Delhi in Delaware County, 448-acre Lake Delhi (also known as “Hartwick Lake”) is the beneficiary of an 18-month period of low flow in the river dating back to 2005. With a more stable environment in place now, the crappies have responded with successful year-classes, and the fishing is improving.

Lake Delhi crappies are likely to stage near stumpfields and sandbars. Spring fishing can be best at the bridge pilings at the 220th Street causeway. The average depth is about 8 feet.

The ramp at Turtle Creek Park is off 257th Street on the south side of the lake. Additional information can be obtained from the Manchester Fish Hatchery, (563) 927-3276.

BRINKER LAKE
“The best crappie fishing in the borrow lakes in the Cedar Falls and Waterloo area is in Brinker Lake,” said Hayes. “These crappies were running from 9 to 10 inches in 2006.”

Brinker isn’t known primarily for its crappie fishing, but anglers can enjoy it while it’s hot. A good year-class has worked its way into the mix, making this little lake a good spot for dipping a minnow this spring.

Look for shallow water and any available shoreline cover. The lake is generally steep-sided and deep, without any vegetation and almost an exclusively sand substrate. It certainly doesn’t look like conventional crappie water, but right now it’s productive.

Water clarity is usually good later on in the summer at Brinker Lake, and anglers can take advantage of it by fishing for suspended crappies over deep water.

Anglers often struggle with the fear of “fishing out” a smaller lake; in reality, that’s tough to accomplish. A single female crappie is capable of producing from 20,000 to 60,000 eggs at a time. A particularly fertile female can produce upwards of a 100,000 eggs at a time. If only the smallest fraction of eggs are successfully fertilized, hatch and survive, a single pair of crappies can repopulate a small lake by themselves.

For more information, contact the Manchester Trout Hatchery at (563) 927-3276. * * * The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Web site, www.iowandnr.com is a good source for lake information and maps. Call Curt Harvey at (515) 848-3882, or send e-mail to cmharvey@iowandnr.com Jim McDonnell can be reached at The Fishing Professor’s Guide Service at (712) 933-5532 or at jamac@ncn.net. For trip-planning assistance, contact the Iowa Tourism Office at 1-888-472-6035.