December 30, 2021 - 2:41 pm - Posted in Sports

Northwest Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has released their weekly fishing report for northwest Iowa. This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. You can check the activity of your favorite lake or stretch of river, including which species are being caught, a rating of the bite (slow, fair, good or excellent), as well as a hot bait or lure pattern.

NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Ice is up to 4 inches near the Ice House Point boat ramp; anglers have just started to get out on the ice. Ice is variable, especially in the east end where some areas recently froze over. Check ice thickness often. There are still open water fishing opportunities near the fish house in Town Bay.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Anglers have started to get out on the ice in some areas using extreme caution and foot traffic only. Ice is variable; some waterfowl holes are still open and some have recently frozen over with thin ice. Use caution and check ice thickness often if venturing out. Bluegill – Fair. Yellow Perch – Fair.

Inconsistent ice thickness from 0-5 inches on area lakes. Anglers are starting to get out on some lakes. Avoid open areas and waterfowl holes that may have just recently frozen over. Use caution and check ice thickness often. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Blue Pit
Rainbow Trout – Fair. Trout were stocked the first week of November. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. The daily bag limit is 5.

Clear Lake
Ice thickness is 0 to 7 inches. Staring January 1st, Clear Lake will have a protected slot on walleye. All walleye between 17 and 22 inches must be immediately released unharmed. No more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day. The three fish daily bag limit remains unchanged. Bluegill – Slow: Use a small jig tipped with a waxworm in open areas in the vegetation in 2 to 3 feet of water. Walleye – Slow. Yellow Bass – Slow: Try a small jig tipped with bait in 5 to 6 feet of water. You have to stay mobile to find fish. Yellow Perch – Fair: Perch are biting in the Farmers beach area in 2 to 4 feet of water. Try fishing near vegetation; use a larger bait to get the bigger fish.

Lower Pine Lake
Lower Pine Lake is mostly ice-covered. Unsafe ice conditions; fishing is not recommended.

Rice Lake
Ice thickness is 0 to 6 inches. Bluegill – Slow. Walleye – Slow. Yellow Perch – Slow.

Upper Pine Lake
Upper Pine Lake is mostly ice-covered. Unsafe ice conditions; fishing is not recommended.

Aeration systems are running at Clear Lake, Crystal Lake, Rice Lake and Silver Lake. Avoid any open water areas and be cautious of waterfowl holes on these lakes that may have recently frozen over. Check ice thickness often as you go. For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

East Okoboji Lake
The lake is fully iced with an average of 8 inches in most areas Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair.

Lost Island Lake
The lake has varying ice conditions with an average of around 8 inches. Check ice conditions often.

Minnewashta Lake
The panfish and crappie bite has been fairly good recently with the recent onset of ice. The bite is good enough that live bait hasn’t been needed to be successful. Ice conditions are safe enough to venture out on foot with an average ice thickness of 8+ inches. Black Crappie – Fair: A nice crappie bite can be found with a little movement around the lake. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Fair.

Scharnberg Pond
Trout were stocked unannounced this fall. You need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. Rainbow Trout – Good: Trout are biting on a variety of different baits. Try a worm or lure that imitates a minnow.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The lake is fully iced with an average thickness of 10 inches. Be weary of holes that have frozen over more recently on the main basin. Walleye – Fair.

Spirit Lake
The lake is fully iced, but conditions can vary in areas that had open holes until recently. Ice thickness is 7-8 inches in most places. Black Crappie – Fair: Mostly being caught along with perch; use tube jigs with wigglers or pilkies. Bluegill – Fair: Mostly being caught along with perch; use tube jigs with wigglers or pilkies. Yellow Perch – Fair.

West Okoboji Lake
The lake is fully iced, but conditions can vary in areas that had open holes until recently. Ice thickness is 7-8 inches in most places. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair.

Staring January 1st, the protective walleye slot limit will change to 19 to 25 inches at Big Spirit Lake, East and West Okoboji Lakes, Upper Gar Lake, Minnewashta Lake, Lower Gar Lake and Storm Lake; no more than one walleye longer than 25-inches can be taken per day. The majority of area lakes are fully iced over and have safe enough ice for foot traffic. There are a lot of holes and seams that have more recently frozen over. Make sure you have flotation, ice picks and check ice thickness often. Colder temperatures forecast this weekend should help create even better ice conditions. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

October 14, 2021 - 2:40 pm - Posted in Sports

Northwest Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has released their weekly fishing report for northwest Iowa. This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. You can check the activity of your favorite lake or stretch of river, including which species are being caught, a rating of the bite (slow, fair, good or excellent), as well as a hot bait or lure pattern.

NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperature has dropped to 60 degrees. Water level is about 11 inches below the crest of the spillway. Water clarity is about one foot. Black Crappie – Fair: Try along Ice House Point shore and in or on the fish house in Town Bay. Keeper-size fish are 8- to 10-inches. Bluegill – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait or dip baits fished on the bottom in areas along shore or near the rock pile off Cottonwood Point. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use traditional bass lures fished along shore in areas with rocks, fallen trees or docks. Ice House Point shoreline near the outlet and near the inlet bridge are good areas to target bass. Walleye – Slow: Try along Ice House Point and near the outlet in the east end of the lake. Throw twisters or fish live bait like minnows or leeches under a bobber. Walleye fishing usually picks up around late October into November on Black Hawk Lake.

Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try a small jig tipped with a small minnow in 15 feet of water near woody structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try along shore and near woody structure. Yellow Perch- Fair: Use a small jig tipped with a crawler or minnow in 10-15 feet of water.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperature is around 60 degrees. Most of the lake is free of vegetation. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or dip baits fished on the bottom in areas along shore with rocks. Walleye – Slow: Water temperatures are cooling down; shore fishing for walleyes should improve as they begin to increase feeding behavior. Cast twisters or crankbaits from shore. Also try live bait like minnows or leeches fished under a bobber along shore during evenings or mornings. White Bass – Fair: Cast twisters along shore or use crawlers fished under a bobber in areas along shore.

Water temperatures in most lakes are around 60 degrees. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll a small minnow or tube jig. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Yellow Bass – Good: Drift fish or troll a small minnow or tube jig. Shore anglers are having success jigging a piece of crawler on the bottom.

Clear Lake
Water temperature is in the low 60’s. The lake is 5 inches low. Water clarity is 23 inches. Black Crappie – Slow. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a minnow or crawler fished near vegetation along the north shore. Also try slip bobber fishing a minnow on the rock reefs and around the island. Shore anglers are having success fishing minnows off the lighted dock after sunset. White Bass – Slow. Yellow Bass – Fair: Try a small jig tipped with a minnow or piece of cut bait fished on the edge of the vegetation. Use your electronics to find and stay on fish.

Rice Lake
Any water west of the north boat ramp is a waterfowl refuge and is closed to all activity from Sept. 1st through the final day of the duck season. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber in open areas of vegetation near shore. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are biting on a variety of baits. Walleye – Slow. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a jig and minnow in the deeper water along the homes on the south shore.

Silver Lake (Worth)
The vegetation has opened up some. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber fished along the edge of the vegetation. Largemouth Bass – Slow. Yellow Perch – Slow.

Upper Pine Lake
The Upper Pine Lake boat ramp is closed until further notice. Black Crappie – Fair.

For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

East Okoboji Lake
The water temperature is 60 degrees. Many anglers have had success with slip bobbers/spoons and vertical jigging and drop shot fishing. Many anglers have observed high catch rates with sorting needed to limit out on various fish. Black Crappie – Good: Catch is picking up; crappie are moving in shallower and hanging out around pockets of vegetation. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill are biting like crazy. Leeches or worms and a simple bobber setup work well. Pumpkinseed – Good: Fun and easier to catch from most docks. Use a small hook, bobber and piece of worm.

Lost Island Lake
Bite has started to pick up with many anglers fishing off the southern stony point and eastern shore. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair. Yellow Perch – Good: Good catch rate with some sorting needed.

Minnewashta Lake
Panfishing has been good for anglers trolling weed lines. Vertical jigging is improving. Black Crappie – Fair: A nice crappie bite can be found with a little movement around the lake. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Fair: Try using slip bobbers and finding weed lines.

Spirit Lake
The water temperature is 60 degrees. Fish are moving in shallower. Use lead core and tadpole baits. The perch bite continues to slowly pick up as water temperatures fall. Black Crappie – Fair: Mostly being caught along with perch; use tube jigs with wigglers or pilkies. Bluegill – Fair: Mostly being caught along with perch; use tube jigs with wigglers or pilkies. Walleye – Good: Bite is hit-or-miss at dusk, but the day bite is improving. Many anglers have started to fish in shallower with slip bobbers along weed edges. Yellow Perch – Good: Perch are moving in shallower allowing for great catch with some sorting. Try mini jigs and minnows; bring plenty of minnows as smaller fish will strip you of your bait.

West Okoboji Lake
The water temperature is 60 degrees. Many anglers have been most successful with trolling, but jigging and casting has also been very good. Use lead core and tadpole baits. Offshore fishing for bass has been great. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie have been very picky lately, but can be easily caught if you aren’t afraid to switch things up. Can also be caught frequently while picking through other panfish or have been found around weed edges. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill are biting like crazy with fish up to 10-inches seen. Try a shucks jigger and bobber fished in 10-15 feet of water. Jigging, casting, and slip bobbers work well. Try trolling with twister tails and ripple shads or shucks jiggers with a bobber. Walleye – Fair: Walleye have been hard to target, but many anglers have been catching them while fishing for other species.

Offshore fishing for bass has been very good lately. The panfish/perch bite has been excellent. Most boat ramp docks are still in. Area lake levels are low, making launching and loading boats more difficult. The forecast calls for highs in the upper 50’s to 70’s and even cooler nights which have lowered lake temperatures to the lower 60’s and upper 50’s.

For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

October 12, 2021 - 10:09 am - Posted in Sports

Statewide Iowa — The Week 7 edition of the high school cross country team rankings are out.

Boys 3A

Rank Team
1 Dallas Center Grimes
2 Marion
3 North Polk
4 Western Dubuque
5 Solon
6 MOC Floyd Valley
7 Mount Vernon Lisbon
8 Pella
9 Waverly-Shell Rock
10 ADM Adel
11 Decorah
12 Carlisle
13 Glenwood
14 Newton
15 Clear Creek Amana
16 Washington
17 Gilbert
18 Center Point Urbana
19 Sioux Center
20 Charles City

Girls 3A

Rank Team
1 Solon
2 Western Dubuque, Epworth
3 Ballard
4 Dallas Center-Grimes
5 Spencer
6 Harlan
7 Gilbert
8 Carlisle
9 MOC-Floyd Valley
10 North Polk, Alleman
11 Marion
12 Mount Vernon-Lisbon
13 Wahlert, Dubuque
14 Center Point-Urbana
15 Glenwood
16 Bishop Heelan, Sioux City
17 Clear Creek-Amana
18 Washington
19 Assumption, Davenport
20 Pella

Boys 2A

Rank Team
1 Danville/New London
2 Tipton
3 Williamsburg
4 Mid-Prairie
5 GCGR
6 Des Moines Christian
7 Western Christian
8 Clear Lake
9 Waukon
10 Okoboji
11 New Hampton
12 Unity Christian
13 Monticello
14 Oelwein
15 Davis County
16 Denver
17 Jesup
18 Dike/New Hartford
19 East Marshall
20 Chariton

Girls 2A

Rank Team
1 Mid-Prairie
2 Denver
3 Monticello
4 Tipton
5 Williamsburg
6 Jesup
7 Unity Christian
8 Sibley-Ocheyden
9 Cherokee
10 Beckman
11 Albia
12 Clarinda
13 Clear Lake
14 Van Meter
15 Roland Story
16 Des Moines Christian
17 Davis County
18 Dike-New Hartford
19 Union LaPorte
20 GLR-CL
October 11, 2021 - 12:02 pm - Posted in Sports

Statewide Iowa — Team records and their related playoff qualifying standings are available following Week 7 of the 2021 regular season.

The upcoming games mark the final week of the regular season for Classes 2A, 1A, A, and 8P. First round postseason assignments for those classes will be available on Saturday, October 16, following Week 8 regular season games on Friday, October 15.

RATINGS PERCENTAGE INDEX

CLASS 5A

CLASS 4A

CLASS 3A

STANDINGS & POINT DIFFERENTIAL

CLASS 2A

CLASS 1A

CLASS A

EIGHT-PLAYER

October 11, 2021 - 10:49 am - Posted in Sports

Statewide Iowa — The latest Radio Iowa high school football poll is out.

Class 3A keeps BHRV at the 3 spot, and Sergeant Bluff-Luton falls one spot to 9. Class 2A puts West Lyon at #5, ELC at 8, Spirit Lake in the 9 spot, and CLGLR is back in the rankings at #10.  West Sioux is #6 in 1A and Remsen St. Mary’s is in the four spot in 8-player.

Class 5A
1. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (7-0), LW #1 vs Johnston
2. Southeast Polk (6-1), LW #2 @ Ankeny Centennial
3. WDM Valley (6-1), LW #4 vs #8 Dowling Catholic
4. Urbandale (6-1), LW #5 vs Waukee
5. Ankeny (5-2), LW #7 @ Waukee Northwest
6. Cedar Rapids Prairie (5-2), LW #6 vs Iowa City West
7. Iowa City High (6-1), LW #3 vs Davenport West
8. Dowling Catholic (4-3), LW #8 vs #3 WDM Valley
9. Dubuque Senior (5-2), LW #9 vs Pleasant Valley
10.Linn-Mar (6-1), LW #10 @ Davenport Central

Class 4A
1. North Scott (7-0), LW #1 vs Fort Madison
2. Cedar Rapids Xavier (6-1), LW #2 @ Newton
3. Bondurant-Farrar (7-0), LW #3 @ #6 Indianola
4. Lewis Central (5-2), LW #4 vs Dallas Center-Grimes
5. Norwalk (6-1), LW #5 vs Carlisle
6. Indianola (6-1), LW #6 vs #3 Bondurant-Farrar
7. Waverly-Shell Rock (6-1), LW #7 @ Western Dubuque
8. Winterset (6-1), LW #10 vs DSM Hoover
9. Webster City (5-2), LW (X) @ Storm Lake
10.Decorah (5-2), LW (X) vs Waterloo East

Class 3A
1. Harlan (7-0), LW #1 vs Creston
2. West Delaware (6-1), LW #2 @ #7 Independence
3. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (7-0), LW #3 vs MOC/Floyd Valley
4. Solon (7-0), LW #4 @ #10 Grinnell
5. Humboldt (7-0), LW #5 vs #6 Nevada
6. Nevada (7-0), LW #6 @ #5 Humboldt
7. Independence (7-0), LW #7 vs #2 West Delaware
8. Benton (6-1), LW (X) @ Maquoketa
9. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (5-2), LW #8 @ Sioux City Heelan
10.Grinnell (5-2), LW (X) vs #4 Solon

Class 2A
1. Southeast Valley (7-0), LW #1 vs @ #9 Spirit Lake
2. Waukon (6-1) LW #2 vs Union
3. West Marshall (6-1), LW #3 @ Albia
4. OABCIG (6-1), LW #4 @ Clarion-Goldfield-Dows
5. West Lyon (5-2), LW #6 @ Cherokee
6. Greene County (6-1), LW #7 @ Clarke
7. North Fayette Valley (6-1), LW #8 vs Oelwein
8. Estherville Lincoln Central (4-3), LW #5 vs Pocahontas Area
9. Spirit Lake (5-2), LW #9 vs #1 Southeast Valley
10. Central Lyon/GLR (4-3), KW (X) vs Okoboji

Class 1A
1. Van Meter (7-0), LW #1 vs #9 AC/GC
2. Iowa City Regina (7-0), LW #2 vs Durant
3. Underwood (7-0), LW #3 vs Carroll Kuemper
4. Dike-New Hartford (7-0), LW #4 @ Central Springs
5. Sigourney-Keota (7-0), LW #5 vs Van Buren
6. West Sioux (6-1), LW #6 @ Sioux Central
7. Pella Christian (6-1), LW #7 vs Central Decatur
8. Dyersville Beckman (7-0), LW #8 vs MFL Mar Mac
9. AC/GC (7-0), LW #9 @ #1 Van Meter
10.South Central Calhoun (6-1), LW (X) vs Belmond-Klemme

Class A
1. West Hancock (7-0), LW #1 vs #4 North Butler
2. Grundy Center (6-1), LW #2 vs North Tama
3. North Linn (7-0), LW #4 vs Maquoketa Valley
4. North Butler (7-0), LW #5 @ #1 West Hancock
5. Woodbury Central (6-1), LW #2 @ Missouri Valley
6. Logan-Magnolia (6-1), LW #6 vs Lawton-Bronson
7. Lisbon (6-1), LW #8 @ Starmont
8. East Buchanan (6-1), LW #9 vs South Winneshiek
9. Belle Plaine (6-1), LW #10 vs Lynnville-Sully
10.Mount Ayr (5-2), LW (X), @ Southwest Valley

8-Player
1. Montezuma (8-0), LW #1 vs Woodward Academy
2. CAM (Anita) (7-0), LW #2 @ Boyer Valley
3. Easton Valley (7-0), LW #3 @ #9 Kee
4. Remsen St. Mary’s (7-0), LW #4 vs Glidden-Ralston
5. WACO (8-0), LW #5 Idle
6. Turkey Valley (7-0), LW #7 @ West Central
7. Lenox (7-0), LW (X) @ Fremont-Mills
8. Audubon (6-1), LW #9 @ Woodbine
9. Kee High (7-0), LW #10 vs #3 Easton Valley
10.Newell-Fonda vs LW (X) vs AR-WE-VA

October 7, 2021 - 2:36 pm - Posted in Sports

Northwest Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has released their weekly fishing report for northwest Iowa. This weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys and county and state parks staff. You can check the activity of your favorite lake or stretch of river, including which species are being caught, a rating of the bite (slow, fair, good or excellent), as well as a hot bait or lure pattern.

NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Water level is about 11 inches below the crest of the spillway. Water clarity is about one foot. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are picking up some 8- to 10-inch fish in and around the fish house shelter on Ice House Point. Bluegill – Slow. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait or dip baits fished on the bottom in areas along shore or near the rock pile off Cottonwood Point. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use traditional bass lures fished along shore in areas with rocks, fallen trees or docks. Ice House Point shoreline near the outlet and near the inlet bridge are good areas to target bass. Walleye – Slow: Shore fishing action should pick up as water temperatures drop. Try along Ice House Point and near the outlet in the east end of the lake. Throw twisters or fish live bait like minnows or leeches under a bobber.

Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try a small jig tipped with a small minnow in 15 feet of water near woody structure. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use weedless lures along vegetation edges and traditional bass lures along areas with woody structure. Yellow Perch- Fair: Try a small jig tipped with a crawler or minnow in 10-15 feet of water.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Water temperature is in the mid-60’s. Water clarity is roughly 12 inches. Most areas along shore are free of vegetation. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use cut bait or dip baits fished on the bottom in areas along shore with rocks. Walleye – Slow: A few walleye are being picked up mid-lake along dredge cuts. Shore fishing for walleye should improve as water temperatures continue to cool down and they begin to increase feeding behavior. Cast twisters or crankbaits from shore. Also try live bait like minnows or leeches fished under a bobber along shore during evenings or mornings. White Bass – Fair: Cast twisters along shore or use crawlers fished under a bobber in areas along shore.

Water temperatures in most lakes are in the mid to upper 60’s. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Beeds Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Drift fish or troll a small minnow or tube jig. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Yellow Bass – Good: Drift fish or troll a small minnow or tube jig. Shore anglers are having success jigging a piece of crawler on the bottom.

Clear Lake
Water temperature is in the mid-60’s. The lake is 4.9 inches low. Water clarity is 25 inches. Black Crappie – Slow. Walleye – Fair: Use a jig tipped with a minnow or crawler fished near vegetation along the north shore. Also try slip bobber fishing a minnow on the rock reefs. White Bass – Slow. Yellow Bass – Fair: Try a small jig tipped with a minnow or cut bait fished on the edge of the vegetation. Use your electronics to find and stay on fish.

Lake Smith
Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber along the dam and in open pockets in the vegetation.

Rice Lake
Any water west of the north boat ramp is a waterfowl refuge and is closed to all activity from Sept. 1st through the final day of the duck season. Bluegill – Fair: Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber in open areas of vegetation near shore. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are biting on a variety of baits. Walleye – Slow. Yellow Perch – Fair: Use a jig and minnow in the deeper water along the homes on the south shore.

Silver Lake (Worth)
The vegetation has opened up some. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber fished along the edge of the vegetation. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass are biting on a variety of baits. Yellow Perch – Slow.

For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

East Okoboji Lake
The water temperature is 66 degrees. Many anglers have had success with slip bobbers/spoons and vertical jigging and drop shot fishing. Many anglers have observed high catch rates with sorting needed to limit out on various fish. Black Crappie – Good: Catch is picking up; crappie are moving in shallower and been hanging out around pockets of vegetation. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill are biting like crazy. Leeches or worms and a simple bobber setup work well. Pumpkinseed – Good: Fun and easier to catch from most docks. Use a small hook, bobber and piece of worm.

Lost Island Lake
Bite has started to pick up with many anglers fishing off the southern stony point and eastern shore. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Bass – Fair. Yellow Perch – Good: Good catch rate with some sorting needed.

Minnewashta Lake
Panfishing has been good for anglers trolling weed lines. Vertical jigging is improving. Black Crappie – Fair: A nice crappie bite can be found with a little movement around the lake. Bluegill – Fair. Pumpkinseed – Good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Fair: Try using slip bobbers and finding weed lines.

Spirit Lake
The water temperature is 66 degrees. Fish are moving in shallower. Use lead core and tadpole baits. Black Crappie – Fair: Mostly being caught along with perch; use tube jigs with wigglers or pilkies. Bluegill – Fair: Mostly being caught along with perch; use tube jigs with wigglers or pilkies. Walleye – Good: Bite is hit-or-miss at dusk, but the day bite is improving. Many anglers have started to fish in shallower with slip bobbers along weed edges. Yellow Perch – Good: Perch are moving in shallower allowing for great catch with some sorting. Try mini jigs and minnows; bring plenty of minnows as smaller fish will strip you of your bait.

West Okoboji Lake
The water temperature is 66 degrees. Many anglers have been most successful with trolling, but jigging and casting has also been very good. Use lead core and tadpole baits. Offshore fishing for bass has been great. Black Crappie – Good: Crappie have been very picky lately, but can be easily caught if you aren’t afraid to switch things up. Can also be caught frequently while picking through other panfish or have been found around weed edges. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill are biting like crazy with fish up to 10-inches seen. Try a shucks jigger and bobber fished in 10-15 feet of water. Jigging, casting, and slip bobbers work well. Try trolling with twister tails and ripple shads or shucks jiggers with a bobber. Walleye – Fair: Walleye have been hard to target, but many anglers have been catching them while fishing for other species.

Offshore fishing for bass has been very good lately. The panfish/perch bite has been excellent. Area lake levels are low, making launching and loading boats more difficult. The forecast calls for highs in the 60’s and 70’s, but lows in the 50’s at night. Lake temperatures have been slowly cooling down and are in the 60’s degrees. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

October 5, 2021 - 11:31 am - Posted in Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Top-10 teams remain unchanged in the Week Four edition of the NAIA Football FirstDown PlayBook Top 25 Poll. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) continues to hold the top ranking in the nation with 18 first place votes and the 19th vote being awarded to Morningside (Iowa). Northwestern continues to maintain their #2 spot and four new teams entered the grid this week as Faulkner (Ala.) and Rocky Mountain (Mont.) are once again in the Top 25 while Cumberlands (Ky.) and Langston (Okla.) are represented for this first time this season.

Dordt University is also in the rankings, moving up two spots to #19

RANK LAST SCHOOL [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] RECORD FINAL POINTS
1 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) [18] 4-0 444
2 2 Northwestern (Iowa) 6-0 425
3 3 Morningside (Iowa) [1] 4-0 412
4 4 Grand View (Iowa) 6-0 393
5 5 Concordia (Mich.) 3-0 376
6 7 Marian (Ind.) 4-1 344
6 6 Keiser (Fla.) 3-1 344
8 8 Georgetown (Ky.) 4-0 327
9 9 Baker (Kan.) 5-1 315
10 10 Kansas Wesleyan 5-0 294
11 12 Ottawa (Ariz.) 5-0 263
12 13 Reinhardt (Ga.) 3-2 243
13 14 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 3-1 217
14 11 Indiana Wesleyan 3-1 214
15 16 Southwestern (Kan.) 5-0 203
16 15 Bethel (Kan.) 4-1 200
17 19 Valley City State (N.D.) 5-0 172
18 22 Saint Xavier (Ill.) 3-1 141
19 21 Dordt (Iowa) 3-1 135
20 NR Faulkner (Ala.) 4-0 103
21 NR Cumberlands (Ky.) 4-0 102
22 24 Avila (Mo.) 4-1 100
23 NR Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 4-1 91
24 20 Montana Western 4-2 27
25 NR Langston (Okla.) 5-0 26

Dropped from the poll: College of Idaho; Eastern Oregon; Roosevelt (Ill.)

Receiving Votes: College of Idaho 20; Benedictine (Kan.) 18; Eastern Oregon 17; St. Thomas (Fla.) 9; Roosevelt (Ill.) 3

October 5, 2021 - 11:31 am - Posted in Sports

Statewide Iowa — The Latest team cross country rankings are out from the IATC.

Boys 3A

Rank Team
1 Dallas Center Grimes
2 Marion
3 North Polk
4 Western Dubuque
5 MOC Floyd Valley
6 Solon
7 Mount Vernon Lisbon
8 Pella
9 ADM Adel
10 Glenwood
11 Newton
12 Clear Creek Amana
13 Waverly-Shell Rock
14 Decorah
15 Carlisle
16 Sioux Center
17 Washington
18 Gilbert
19 South Tama
20 Center Point Urbana

Girls 3A

Rank Team
1 Solon
2 Western Dubuque, Epworth
3 Ballard
4 Spencer
5 Gilbert
6 Harlan
7 MOC-Floyd Valley
8 North Polk, Alleman
9 Marion
10 Mount Vernon-Lisbon
11 Wahlert, Dubuque
12 Glenwood
13 Pella
14 Dallas Center-Grimes
15 Bishop Heelan, Sioux City
16 Center Point-Urbana
17 Clear Creek-Amana
18 Carlisle
19 Assumption, Davenport
20 Washington

Boys 2A

Position Team
1 Danville/New London
2 Tipton
3 Williamsburg
4 Mid-Prairie
5 Des Moines Christian
6 GCGR
7 Western Christian
8 New Hampton
9 Unity Christian
10 Waukon
11 Clear Lake
12 Monticello
13 Oelwein
14 Okoboji
15 Davis County
16 Albia
17 Denver
18 Jesup
19 Anamosa
20 Forest City

Girls 2A

Rank Team
1 Mid-Prairie
2 Denver
3 Monticello
4 Tipton
5 Williamsburg
6 Unity Christian
7 Jesup
8 Sibley-Ocheyden
9 Cherokee
10 Clarinda
11 Beckman
12 Albia
13 Clear Lake
14 Van Meter
15 Roland Story
16 Des Moines Christian
17 Okoboji
18 Davis County
19 Union LaPorte
20 GLR-CL
20 Dike-New Hartford
September 29, 2021 - 9:32 am - Posted in Sports

(Sioux City, Iowa) – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and Hauff Mid-America Sports are proud to announce the following Cross Country Runners-of-the-Week for Sept. 20-26, 2021. Hauff Mid-America Sports is the presenting sponsor of the 2020-2021 GPAC Players-of-the-Week and Players and Coaches-of-the-Year awards program.

Women – Jessica Kampman, Dordt University

Jessica Kampman of Dordt University is this week’s GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Cross Country Runner-of-the-Week. Kampman, a junior from Abbotsford, British Columbia, was the top NAIA runner at the Roy Griak Invite held last weekend in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In a race that featured 30 teams and several from NCAA Division II and Division III, Kampman placed 38th overall with a 6K time of 23:44. She has been the top NAIA runner in each of her teams three meets this fall. Dordt placed 11th as a team, the top NAIA finisher in the field.

Men – Eric Steiger, Dordt University

Eric Steiger of Dordt University is the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men’s Cross Country Runner-of-the-Week. Steiger, a senior from Lynden, Washington, was the top Dordt runner at the Roy Griak Invite, a meet held at the Les Bolstad Golf course in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In a race that featured 29 teams and 374 runners and several from NCAA Division II and Division III, Steiger placed 25th overall with an 8K time of 26:12. He was the fourth NAIA runner to cross the finish line. Dordt finished seventh as a team, its best ever finish at the Griak, and was second to No.1 Indiana Wesleyan among NAIA teams.

September 28, 2021 - 10:48 am - Posted in Sports

Statewide Iowa — The latest cross country teams rankings are out.

Boys 3A

Rank Team
1 Dallas Center Grimes
2 Marion
3 North Polk
4 Western Dubuque
5 MOC Floyd Valley
6 Pella
7 Solon
8 ADM Adel
9 Mount Vernon Lisbon
10 Waverly-Shell Rock
11 Decorah
12 Clear Creek Amana
13 Glenwood
14 Center Point Urbana
15 Carlisle
16 Newton
17 Sioux Center
18 Charles City
19 Washington
20 Winterset

Girls 3A

Rank Team
1 Solon
2 Spencer
3 Ballard
4 Western Dubuque, Epworth
5 Gilbert
6 North Polk
7 Harlan
8 MOC-Floyd Valley
9 Center Point-Urbana
10 Marion
11 Pella
12 Dallas Center-Grimes
13 Bishop Heelan
14 Dubuque Wahlert
15 Glenwood
16 Clear Creek-Amana
17 Mount Vernon-Lisbon
18 Carlisle
19 Crestwood, Cresco
20 Sioux Center

Boys 2A

Rank Team
1 Danville/New London
2 Tipton
3 Williamsburg
4 Mid-Prairie
5 Okoboji
6 Des Moines Christian
7 Western Christian
8 GCGR
9 Unity Christian
10 Waukon
11 Oelwein
12 Monticello
13 Davis County
14 Clear Lake
15 Spirit Lake
16 Albia
17 Anamosa
18 Clarinda
19 East Marshall
20 Denver

Girls 2A

Rank Team
1 Mid-Prairie
2 Denver
3 Monticello
4 Tipton
5 Williamsburg
6 Unity Christian
7 Sibley-Ocheyedan
8 Jesup
9 Cherokee
10 Clarinda
11 Beckman Catholic
12 Roland Story
13 Albia
14 Davis County
15 Okoboji
16 Des Moines Christian
17 Union Laporte
18 Clear Lake
19 Van Meter
20 GLR-CL