Ice Ways of Iowa

[davetclown]

yep the water gets stiff here too,

and you guessed it you can count on your old favorites (gills perch crappie and others)

know of a kool place to poke a hole and park a parka post it hear
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[davetclown]

[size 1]Emerson Bay and Miller's Bay[/size] are traditional perch hotspots. Schools of perch cruise those bays, and fields of ice-fishing holes mark their preferred hangouts.
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[davetclown]

bluegills in [size 1]West Okoboji [/size]are flourishing.
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[davetclown]

[size 1]Upper Gar Lake, east of Arnold's Park[/size], as providing excellent fishing for 7- to 9-inch bluegills last winter and promising good fishing again this year.
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[davetclown]

[size 1]Lake Minnewashta[/size], just south of Arnold's Park, is another small natural lake currently on a high for bluegills
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[davetclown]

[size 1]Center Lake[/size],

just west of the town of Spirit Lake, has been especially hot for summertime crappies in recent years, and has been equally productive for ice-anglers. The lake's deepest water (15 feet) is east of the boat ramp about two-thirds of the way across the lake. Another spot to consider for an ice hole is a shallow bar that stretches due south from the boat ramp.

Expect crappies at Center Lake to average 8 to 12 inches.
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[davetclown]

[size 1]Lake Pahoja,[/size]

a small artificial lake southwest of Larchwood, has provided dynamite ice-fishing for 8-inch bluegills and perch in recent years. Drill holes near the fishing pier, over deep water southwest of the boat ramp, or near deadfalls that ring the shore.
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[davetclown]

[size 1]Lake Cornelia,[/size]

northeast of Clarion, for 8-inch bluegills and perch. The lake's deepest water (16 to 18 feet) is straight east of the boat ramp at mid-lake, and the prime spot for perch. Dropoffs, associated with the deeper water tend to produce more bluegills
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[davetclown]

[center][size 2]SOUTHEAST IOWA[/size][/center] [center][size 1]has the shortest ice-fishing season. Safe ice may not form in southeast Iowa until after New Year's, and it may disappear by the end of February. But anglers who take advantage of the short season can have access to bumper crops of bluegills and crappies.[/size][/center] [center][size 1][cool] Lake Sugema[/size][/center] [center][size 1]is Iowa's premier lake for bluegills. their sheer population has produced fish almost anywhere anglers have spun an ice auger. Underwater islands at midlake, off the dam and straight southwest of the mouth of the northeast arm of the lake are prime ice-fishing spots[/size][/center] [center][size 1][cool] Lake Miami[/size][/center] [center][size 1]The lake's deepest water - 20 feet - is off the center of the dam, but steep dropoffs on both shores are also good spots to probe for bluegills[/size][/center] [center][size 1][cool] Lake Wapello[/size][/center] [center][size 1]bluegills tend toward 8 inches and larger. The main pool off the face of the dam is 30 feet deep, but the bay at the east end of the dam tends to provide the best ice-fishing. Bluegills and crappies cluster along dropoffs in that area, and near pallet structures in the back of the bay and on the points at the mouth of the bay.[/size][/center] [center] [/center]
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[davetclown]

[center][size 2]SOUTHWEST IOWA[/size][/center] [center][size 1][cool] Three Mile [cool] Twelve Mile lake [/size][/center] [center][size 1]Iowa's best bluegill and crappie fishing in recent years, and will be hotspots for ice-anglers again this winter. At Three Mile, deep water near the dam, and the old creek channel that winds north through the lake, are profitable spots for drilling holes. Brushpiles in midlake in deep water due west of the campground, and closest to the northeast end of the dam, have been traditional ice-fishing hotspots.[/size][/center] [center][cool][size 1] Greenfield Lake[/size][/center] [center][size 1][cool] Viking Lake[/size][/center] [center][size 1][cool] West Lake[/size][/center] [center][size 1]Local experts suggest fishing the deepest water off the dams in these lakes, or dropoffs associated with those areas. [/size][/center] [center][size 2][/size] [/center]
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[davetclown]

[center][size 2]CENTRAL IOWA[/size][/center] [center][size 1][cool] Badger Creek Lake[/size][/center] [center][size 1]7- to 8-inch bluegills and 8- to 9-inch crappies. The old roadbed that runs east-west between the boat ramps is the traditional place to pull panfish through the ice[/size][/center] [center][][size 1] Big Creek Lake[/size][/center] [center][size 1]Bluegill populations have been stunted in recent years by competition with gizzard shad. Plans to drain and kill off the lake in late 2001 were derailed by public outcry.[/size][/center] [center][size 1][crazy] Lake Ahquabi[/size][/center] [center][size 1]has a unique "fish house" built on poles in the water, that provides good panfishing throughout the winter. Aerators under the fish house keep a pool free of ice, and anglers can fish "inside" the house in that open water. Brushpiles, rockpiles and other habitat, along with the aerated water, attract fish and offer excellent fishing.[/size][/center] [center][size 1][cool] Rock Creek[/size][/center] [center][size 1]There are awesome crappies both in size and numbers. "They're in the 9- to 12-inch range. They're tough to catch in the summer because the lake can get so muddy, but in the winter, under the ice, it settles down, and you can do really well for them.[/size][/center] [center] [/center]
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