Fishing......

[Agronomist_at_IA]

So where is everyone fishing...how's the bite been?

[Ice_Fly_Guy]

Been out three times so far - First time was my favorite small county pond.  10 gills between me and my son, only a few were of decent size. Tried Arrowhead Lake south of Lake View later that day and couldn't get on em.  Only one average gill caught there.

Last year I bought the trout stamp to take my boy to do that, and I wanted to go one more time before it expired, so Moorland Pond was my second destination.  It was a hoot sight fishing those trout.

Third time was a short stint at my home lake, Black Hawk.  I fished away from the community hole and had an OK perch bite until it got toward dark.  They shut down and were gone from my spot by then, so I moved in near where most people set up during the day.  Only got 1 dink crappie and one really nice 12" crappie right before I took off.

I'm hoping next time out I'm hoping I can hit a spot at Black Hawk I've been wanting to try, but someone was there yesterday.  I may go north to a relatively unknown lake to see what's up there.

[bert29]

I was able to get on Blackhawk Lake  back on Dec. 30 (early ice--it was 4-5" thick then) and much thanks to Matt Mork, the DNR officer there on lake, for giving me some ice conditions report. We caught a few decent perch, some small crappies, and I caught a 26" 7.5lb walleye that day! If you know Matt, he can show you the pic I sent him! We fished off of Icehouse Point in the hole that day!

[Ice_Fly_Guy]

Damn! I heard about that fish from another DNR guy. Congratulations! Walleye fishing can be pretty tough there in winter, in my experience.

[yakker13]

Went out yesterday to a very small farm pond. Came out with 5 nice (sorta) crappies and a bunch of decent gills. Fun day on the ice.

[Dave R]

Been fishing some local ponds in Ankeny. The bite started out strong but kind of sucked the last couple of times. Going again tomorrow afternoon. Hoping things improve.

[ia bhtr]

OK luck on small ponds by Moville , last 3 trips up on the North end of West Boji , great luck each time on gills ( today only gills ) other 2 times , pike , bass , crappies and gills #14 widowmaker blue/black with white plastic has been my best bait

[IFF]

Is Blackhawk lake in the west central part of Iowa ?  Got out on one with Son-in-Law eastern end. 8 good inches of ice.  Now need to make a smitty sled.

[Ice_Fly_Guy]

Yes, it's in West Central Iowa. It gets lots of pressure in three particular spots but if one goes against the grain it can be decent.

[spoofhoundicefisher]

farm ponds around here have been on fire ever since first ice.  the mid day bite gets slow at times but if you have the right plastics you can entice a bite from the "sniffers"  waxies have been good for everything but the last few days the minnows have been killer for the crappie.  good solid 8.5 to 9 inches of ice good hard clear ice.  found a farm pond Wednesday and hammered some catfish in then thursday found another pond 2 miles from that pond that had wipers in it.