Author Topic: Iowa Great Lakes suck (Read 4738 times)

ASATMillerbluegill · « **on:** Jan 21, 2014, 11:06 AM »

I have a buddy that is an avid ice fisherman, and he is up there right now; and says it sux as usual. I've ice fished Big Spirit, and at Boji, Emerson Bay, and Millers bay multiple times over the last few years, and it always sux. I have Kabeles and a pro guide on FB, and they never post anything great either. I think it's time to learn to fish the backwaters on the Mississippi. I don't know anything about how to go on the backwaters on the Mississippi. Any tips for a greenhorn? Thanks!

Trump · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 12:04 PM »

My report from a friend was 10 eyes on spirit don't know exact location but everything was right around sun up and not a bight after8 am and iI'm in the same boat you are (same shanty this time of year) Ive fished miller and Emerson caught very few over the last couple years and starting the backwater challenge Friday I started the bussey post. I guess we will see how it turns out

ASATMillerbluegill · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 01:31 PM »

Good luck sir!!! Gf and I trout fish near Mcgregor quite a bit in the summer , and we both want to start targeting the Mississippi. I've seen some huge perch catches come from it, and overall we just can't see wasting anymore $ and time up at the igl's.

IGLfisherman · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 01:50 PM »

It's just like any body of water,,hit it at the wrong time and fishing sucks... Had it happen in North and South Dakota,, Minnasota and yes all over Iowa...I happen to live at the IGL and yes this yr. is the slowest it's been,,,but i have good day's also...

ASATMillerbluegill · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 02:47 PM »

Right on! I'm sure a few locals do ok, but I just can't justify spending time and $ going up there anymore. The sight fishing, because of the amazing water clarity, (even though they wont bite) is cool in Emerson Bay, and I enjoy the fisherman's outlet Berkley store; but it's time to conquer the mississippi. I don't recall ever reading a sucky fishing report from there. I subscribe to the DNR's Thursday fishing reports, and drool over the mississippi river reports. Time to get after it, or make the drive to Devils Lake. Let's face it, nobody out of state ever brags that they are,"Going to iowa to ice fish!"

IGLfisherman · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 03:39 PM »

I think the Mississippi would be awesome fishing and would love to try it someday...
Devils Lake can be very intimidating as it is so big,,, been there a few times before 1993 when it was small and after 93 and it was so large...had a couple good trips and a few that sucked also...lol
You would be surprised at the people that come to IGL from other states to fish,,I see guy's from Minn. Wis.. Neb.. and SD almost every week or even day...I think the IGL will probably have down fishing for the next couple yrs,,,, except maybe for slot walleye's seem to catch plenty of those...lol

ASATMillerbluegill · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 04:44 PM »

Yea, I know there has to be better days up there; I've watched old videos of Doug Stange, from infisherman, up there tearing it up on perch and a musky. The Mississippi or the IGL's are both a 3 hr drive for me, so I am just going to let the igl's rest awhile, and explore the intimidating mississippi.

IGLfisherman · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 05:21 PM »

Ya must be from around Des Moines,, yrs ago we used to ice fish little river,, i dont think the fishing is much good anymore there,, never hear anyone talk about it... also used to get lots of crappies at the lake at Osceola by the casino,,they was kinda small 9"-10" but lots of them...

ASATMillerbluegill · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 05:42 PM »

I live in Ames. Lol, we have a fished out lake w stocked trout(Ada Hayden) and hickory grove near colo(equally sucky:) brushy creek 50 miles away gets most of my attention. Trying to target the walleyes, and give the crappies and gils a break, but we aren't having a lot of success yet. Pick one up now and then. Watched my buddy pull a 10.5 lber out last year, and I seen the mount on a 11.5 that came out two years ago. I see big eyes on my camera at times, and some huge muskys. Keeps me going back, but the Mississippi sounds like our best bet.

esox_magnum · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 05:47 PM »

Also an IGLs resident and by far the worst fishing I have experienced here this winter....But when you hit a good day it is a good day.....

SpoonieLuv · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 07:07 PM »

Not to burst your bubble but you are going to have crappy days on the Mississippi also. I've fished it for the last 35 yrs and have had great days, but most of the time its a "Ya shoulda been here last Thursday". lol I don't want to discourage you by anymeans but the jumbo perch don't come easy. I usually go to Brushy!

IGLfisherman · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 07:18 PM »

Yeah brushy has some nice walleye's when you can get into them,,, and it is the best option in that area,,big creek can be fiest or famine,,mostly famine...lol
I caught a 9 lb'er on west okoboji 2 winters ago and had a pig up to the hole the other day that got off,,, i guess thats not a catch tho...lol
Well i wish you luck on the Mississippi,, you never know untill you try!!!
Good luck

tyke · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 07:22 PM »

I have to agree with Spoonie on this. I'm 66 and my dad started taking me fish on the Mississippi ice fishing and open water fishing when 10, had more bad days than good. But I still love to fish there.

ASATMillerbluegill · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 07:33 PM »

Yes, but we can't do any worse then all of our spirit/boji experiences:) that's why they call it fishing instead of catching, I'm 51 and realize this. Good to hear even u locals having it tough up there. Makes us non locals feel not as bad:)

esox_magnum · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 07:34 PM »

Quote from: IGLfisherman on Jan 21, 2014, 07:18 PM

Yeah brushy has some nice walleye's when you can get into them,,, and it is the best option in that area,,big creek can be fiest or famine,,mostly famine...lol
I caught a 9 lb'er on west okoboji 2 winters ago and had a pig up to the hole the other day that got off,,, i guess thats not a catch tho...lol
Well i wish you luck on the Mississippi,, you never know untill you try!!!
Good luck

Lot of big eyes caught that weekend, I had an 8 pounder also...

matzilla · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 07:53 PM »

You can sight fish other bodies of water in Iowa (I'm talking 15+ feet of visability on a bad day) not just the IGL's

Fishing the river is fun....best general tip is to locate deep pockets in slack water and brush/structure off the edges. Humps on flats, underwater points etc.

Just be careful, river ice, even in the slack water, can be tough from time to time

jumbo chaser · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 10:27 PM »

Little river was goog till they drained it last year and its not full yet and west lake Osceola has a ton of small crappies for sure

jumbo chaser · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 10:40 PM »

Last year I had a great weekend a IGL spirit lake caught 3 eyes 19"-22" and a limit of perch 10"-12" but this year it sounds like the good rock piles and covered up with permies

IGLfisherman · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 21, 2014, 11:09 PM »

I don't think there are as many Permies on Spirit as there was a few weeks ago. The problem on Spirit is the perch are there but not biting very well...The walleye's are off and on,, seems like about every other day or so...But you can get some nice one's,, i've even caught them mid day out in 20fow in the middle perch fishing... I think the bluegill and crappie fishing is getting a little better on West O. but still kinda tough to catch many,,, some day's i've done ok but no limits so far.. Perch fishing has been tough to find many big ones,,been no trouble finding schools of smaller ones,,,i haven't seen a limit yet... just keep trying better than sitting at home...

ASATMillerbluegill · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 22, 2014, 07:32 AM »

Jumbo Chasers fishing reports don't count; he is the fish whisperer. Even when not hungry, they bite his bare hook

ASATMillerbluegill · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 22, 2014, 07:34 AM »

Sounds like good tips matzilla

toothfish · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 22, 2014, 08:25 AM »

This perch bite thing must be an issue in other locations as well.
Buddy is on Devils Lake . I talked to him yesterday ... Perch everywhere on the camera with lock jaw .

Mr.Seaguar · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 22, 2014, 08:34 AM »

The lakes do suck. Last year was terrible. I thought it couldn't be that bad again this year. Boy was I wrong. I have to disagree with one thing, its more fun to sit at home and watch TV than to drive 70 miles to the lakes and catch jack squat. And its free

mjlenz · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 22, 2014, 10:36 AM »

I have made several trips up there over the past several years and the only real luck I have had was before ice out.....March or later. Got into some nice perch on Spirit, otherwise did pretty good on pike with the tip-ups on W. Obj and some bluegills. It seems to also be extremely windy up there constantly and slow fishing for the 5 hour trips we made.

axnessj · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 22, 2014, 11:41 AM »

This thread is depressing. I live right next to the Mississippi, have never fished it and I am going to Okoboji this weekend. 5.5 hr drive even. Even worse is I am from Fort Dodge, I miss Brushy.

ASATMillerbluegill · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 22, 2014, 12:17 PM »

Quote from: axnessj on Jan 22, 2014, 11:41 AM

This thread is depressing. I live right next to the Mississippi, have never fished it and I am going to Okoboji this weekend. 5.5 hr drive even. Even worse is I am from Fort Dodge, I miss Brushy.

Lol, sorry, but this made me chuckle:-) Better stop at brushy for old times sake! Hope u catch a bunch up to the great lakes!! It's the Winter Games; u can at least drink your," no catching fish" blues away.

IGLfisherman · « **Reply #26 on:** Jan 22, 2014, 01:38 PM »

Quote from: Mr.Seaguar on Jan 22, 2014, 08:34 AM

The lakes do suck. Last year was terrible. I thought it couldn't be that bad again this year. Boy was I wrong. I have to disagree with one thing, its more fun to sit at home and watch TV than to drive 70 miles to the lakes and catch jack squat. And its free

But when you live here you can pick and choose your fishing day's,, or just go foe 3 or 4 hrs...

And when living here you also learn where to fish and when to fish,,, last yr. i limited out on perch on a regular bases...
And i have never had a problem catching walleye's

mjlenz · « **Reply #27 on:** Jan 22, 2014, 02:15 PM »

That would be a great advantage IGL. Next time I'm up that way I'll get a hold of you and you can take me out and show me the fish! lol

toothfish · « **Reply #28 on:** Jan 22, 2014, 02:16 PM »

ASATMillerbluegill · « **Reply #29 on:** Jan 22, 2014, 02:31 PM »

did I read somewhere, that on the mississippi, besides having my 3rd line license, I can have an additional 2 or 3 tipups....for a total of 5-6 lines in the water?

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Author Topic: Iowa Great Lakes suck (Read 4738 times)