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Iowa => Ice Fishing Iowa => Topic started by: potatoe on Dec 05, 2016, 07:18 PM

Title: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: potatoe on Dec 05, 2016, 07:18 PM
Fished a few times last year with some help from members. Any predictions when Clear Lake will be ready to fish. We only caught a few but still learning this sport and had fun. I think we fished early January last year first outing for us.

just wondering what everyone thinks this year
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: prestonc on Dec 05, 2016, 07:48 PM
Middle of next week
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: Fedexguy on Dec 06, 2016, 10:58 AM
17th/18th anywhere on the lakes safely. I hope...
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: D0wnbyth3r1v3r on Dec 06, 2016, 01:47 PM
Following for updates. Ready to make the venture north!
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: potatoe on Dec 06, 2016, 06:45 PM
Talking with a co-worker today at work. thinking before x-mas for sure

I am still learning the area, caught a few last year. Our first trip was about 3 years ago, wind was 35 mph ice was super thick, it was a crazy trip and did not catch one fish but a trip we will always remember.
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: Bigwally on Dec 07, 2016, 11:31 AM
Has Clear Lake started to skim over yet with ice?
Let's hope the wind stays calm and let's the ice get going.
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: Fedexguy on Dec 08, 2016, 10:27 AM
Capped as of today 12/8. Buddy sent me a picture that lives on north shore, but I don't know how to share pics on here
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: MidnightRambler on Dec 08, 2016, 11:51 AM
With the snow forecast for this weekend CL capping now isn't necessarily good news.

Four or five inches of snow on top of an inch or two of ice is not a good thing. Hopefully it is light snow that blows to shore quickly.
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: potatoe on Dec 08, 2016, 09:16 PM
I think this happened last year also, I remember our first trio up and we had slush in the house when we were done.

Super cold next week, with temps below zero at night should help
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: Oldbear on Dec 08, 2016, 09:44 PM
It also runs 8-10* colder up there than central Iowa.
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: 26perch on Dec 08, 2016, 09:58 PM
 Talked to Dan at The Crazy Minnow & he said it capped "very" rough
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: D0wnbyth3r1v3r on Dec 09, 2016, 09:29 AM
Any idea if it will be safe and fish-able next weekend?
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: potatoe on Dec 09, 2016, 03:06 PM
Crazy Minnow and Kevin Paul both have pictures posted of the lake on Facebook. I bet there will be guys fishing next week
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: Fedexguy on Dec 09, 2016, 04:38 PM
Crazy posted guys fishing today on 3" WHOOO HOOO!!!
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: potatoe on Dec 09, 2016, 07:39 PM
yikes, not sure I am ready for that. I hope the snow does not change things
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: potatoe on Dec 11, 2016, 03:38 PM
Made it up today, fished near Macintosh ramp, I am not familiar with that area and did not have mush luck. Talked to a few guys fishing and got about the same report. Did talk to one guy who had a few, Ice was 3 - 4 in that area. Then we went to Ventura boat ramp and that was sketchy and we went home.

That is my report, not sure what we were doing wrong of if was just a bad day
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: SpoonieLuv on Dec 11, 2016, 09:40 PM
Fished little lake today, good 4" every where we ventured. Caught some nice yellows, a white bass and dinky eyes. Lot of lookers, great day to be out. Ice was real solid.
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: D0wnbyth3r1v3r on Dec 12, 2016, 02:49 PM
I will be heading there this Friday.
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: potatoe on Dec 12, 2016, 07:52 PM
glad you caught a few, I felt like I was chasing my tail all day
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: HANDLINE2 on Dec 13, 2016, 06:49 PM
Went out from McIntosh today and made a big circle way out around fished 11' to 22' and could not mark many fish anywhere. Caught a few small walleyes in 20' and a few small perch in 8". Ice was 6" everywhere I was. Wish I had my ATV. Exercise is good, right. RH 
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: D0wnbyth3r1v3r on Dec 14, 2016, 09:53 AM
Thanks for the update! I plan on going up Friday but with the predicted weather I am not so sure lol.
Title: Re: Clear Lake 2016 / 2017
Post by: potatoe on Dec 14, 2016, 07:10 PM
Saturday looks super windy, Clear Lake is like flying a kite with your shelter