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Iowa => Ice Fishing Iowa => Topic started by: LarryClutch on Dec 25, 2017, 08:25 PM

Title: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LarryClutch on Dec 25, 2017, 08:25 PM
Anyone checked any ice?  I was going to go tonight but it was dark when I got home. Going to try to check in a couple days around council bluffs. I will post what I find.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: crappeye on Dec 25, 2017, 08:29 PM
Fished Blackhawk yesterday. Found 4 inches. Most of the lake just froze Thursday.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: spoofhoundicefisher on Dec 25, 2017, 11:05 PM
checked a few ponds today down here in nw missouri.  had between inch and a half to 2".  will prob still be a few days before we get on any safe ice down here.  temps looks pretty good here for the next few days.  off work till the 3ed so hopefully can get on and get a few days in before back to the grind. 
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: bert29 on Dec 26, 2017, 07:21 AM
Larry C:
I'm planning on going out somewhere today around Glenwood (Manawa, Pony Creek). I would think after last night's cold in low single digits, we'd have 3-4" inches of good solid ice in many areas. At least check out ice conditions anyway!

Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LarryClutch on Dec 26, 2017, 08:56 AM
Good luck Bert. Stay safe.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: yonger on Dec 26, 2017, 11:21 AM
Anyone been around Littlefield or Anita.  Would like to try this weekend.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: bert29 on Dec 26, 2017, 05:42 PM
I did not venture on ice today (I had other things I needed to do) but did drive aruond most of Manawa and from what I could see it was buttoned up, but not sure about ice thickness. I did see on east side where someone had drilled a few holes, but with temps getting down to almost -10 here in SW Iowa tonight, I'm guessing ice will be good to go on most areas tomorrow!

Some friends and I are going to try a few ponds near Glenwood area tomorrow. Hopefully, we'll be able to get into some huge gills and crappies!
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LuverneLunker on Dec 27, 2017, 04:37 PM
Stopped at Woods in CB and talked to Vicki this afternoon...she said the ice on Manawa currently varies from 3.5" to 5" with the best ice being off the south shore boat ramps. Headed out myself this weekend as all of our SW Iowa waters should be good to go by then I'm guessing.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: Fishwhisperjohn on Dec 27, 2017, 08:14 PM
Can’t wait to hear how everyone did and how the ice is thanks for any info
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LarryClutch on Dec 27, 2017, 08:58 PM
I am planing on checking tomorrow after work and I’m planning on going out Saturday in eastern cass county. I will report.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: Unclegillhunter on Dec 28, 2017, 06:39 AM
Stopped at Woods in CB and talked to Vicki this afternoon...she said the ice on Manawa currently varies from 3.5" to 5" with the best ice being off the south shore boat ramps. Headed out myself this weekend as all of our SW Iowa waters should be good to go by then I'm guessing.
Do thy have wax worms in yet! Or I guess I could just call them!
Keep it safe! JDL
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: Fishwhisperjohn on Dec 28, 2017, 08:15 AM
Bass pro had some last weekend not sure about woods yet how ever if they are out petco should have some
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: kpmswi on Dec 28, 2017, 10:31 AM
Went out yesterday at a farm pond North of Red Oak found 5.5 inches close to shore and 3.5 out a ways of crappy ice.  Bite was slow with only seven bluegills.  But I did catch one monster bluegill that was 11 inches long and weighed 22.45 ounces or 1.4 lbs, my all time largest by far. Going to be a great year!

(https://s18.postimg.cc/dqnlt5o2d/IMG_1940_Large.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/dqnlt5o2d/)

(https://s18.postimg.cc/ha9jiztd1/IMG_1942_Large.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/ha9jiztd1/)
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: tbern on Dec 28, 2017, 10:37 AM
Nice fish, congrats!!
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: Fishwhisperjohn on Dec 28, 2017, 12:23 PM
Those are some nice gills! I can’t wait to get out.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: Pines on Dec 28, 2017, 04:27 PM
That bluegil is a pig.Nice!
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LarryClutch on Dec 28, 2017, 07:07 PM
5 inches of ice northwest of cb 10 miles or so.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LarryClutch on Dec 28, 2017, 10:10 PM
Do thy have wax worms in yet! Or I guess I could just call them!
Keep it safe! JDL

 Vicki has tubs of waxies
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: Unclegillhunter on Dec 29, 2017, 07:00 AM
Vicki has tubs of waxies
Thanks heading over there as soon as I get off work. I know she waits as long as she can before she gets them in. She gets good quality bait so I wait till she has them. End up fishing with them well into the open water season.
Keep it safe! JDL
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: Dwedemeier on Dec 29, 2017, 07:14 AM
Has anyone heard how ice is on 12Mile or Anita?
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: brgray1 on Dec 29, 2017, 08:11 AM
Did Woods order spikes this year or just waxies?  If not does anyone else in the area have them?
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: midwest_rodworks on Dec 29, 2017, 08:40 AM
Any reports on Pony Creek?  Planning on heading that way Saturday morning.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LuverneLunker on Dec 29, 2017, 11:46 AM
Anyone have luck on Farm Creek?  I've never been there, thinking about giving it a try.

Used to hit Farm Creek all the time and usually did good up until a couple of years ago...still has some nice gills and crappie in it but not near the numbers it used to hold.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LarryClutch on Dec 29, 2017, 04:18 PM
Did Woods order spikes this year or just waxies?  If not does anyone else in the area have them?

She did not have them Thursday. I buy mine online. $20 for 500.  Usually last all winter.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: spoofhoundicefisher on Dec 29, 2017, 05:35 PM
went this morning down south here and had well over 6 inches of ice prob closer to 7" i would say.  did ok had half a 5 gallon bucket of gills and crappie.  them fish thru the ice are just so delicious.  gonna figure out this picture thing some time to post some pics.  my 9 year old caught the first fish of the day.  he always has to be the first in and first on it seems like.  had a blast.  tight lines all.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: ClamGuy on Dec 30, 2017, 07:35 PM
Fished mile hill in mills county this morning. 5-7" of ice. A couple sketchy spots. Fishing was slow. Got a few nice gills.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: midwest_rodworks on Dec 30, 2017, 10:00 PM
Yellows fired up!

Pony Creek


(https://s18.postimg.cc/kc25yg9yt/IMG_20171230_143128406.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/kc25yg9yt/)

We were in the 2 man Eskimo Quick Flip
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: bert29 on Dec 31, 2017, 09:32 AM
I was able to make it out on Pony Creek and Mile Hill in the past few days.
Ice conditions varied across each lake. Pony had from 3.5-5.5" in places, and Mile Hill  (be watchful of the numerous springs on that lake) had 4-5", with a few spots of 3"

caught some nice crappies and yellow bass at Pony Creek, and managed a few nice crappies and some 7-8" gills at Mile Hill. Fishing was slow with a lot of fish coming in to look, then moving away. Switched baits and colors a lot and finally went to a real small black ice fly with a shortened Custom Jigs/spins  white glow in dark wedgie finesse plastic--and that seemed to really do the trick--worked even better without live maggots (I keep all my plastics soaked in Berkely  Gulp! solution for scent).

Met some new guys on the ice from Neb City area at Mile Hlll and enjoyed fishing with them and getting them on some fish!

stay safe and warm to all today and tomorrow and wish all a safe and Happy New Year! I want all to have fun, but be around to enjoy 2018, too!



Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: ClamGuy on Jan 03, 2018, 06:53 PM
Went back to mile hill and pony creek on sunday.  mile hill was 5-7" ice. Fishing was slow. Pony creek was 6-9" ice.  Fishing was better there caught a couple nice gills and one perch. Tons of lookers but they were pretty tight lipped.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: ClamGuy on Jan 09, 2018, 06:35 AM
How's the ice in this area?
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: bert29 on Jan 09, 2018, 07:25 AM
Last I knew from others fishing in area the past few days, most ponds in area have anywhere from 6-10"
county and area lakes about same...8-10" seems to be ice thickness

be a good day to get out before approaching storm on Wed night into Thursday. snow totals are all over the place for Eastern Neb and Western Iowa. I've seen weather models on all 3 TV stations go from 2-18" of snow from the SW Iowa/Omaha up to Carroll area!
Then winds blow into 25-35mph range and temps drop from near 50 tomorrow to single digits by Friday/Saturday.
Gotta love the Mid-Western winters!
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: bulzeye121 on Jan 15, 2018, 08:19 PM
Does anyone know if the pony creek ice tournament will happen this ice season?
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: swiacamper on Jan 16, 2018, 02:18 PM
That sounds like fun. I hope someone has information.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: crappeye on Jan 23, 2018, 08:35 PM
Anyone been out since the rain?
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LuverneLunker on Jan 26, 2018, 09:09 AM
I was out on Prairie Rose yesterday, main lake was fine (10-12" of good ice) but there was some open water near shore in areas. I walked on by the pumphouse and it was slushy but fine, others were coming in on the south side by the cabins and walking out as well. The place I'm worried about is Farm Creek as that watershed can be nasty for fast ice erosion after rain, anyone check there this week?
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: yakker13 on Jan 26, 2018, 09:35 AM
Went out yesterday at a farm pond North of Red Oak found 5.5 inches close to shore and 3.5 out a ways of crappy ice.  Bite was slow with only seven bluegills.  But I did catch one monster bluegill that was 11 inches long and weighed 22.45 ounces or 1.4 lbs, my all time largest by far. Going to be a great year!

(https://s18.postimg.cc/dqnlt5o2d/IMG_1940_Large.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/dqnlt5o2d/)

(https://s18.postimg.cc/ha9jiztd1/IMG_1942_Large.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/ha9jiztd1/)

Wow!
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: bheyer21 on Jan 26, 2018, 10:36 AM
anyone know if the ice around the edge is safe?
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: spoofhoundicefisher on Jan 26, 2018, 09:26 PM
was out tonite and the edges were open water.  put out a plank and 4 feet out there was still 9 inches of ice.  3 inches of really soft ice and the rest was pretty decent ice.  have to be very careful this time of year and don't forget your safety picks and take a buddie and let loved ones know where you are and when you are off the ice.  tight lines and be safe
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: bheyer21 on Jan 29, 2018, 09:18 AM
what lake were you on?
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: spoofhoundicefisher on Jan 29, 2018, 08:28 PM
i was on farm ponds, but a buddie was out on mozingo lake and he said the same thing.  we r in nw missouri.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: crappeye on Jan 30, 2018, 07:37 PM
Fished Anita today. 11 inches of ice by camp ground. Clear ice and clean water. Bite was very slow.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: OGCollard on Feb 01, 2018, 03:00 PM
I know as of 1/26 Icaria was still 10-11 inches. Top 3 were pretty cludy but not so cloudy you could not see the fish! Bottom 7 inches clear.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: ClamGuy on Feb 03, 2018, 06:06 PM
Anyone fished farm creek lately? Gonna head there tomorrow.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LuverneLunker on Feb 04, 2018, 04:04 AM
Fished Farm Creek yesterday for 4 hours. Ice is holding up on south end and was 8" thick. Water clarity was poor though, dirtiest I have ever seen it down there. Fishing was slow but better in 6-7 fow, all gills. Fished the channel also in 14 fow and anything you saw was suspended 4-6 feet down from surface. Personally I wouldn't venture into the north end as it looked like it had opened up and froze again in areas, be safe and use a spud if you do!
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: ClamGuy on Feb 04, 2018, 07:31 AM
Will do. Thanks for the report
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LuverneLunker on Feb 15, 2018, 04:52 PM
Used my spud bar today on shoreline ice at Farm Creek and even though it was pretty slushy from the snow melt, it was still good. Main lake ice was around 9-10". Hoping to fish into March for the first time since 2014 around here but will have to wait and see what Mother Nature has to say about that...rain won't help and see a chance of that on Sunday night now. 
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: ClamGuy on Feb 22, 2018, 07:21 PM
Anyone been went out on pony creek or mile hill? Wondering if ice is still safe
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LarryClutch on Feb 23, 2018, 07:52 PM
Was on a pond north of there 7 miles. Good 8 inches. Shore was Pry 4-5 inches.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: bert29 on Feb 25, 2018, 08:44 AM
Going out to Pony Creek this afternoon. Most likely last time on ice for me as temps in SW Iowa in 50's and 40's this week. Sun angle this time of year makes a huge difference on weakening ice (and also length of days increasing!), plus with run-off we had last warm spell weakened shoreline ice in some places. Be good to get out and enjoy nice day (after a week of ice storms and dreary weather!).I'll post later tonight how I did.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LuverneLunker on Feb 25, 2018, 09:34 AM
Looking forward to your follow up later bert29, thinking about making one last trip down to Pony as well tomorrow...this week will likely be the end of it south of I-80.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: bert29 on Feb 25, 2018, 07:20 PM
I did make it to Pony Creek this afternoon. Nice day to be on ice, with temps in low 40's and partly sunny--and not too windy!
Ice was good, probably 10-12", with a few weak spots on east side by road near shore, but most of lake still accessible. Quite a few people out, most fishing middle or south half of lake. I fished further up north in shallows...on west side. I was mainly fishing in 4-6ft of water on some flats. Did well. Fished from 2:30-5:45pm. Ended up catching about 8 yellow bass, 2 largemouth (1 20" fish...close to 4lbs!) 3 crappie 8-10", and about 15-20 bluegills--some decent sized ones. Another guy fished with me from 4:00-til we left ice. I used chubby darters, perch-colored slender spoons, and we used tungsten jigs--perch and glow color tipped with red wedgies and baited (some) with maggots.

Can't give you report on how other groups of people did (there were approx 12-15 others out) but they were all fishing in deeper water. At late ice, I like to move up on shallow flats--sometimes in only 2-3ft of water on certain bodies of water!

remember---even though you might drill through 10-12 inches of ice, at this late stage, it's usually honeycombed, with melting from snow and water above. 4 inches of early hard ice, better than 10" soft ice! Be safe! Even though getting closer to Spring, still too early for swimming!
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: LuverneLunker on Feb 26, 2018, 05:14 AM
Thanks bert29, nice report!
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: Bfishn on Feb 26, 2018, 08:22 AM
I agree, well done that is a very informative fishing report.
Title: Re: Southwest Iowa
Post by: ClamGuy on Feb 26, 2018, 09:56 PM
Thanks for the thorough report. I think it's time to put away the ice gear and hit the river for the walleye and flatheads.