Okoboji

[Mr.Seaguar]

Few places you could easily avoid this wind direction but I was really making a joke. But my otter cottage could handle this wind no problem

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Few places you could easily avoid this wind direction but I was really making a joke. But my otter cottage could handle this wind no problem

It's not so much the wind, but add the heavy wet snow to it.....yeah you know.

I stayed home and build a flat line Rod.

[hoppy63]

Any recent reports on west okoboji?

[ONFISH]

What is the depth of water you guys have been finding weeds? Wanting to know how much line to put on my tip-ups.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

What is the depth of water you guys have been finding weeds? Wanting to know how much line to put on my tip-ups.

What lake are you talking about? It's clear water......there are weeds in 20ft of water and deeper.

[ONFISH]

That’s all I needed to know. Thanks agronomist_at_IA!!!!

[JacksFisher]

To piggyback off this a bit, do you guys go searching out for green weeds on West O?  Or do you just find a weed pocket or weed line near the dead/fallen over weeds?  I'm new to ice fishing as of last year, but I have not been able to find weeds that are "green/alive" as the experts would suggest.  Fish still seem to be around the fallen weeds and the village of shacks seem to setup on dead weeds frequently from my very limited experience. 

Also, do you guys fish the weeds this time of year or do you push out to the 20-25' basins in Emerson, Smiths, Millers and Triboji?

[Mr.Seaguar]

Do not trust the village. I almost always fish weeds. There are many areas with shallow weeds on West. Keep trying them until you find fish.

[JacksFisher]

Do not trust the village. I almost always fish weeds. There are many areas with shallow weeds on West. Keep trying them until you find fish.

Are the weeds you're fishing green or fallen over/dying most of the time?  Are you drilling holes until you mark some or do you fish a hole for a couple of minutes and then move if fish don't show up right away?  I realize these are early/mid/late ice-dependent.  It really comes down to my lack of time on the water to know the West O fish movements.  I can't decide if I should start in 5-10' and drill out to deeper until I hit the weedline or if I should just skip right to the 20' basin once February hits.

I do appreciate the weeds all almost always guidance info!

[Agronomist_at_IA]

From my experience. If you are fishing for gills with a few mixed in crappie the weeds and areas your talking about are fine. Fish can be shallow to deep. This late you can see fish move more to a basin bite. You will also see 20ft of water can hold nice gills with crappie suspended & you will find some perch with a possible pike or walleye.

If you are looking for a hot bite where they slam it and you pull one after the other in .....then don’t go to the lakes. 90%+ of the fishing is going to be small tungsten jigs with clear lite line and a finicky bite. Make sure u have a SMALL jig and a noodle tip. Few  are the days fish just slam the jigs. Persistence and patience is what delivers a bucket of fish.

West O is an entirely different lake when it comes to fishing vs east or spirit. Spirit it’s basin fishing in 20ft this time of year.

[Mr.Seaguar]

I rarely see green weeds under the ice. Almost never.

[Nacaboose]

I appreciate the advice guys. 

Learning what the fish like and how they interact is the  reason I love fishing West.  Just love (but sometimes hate ) that clear water.  I’m less concerned about a bucketful (although nice).  I just want to find em faster and avoid setting up dead water less often. 

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I appreciate the advice guys. 

Learning what the fish like and how they interact is the  reason I love fishing West.  Just love (but sometimes hate ) that clear water.  I’m less concerned about a bucketful (although nice).  I just want to find em faster and avoid setting up dead water less often.

When u setup if you don’t see fish every 15min or less....move