Weekend trips

[mattstark44]

I'm starting to plan some weekend ice fishing destinations and I'm looking to fish Big Creek Lake by Des Moines.  I was wondering if anyone has fished this much and if it's a good lake?  I'm looking to try and get some Walleyes in the morning and evening and some gills and crappie during the day.  Also have Clear Lake in Mind, if anyone has spent some time on the ice there too.  I live in Iowa City so it's only about a 2 hour drive.  Thanks

[CrappieBuster]

I wouldnt waste your time at Clear Lake for walleyes I fish it almost everyday in the winter.  Very few keepers last winter and the winter before.  Now if you like yellow bass Clear is your lake.  But im afraid with the zebra mussel numbers Clear wont be able to keep up with the yellows due to the drop in plankton levels.  Its amazing how fast those things took over and got on everything.  Spent 15 million on dredging a lake thats on the downturn anyways.  

[bassrat]

i'll be happy to play guide on brushy creek this year if anyone wants to go...always like meeting ppl from here...

[anderson_dc]

The walleye numbers in Big Creek arent that great and most of the ones you will catch are rather small (8-12").  Gills, crappies, and white bass would be a better bet if you planned on fishing Big Creek.

Ditto on what CB said about Clear Lake.  Great yellow bass fishery but it is becoming a poor walleye fishery.  Three years ago it was a different story but now isnt worth the trip from Des Moines to Clear Lake if im just wanting to catch walleyes.

[mattstark44]

Thanks guys for the feedback, I see a lot of guys fish brushy.  Is there any places close by to stay (cabins, hotels, house for rent?)  It seems like if I want to get on some Walleye I need to head up to Okaboji or Spirit, 2 hour drive sounds better than 5 though.  Crappiebuster I'll send you a message when I figure out what weekend I'm thinking.  I just purchased a Eskimo Quickflip 3, It's used but in great shape and has a lot more room than my Frabill.  I'm pretty excited for some ice.  If anyone else on here has any "secret" lakes full of nice Walleye let me know where they are at!   

[jkwildhunting]

Plan on takin weekend trips to 12 and 3 mile alot this winter since i will have a atv to run n gun. If you want good mix bag down on those 2 lakes.

Ditto on big creek panfish are excellent but if you want walleyes wouldnt waste a second on that lake.

Also plan on fishing brushy!

[reit38]

what side of 12mi do you like to fish. went down there once for the first time this summer and really struggled to find fish.

[IowaHardWater]

I'm looking to find something besides panfish to pull out of my ice hole this winter.  Last year, my first year ice fishing, we killed the crappie and blue gill down south of Waukee on Badger Creek.  Great little fishery for spring, fall, and winter fishing.  I don't have access to a boat so I cannot go find the deep fish during the hot summer months.  However, they don't stock walleye or northern, both of which I'd love to target.  Hopefully I'll be able to make a trip to the IGLs sometime this winter in hopes for a little more fun.  Clear Lake would be fun for yellows too, shoot, they are fun on an ultra light, can't imagine on an ice pole!

[jkwildhunting]

I never got down on 12mile during ice but i open water fish it for walleyes a bit. but sounds like everyones hits the road bed hard and the east side i believe has some sharp drop offs that hold the fish. I will have to work a few trips down there to find them but I should have something figured out by end of the season 

If anyone in des moines area ever need a partner or company shout out all winter long. I hope to be on the ice 3-4 times a week and cant wait for the ice to get thick so i can use the ATV i never got to use last year