Author Topic: MacBride Info Please (Read 2525 times)

MelroseHawkins · « **on:** Dec 21, 2012, 12:02 PM »

OK. I have moved back down to the Iowa City area, actually NL & will at some point be ice fishing MacBride. I have not ice fished it as of yet & just doing my preliminary homework for safety and have a couple questions. I want to tap the locals or anyone who fishes it a lot for any helpful info. Thanks. I know many in the Iowa City area are a bit different than other parts of the state with their liberal ideologies and can be pretty protective of Lake MacBride with allowing of motorized boats, etc.. So, I was wondering if they have any limitations on having ATV's on the lake. I could see them having or trying to have regulations to keep them off. 1) Are people allowed to drive ATV's/smowmobiles on the lake? 2) Are there any areas that one should be aware of that may have thinner ice sec to any springs or other reasons, etc.. Are there any areas a newbie should stay away from? I'm just trying to stay safe. Thanks for any info!

phisherman · « **Reply #1 on:** Dec 21, 2012, 01:18 PM »

ATV's are allowed on Macbride. I can't answer your question on springs etc... but I can tell you I've been pretty much everywhere on the lake with my ATV, when I know the ice is at least 7" or thicker. With that said, ice can be variable anywhere, depending on weather conditions, rain, etc... I'm usually on foot before the ATV comes out and once I know for a fact, myself, that the ice is over 7" everywhere I've checked, I feel pretty safe about having my ATV out there.

MelroseHawkins · « **Reply #2 on:** Dec 21, 2012, 07:48 PM »

Thanks phisherman. I appreciate it. I was hoping for that answer as I am pretty limited mobility wise & rely on my ATV. I grew up in northern Iowa so used to just driving on Clear and going up north to Winny, Leech Lake & the IGL's. I'm glad to hear they are allowed & that once you feel comfortable with the ice conditions you feel safe everywhere. Yep. 7" is what I like to see. Good luck this year!

MidnightRambler · « **Reply #3 on:** Dec 21, 2012, 08:26 PM »

The ice right below the power lines on Macbride can be tricky. The old concrete bridge below there keeps the water just a bit warmer.

shawner30 · « **Reply #4 on:** Dec 21, 2012, 10:17 PM »

so when is MacBride gonna be ready? anyone wanna make a guess?

MidnightRambler · « **Reply #5 on:** Dec 22, 2012, 07:54 AM »

I said "maybe New Year's" in another thread, so I'll say New Year's Eve for Macbride.

The forecast looks good, but it takes that deep lake a while to cool down.

MidnightRambler · « **Reply #6 on:** Dec 22, 2012, 08:03 AM »

I've been fishing Macbride in the winter for over ten years, and the only consistently "thin ice" spot I know is below the power lines, and that eventually freezes up almost as thick as anywhere else--it just takes a little longer.

I say this again because I've heard talk of Macbride being loaded with "springs", but in 10+ winters on there I have never found one of them. Not saying they aren't there, but I am saying I don't know of any, and I've covered a lot of the north arm in the last few years, and the area around the power lines and the main boat ramp before that.

MelroseHawkins · « **Reply #7 on:** Dec 22, 2012, 11:50 AM »

Midnight - Where exactly are the power lines that I should be aware of? The concrete slabs, are you talking about the bridge/road that goes up to Solon, or are there pylons from a previous bridge or road under water. Thanks for the info.

MidnightRambler · « **Reply #8 on:** Dec 22, 2012, 12:49 PM »

Quote from: MelroseHawkins on Dec 22, 2012, 11:50 AM

Midnight - Where exactly are the power lines that I should be aware of? The concrete slabs, are you talking about the bridge/road that goes up to Solon, or are there pylons from a previous bridge or road under water. Thanks for the info.

The power lines run east to west over the short narrow part of Macbride that connects the north and south arm. There is a submerged concrete bridge beneath the power lines on the east side; the top of the bridge is in about 18' of water (maybe a little shallower this year), with a dropoff to 30' or so on either side. It is a good walleye and crappie spot in the winter, although it gets a lot of pressure as soon as the ice is safe. There is a roadbed that goes off to the south from the east side of the power lines that is good for crappie, especially some brush piles scattered along it. I used to fish it that area a lot in the winter, but haven't done so in a few years.

MelroseHawkins · « **Reply #9 on:** Dec 22, 2012, 08:52 PM »

Thanks for sharing such specific info. Very much appreciated!

shawner30 · « **Reply #10 on:** Dec 24, 2012, 10:51 PM »

So is it still gonna be New Years Eve???

xplicitgtp · « **Reply #11 on:** Dec 26, 2012, 06:10 PM »

I've update?

shawner30 · « **Reply #12 on:** Dec 27, 2012, 07:03 AM »

Do you meen ice update?

Thinkeyes · « **Reply #13 on:** Dec 27, 2012, 08:57 PM »

4 inches of ice today. Crappie fishing is terrible. Looks like a tough year around cedar rapids.

xplicitgtp · « **Reply #14 on:** Dec 27, 2012, 09:09 PM »

Quote from: shawner30 on Dec 27, 2012, 07:03 AM

Do you meen ice update?

No I've update, anyone got one? Yes Ice update, Autocorrect on Iphone.
Think - why do you say tough year?

forecy · « **Reply #15 on:** Dec 27, 2012, 09:29 PM »

We did pretty well today. 4" everywhere we checked

Shrades · « **Reply #16 on:** Dec 28, 2012, 09:50 AM »

Thinking about hitting MacBride this weekend, are people catching gills and crappies? I want to catch a walleye thru the ice there. It is on my bucket list.

Thinkeyes · « **Reply #17 on:** Dec 28, 2012, 04:18 PM »

I mean it will be a struggle to get many keeper crappie this year. The number of keepers in the lake is way down from the last 3 years. You are going to see more 7" fish. I've caught a lot of crappie....but very few keepers so far. Not good for being first to drill holes on the lake and having your pick of spots.

MidnightRambler · « **Reply #18 on:** Dec 28, 2012, 05:25 PM »

Crappie numbers have been down, winter and summer, for two or three years now on Macbride.

During pre-spawn and spawn when big crappie are concentrated and easy to catch it seems like nothing has changed since 2008, but the rest of the year shows otherwise.

We got a bit spoiled by "new lake syndrome" on Macbride after the renovation was completed in the early 2000s, and maybe there was a bad spawn or two a few years ago. Crappie are prone to boom and bust cycles anyway, and we may just be in the bust part of the Macbride crappie cycle.

As for walleye in the winter, be persistent--I get a few nice ones through the ice every winter on Macbride, but I've never been in any danger of limiting out.

RATMAN66 · « **Reply #19 on:** Dec 28, 2012, 11:26 PM »

The crappie fishing sucks because NOBODY practices C&R down there that I have seen. I just shake my head when I see the size of fish people keep down there.

forecy · « **Reply #20 on:** Dec 29, 2012, 09:16 AM »

We caught 20 over 10" a couple days ago. Biggest was about 12". Lots and lots of 7inchers though

xplicitgtp · « **Reply #21 on:** Dec 31, 2012, 08:46 PM »

Any sugestions on where to head? Buddy and I are going to hit MacBride for the first time just got the DNR map. North or South, Shallow (4-8) deep 12+? Rocks/Brush? Thanks in advance

2 MAN ESKIMO · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 01, 2013, 07:33 PM »

I was wondering if there has been any ATVs on the ice yet i would think it's got to be close.

xplicitgtp · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 01, 2013, 07:57 PM »

Went to MCB today. WASTE OF TIME. Assuming this was an unusal day, but with the clear ice no snow cover and bluebird sky and lots of Ice noise the fish may have been turned off. Fished the South moved around in several depths started at 20' to 7' and didnt mark a fish. Moved to the North arm fished rock piles from the boat ramp to the west tried several depths and jigs. managed 3 dinks. Not a great day on the ice. Pry give it another go on an overcast day or once we get some snow on the ice. Ice was 7-8" no 4 wheelers out but should be enough ice.

2 MAN ESKIMO · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 01, 2013, 08:27 PM »

might try it Thursday

Eyeseeker · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 02, 2013, 03:10 PM »

Hit macbride monday and again this morning. VERY DISAPPOINTING for early season there. Only managed a few small gills and one crappie approx 3inches long. Have always done well on macbride in years past. However the last couple years as seen a DEFINATE decline in crappie fishing. The walleye fishing has been outstanding right up until freezeup altough most fish are between 14 & 17 inches. We hav got a good numberof 20 & 22 inch fish, but once the ice forms.........they literally seem to disappear. Any ideas on where they go anybody?

?

xplicitgtp · « **Reply #26 on:** Jan 02, 2013, 06:08 PM »

How do you do on the south arm east end where the HWY crosses the lake? I wondered if there might be Walleye along there especialy by the bridge?

Eyeseeker · « **Reply #27 on:** Jan 02, 2013, 07:14 PM »

Im sure people catch eyes around the causway but iv never personally caught any there. Trolling shadraps and jigging with minnows on the north arm has always been productive for me. Seems like all i catch on the south end are wipers through the ice. Iv been trying for years to pattern the eyes under the ice at macbride but havent even come close yet

Shrades · « **Reply #28 on:** Jan 03, 2013, 09:43 AM »

MacBride is a hard lake to fish in the winter. I can hammer crappies and walleyes spring and Fall and even do ok during the Summer. But ice fishing all I have able to get was little ones.

News:

Author Topic: MacBride Info Please (Read 2525 times)