Cedar Rapids area anyone

[onemore]

Just sitting here with an itch that just can't be scrathed.  Wondering if anyone has been out doing any checking.

[Hi Tech]

Not here yet in Davenport.....but next week looks good!

[onemore]

checked out ellis harbor yest. there was 2in on the edge but the middle looked like fresh ice.  I wouldnt dare venture just yet.  Mohawk looked like it had a nice sheet of ice covering it maybe 1/2 -1.  the 1-2in. of snow we got last night is not going to help anything.  I havent been to macbride or the res.  herd the res had a sheet covering it but once again the SNOW.  Thats all i know

[craigthor]

Hoping we are making ICE today! may have to go spud a few areas Tuesday and Wednesday to see what is up.

Craig

[JCrawford]

Ellis harbor has 3" as of 3:30 pm today. Not quite enough for me to pull out the shack and it was too windy to fish.
Mud Lake only has 2 inches and quite a bit of snow on it. Pleasant Creek was too thin to check. Maybe 1/2 - 1 inch.
Didn't check McBride. A local farm pond has 3.5 inches in one spot and where the snow had not blown off was only 3/4 I had to slide on my belly to get back off. ( pushing a little too hard I guess ). Anyway, I am fairly confident that by next weekend we should have 4 inches on most of the local places I go. If somone gets a chance, I'd love to know how McBride is doing. It was open as of last Friday.

[Luke Haugland]

I'll be checking around tomorrow...

[craigthor]

I'll be checking around tomorrow...

Let us know. If I can find some place to catch some fish Tues/ Wed that would be awesome.

Craig

[JCrawford]

Just checked the newly opened lake off otis road. Still 90% open. The area on the cedar just behind the island as you go in has 2 inches on it. I heard that the DNR stocked trout in that little lake. Anyone know if thats true?

[phisherman]

Just checked the newly opened lake off otis road. Still 90% open. The area on the cedar just behind the island as you go in has 2 inches on it. I heard that the DNR stocked trout in that little lake. Anyone know if thats true?

True on the trout stocking at Prarie Lake, this is a response I got from Paul Sleeper:


"Dear Sir,

There is not a current depth map of the lake, but we hope to provide one in the future.  It is on the list of lakes to be mapped in 2011. 

We stocked 1,500 rainbow trout on Nov. 13th... You need a fishing license, plus a trout stamp to possess trout!  I have heard of a few crappie being caught on the brush piles, but the cold weather is starting to slow the crappie fishing down.

Paul Sleeper
Fisheries Management Biologist
Lake Macbride Fisheries Station
3475 Hwy 382 NE
Solon, Iowa 52333
319.624.3615 - phone
319.624.7215 - fax
New email:  [email protected]"

[JCrawford]

2 guys out on ellis harbor at lunch.. Not sure how safe it was but I didn't hear any sirens... 

[onemore]

I fished that backwater your talking about Jcrawford.  that used to be pretty deep before the flood.  Last year we fished that and only found 5-7 few. and cought 2or 3 small crappies.  To be honest i expected alot more out of it than that.  Have you fished that and had any luck.  I'm sure we will try it once this year but if we have the same result might be the last.

[JCrawford]

I haven't ice fished it in the past couple years because it was always a pain getting back there. Now that we ave road access I will spend a little time. It used to be awesome in the fall with soft water.

[mike_skoges]

Glad to see there are so many people in the Cedar Rapids area on here. I thought there was just a few of us here last year. I will try and check some Ice this weekend but I am sure there will be plenty of reports by than as well. I am assuming Macbride in certain parts is easy to get out on but other parts are probably sketchy. Hope to see you guys out there.

[craigthor]

Went out and spudded around this morning and here is what I saw. Made sure I had my rope, ice picks, chisel bar

Prairie Park in CR lots of open water, shore lines had about an inch of ice not clear by any means.

Pleasant Creek in Palo completely locked up but ice is really thin, around an inch at the shore with snow on top of it making it pretty weak, looks like the center should create some nice clear ice as long as it stays snow free though.

Cedar Back Waters in Palo. Locked up and mostly snow covered. Someone was out fishing it but can't say I would have ventured out that far atleast not alone. Arpound 2" of crusty ice but there were several exposed areas where you could see cracks and small openings with barely any ice.

If anyone ventures out in the next day or so be careful and make sure you have the proper safety gear with you, having someone else would be highly recommended. I would have ventured more but being alone I want to make sure I make it home every night.

Craig

[onemore]

You guys fish palo much.  I heard of a couple nice perch coming out of the lake this last summer by a buddy as well as some gills.  Gills had worms for the most.  The perch he said that were few and far between were 10 1/2 inchers.  I have never done any good on that lake through the ice or the open water.  The only thing that lake is full of is stripers and shad. Tell me what you think.

[JCrawford]

3 guys and 2 pop up huts on Mudd Lake on the way home. Yeah, Were you in a mini van checking paririe lake this morning around 10:30? I was in a white f150 and I saw a guy stop on boat ramp checking things out. As for the question about palo, there is a spot out on the middle that has a perm shack every year but most fish up by the dam. I fish it when nothing else is going on. I like to fish the deep break towards the south east corner. When you are going down the hill heading into the lake there is a long shallow point. If you walk down you will see a wood duck house to the south west of where you are standing. About 30 yards east of that wood duck house and about 20 yeards off the bank if the hole I am talking about. I will know its you if you go because I NEVER see anyone there. I plan on checking some GPS spots I marked this fall that was holding some really big gills. I will say that if I am spending the whole day I prefer to meet with Luke out on McBride ( hint hint ) and chase crappies until late afternoon and then switch to the wipers for the evening bite.

Luke, Did yhey drop McBride this year or will it be a whole new ice fishery this year?

Called a friend and he said they drove the argo across the farm pond so I assume its safe to walk on.

[craigthor]

Nope I was out a Prairie around 8 am this morning. Walked down a a crappie hole off the point and put a couple holes in. Had to atleast get the Vex wet. I know that spot your talking about at Palo, saw someone fishing it last winter but never made my way over to it to check it out. Always wondered about that area.

Where is Mudd Lake? May have to check it out this evening/ tomorrow as I really need to do some fishing before I go back to work on Thursday.

Craig

[JCrawford]

Mudd lake is that little area under the bridge on your way down blairsferry heading towards palo. The first bridge, the second one goes across the cedar. On the south side there are some trees sticking out of the water. Its about 12 feet there. It sure looked ok and you would have company in case its not. If the fish are not biting around the trees head over to the north side and punch a few holes. Warning. Stay away from the south west side, this is where the current comes in or there is a spring because I almost always break ice when I snowmobile through that area. If you are down there and look south west you will see what looks like another lake. Its super shallow and never freezes hard. All the fish pull in to the areas everyone fishes.

Then, If you are adventurous you can walk back to the south about 200 yards and there is a sand pit and a small lake. You will see the tracks this weekend I would guess. I am going somewhere on Sat so unless I get roped into honey doo's you are welcome to come along.

[craigthor]

I was at Mudd this morning. Not sure i would want to go out alone, may have to go check it out again after the wife gets home though. Ice was a tiny bit scetchy in spots.

Unfortunately I will be working Saturday. My work weeks runs thur-mon with tuesday/ Wed off. Definitely will have to get out and catch some fish though.

Craig

[craigthor]

So if you see a tan buikc lesabre on the side I'm probably down there.

[Luke Haugland]

They did not drop the lake this year, I for one, am happy, people won't just be able to go where the "old holes" are for the first couple of weeks this year...he he!

[onemore]

wonna  go tom.  Anyone free

[iaslab]

Made it to Mudd Lake this morning. Craig, how did you finish up after I left? I'm hoping to get out there on Friday.

Tom

[JCrawford]

There are about 5 guys down there right now on Mudd Lake. I also saw another guy fishing hidind the island going into prairie lake.
Prairie lake has finally locked and is making good clear ice. It will still be another week I would guess. There is only a little area being kept open by the geese and it seems to be shrinking.

[craigthor]

Made it to Mudd Lake this morning. Craig, how did you finish up after I left? I'm hoping to get out there on Friday.

Tom

Left with 3 8-9" gills for a snack, another gentlemen left with a bucket full of crappie and gills. I caught a bunch of small gills along with 3 large mouths bass that were released. Definitely need to get back out there soon, but may not happpen unless I can get done early at work.

Craig

[craigthor]

There are about 5 guys down there right now on Mudd Lake. I also saw another guy fishing hidind the island going into prairie lake.
Prairie lake has finally locked and is making good clear ice. It will still be another week I would guess. There is only a little area being kept open by the geese and it seems to be shrinking.

That's good to hear about Prairie. I was one of the 5 down at Mudd. Have to say I will be glad once I get my new boots but the SnoSuit is superb!

ICE is hear and can't wait to get back out again.

Craig

[onemore]

Fished some backwaters of the Cedar yest.  Did terrible 3 guys 2 crappies 1 smallie and 1 channel.  Only problem was one guy caught all 4.  Going to Mac. later hopefully the luck is a little better. 

[TritleFishing]

Me and my cousin were in the Cedar backwaters near Vinton.  Fished for about 3 hours and had to call it quits for a Christmas party.  Caught 7 keeper gills.  Bit was picking up just as we were leaving.  Plan on trying a local private pond this upcoming week.

We are the guys in the Clam Yukon TC with the Eskimo gas auger (when it's running) say Hi if you ever run in to us!

[onemore]

Fished the north arm today the worst ive ever seen 1 keeper crappie 1 rock bass.  Not even a small gill or crappie.  Whats the deal

[ICE101]

hit the north arm of macbride today, got 23 crappies all between 11in and 14in
going back tomorow to try and find a few walleyes