Lake Odessa/Wappello area

[phil c]

Anyone fish it, or have any places to reccomend trying in the area? I have to visit some relatives in the area, hoping to get some fishing in while I'm there!

[tricohatch]

Wappello use to be a really good crappie lake but, a couple of years ago the DNR drained it because of the gizzard shad and then some idiot deceided to stock it again with gizzard shad so, the DNR had to use a chemical in the water to kiil off the gizzard shad! The DNR really did some nice improvements to the lake when it was drained ie; pallets,brush piles, tires etc. I went around the lake taking pictures so I can remember what it looked like before they refilled it! Good luck!

[Kevin23]

Waste of time at odessa.. its so silted in from the levee bust, not many fish left at all.

[matzilla]

haha, i might check the ice at sand run this week since I have Thursday and Friday off. I imagine the road down there is pretty crappy right now after the ice/snow.

The lake is far from silted in and several areas have been dredged. Lots of catfish, crappie and white bass in there

[Kevin23]

Topic is two years old 

Be careful out there, there will be a cut through sand run where the ice is thinner from the boats busting it up.

Heard the crappie fishing was pretty good there late last year.

[matzilla]

Yep, plus there are springs that trickle down the bluff just north of the cabins. Boats were off the lake pretty early this year...earliest i've seen the main lake freeze for some time.

[cyclones30]

We might try to get out this Thurs or Fri. I've never ice fished anything other than farm ponds around here so hearing tips about where good/bad ice might be is helpful! Any other tips or places to try? Anyone ever try the Crawford pond just East of the Ave of Saints north of Ainsworth a few miles?

[ChasinCrappie]

Cyclones30, It has been a few years since I fished Crawfords Pond, but it used to hold some big gills and average crappie. Not sure about the ice thickness. If you want to go a
little further south to Big Hollow by Mediapolis, there are a lot of crappies in there 9 to 11". Again, not sure of ice thickness. Check DNR site Thursday morning, they may have an ice update. Alot of trees and deep water in big Hollow.

[matzilla]

I've heard Big Hollow was near 3" and variable

[cyclones30]

I'm sure people have been fishing the new park just south of Muscatine in the old pits? I fished it once this summer after it opened and it was a zoo. Thanks for the replies guys. Might give Crawfords pond at least a look if we have time since it's not far away. Never even heard of Big Hollow but sounds promising if the ice is good.

[matzilla]

There's very little good ice on the pits, itd be a while before I'd venture out in that area. Itd be much better without this snow lol


Big Hollow is southwest of Mediapolis...you can get a contour map from the Des Moines CCB website.

Might want to try the ponds at Mar Park if you're heading to Crawfords - heard there were some decent gills in there last spring

[mcpatter]

Fished Crawford Pond on Christmas afternoon.  First time ice fishing there.  Caught a ton of little gills and one Crappie, but could have sorted out enough keepers for a family meal.  Seems like I would catch the bigger ones when I would switch to plastics or move to a new hole.  Cyclone30, if you ended up fishing there, I fished near your holes.  There is a lot more water there than I imagined.  All in all a great day to be out!

[cyclones30]

We didn't make it out until today and we went to a farm pond. Caught a couple massive gills and that was it. Lots of lookers but not many takers. Thanks for the update on Crawford!

[matzilla]

Lots of lookers seems to be the norm this week.

I haven't made it down to Odessa yet but if its anything like Big Timber right now, the ice likely isn't safe