Saylorvile Lake

Went out to the lake on Sat and there was a good ice pack left. Went out Sun. after this wind and at Cherry Glen it was like slush. The ice was crashing against the shore and it sounded like the ocean. Lake was really rolling with 30 + winds did a nce job on the ice. I would guess it will be gone by mid week.— Question— Does anyone know why Lakeview ramp is locked up and all the rest are not. This is the best ramp until they put the docks in and it is locked up to the public. go figure. Hope to be out there some time this week. See you on the water. Jim

Thanks for the report James

I drove over the Saylorville Dam late Saturday night and could see waves in the moonlight, but nothing else. This wind and wave action should clear out the ice pretty quick.

Keep us updated!

No clue why Lakeview is locked other then the guardhouse is usually manned and they may keep it closed until they have personel to fill it for the season.

Take care,
Dave

P.S. I think the Iowa Lakes forum needs its own Saylorville/Big Creek message section. Can I get a second?

I think it would be a great idea. This is not the dead sea that everybody thinks it is. There are a lot of people fish it. I for one fish it about 5 out of 7 days in the summer. Hope to be on it this week. open water I second the idea Jim

I believe that Big Creek is probably one of the better lakes over the past 2-3 years. After the shad kill and the restocking, it has really improved. The walleyes that were stocked, are now 12-14 inches and there are a ton of them. Crappies are very plentiful and gills are great for the kids. Big cats and a fair amount of large bass.
I fish it at least 1 time if not 2 times a week. A forum would be a great idea.

Clay

I agree that Big Creek is getting to be a great lake. But the fact is that to keep any they have to be at least 15 inches. I fish BC also and there are a lot of dinks. To keep one under 15 is a unlawful . I hope you know this. Plus you are only allowed 3 with 1 over 20. Please don’t take the dinks. Protect our lake. Jim

After fishing it last year, I know of only 3 fish that were taken that were over 20″ and not a lot of fish between 15 and 20 that were taken out. I had only 2 fish all year that went over 15 and that was barely. Hope to see bigger and better things this year. I mainly fish for the big crappie and huge gills. A walleye is just a bonus.
Clay

Clayfish

I fish bc about every weekend and we got into some walleyes last year most of them were dinks but we did get a few that were close to 15 but released them so they could get bigger

For your crappie and bluegill fishing were do you usually find them after ice out i got my iowa game and fish and they say north of the handicap fishing pier and the north west arm east were it comes to a point

any tips on were to go like lost lake

any good baits or lures you find good for early spring fishing for crappie and bluegills
Thanks for the help
jk

Well I drove over the dam at Saylorvile tonight about 5:00 pm and there was someone out on the water . Look like he was just out running the boat from what I seen. Just a little bit of ice left and it was down in party cove and a small part of the lake. Looks like it won’t be long now. Jim

Jk—I sent you a private message. Check it out. Clay

Jim, have you been fishing below the spillway? Any reports from there? Clay

I have not been there yet. I’m waiting for the water to clear and worm a bit more. As far as I know it is slow right now. Jim

I have never been a big fan of Iowa Game and Fish magazine, but I did pick up the latest copy with articles about Saylorville and Big Creek. The Saylorville article just regurgitates the same thing they say EVERY year about Saylorville; its hard to fish.. changing water levels, lack of structure and cover. Blah, blah, blah Then of course they mixed in some generic bass fishing tips. Not particularly interesting.

The Big Creek article was probably worth a read however. It starts with Marion Conover (DNR fisheries head) proclaiming BC the best crappie fishery in Iowa this year followed with some area specific tips. Overall not a bad article. Not enough to get me to subscribe, but you might want to pick it up if you fish BC.

See ya on the water,
Dave

I to am not a big fan of the magizine . I agree it is a hard lake to fish but there is more structure there than most beleave. You just have to know where to look. Like they say it only takes a little change to have an effect. I found out this year there is a road bed in there I did not know about . I knew about the one but not this one. Will check it out this summer. I’m going to have to transfer my waypoints from one gps to the other. I’m going to have to spend one day just running around . Hope to get it done soon. Have a friend who wants my old gps and waypoints . Dave I think you was right it would be nice if Saylorvile and BC had there own topic instead of just Iowa lakes. Maybe Zamer can do something about it. I don’t know? Jim

New GPS Jim? Way cool. Hand held or part of a fishfinder unit?
The roadbed comment brings up another good question. What is the best source for a depth/contour map of Saylorville/BC? I think the data from my Hotspots map is probably 15 years old. I got it in the early 1990s and the stocking data is from the mid 80s. I dont think the new Hotspot maps that they sell have any different map data.
Interestingly enough, the small laminated map that they sell at Sportsmen’s warehouse seems to be missing data or conflicts with Hotspots data. It says that its source is the DNR.

Anybody know of a recent (last 5 years) survey of either Saylorville or Big Creek? OR a better map?

Dave

Well Dave the map you have is probable as good as it gets. I bought the navionics gold hotspots map chip for my new ifinder pro and it is about ten years old. I know it goes back befor the flood of 93 because the road over the spillway is the old one. The one for BC is newer. Makes it nice to have a contour map right on the gps. On another note just went out the the lake and what to my suprise the dock is IN at Cherry Glen. I could not beleave my eyes. I just want to give a big work of THANKS to the corp. or Whom ever put it in. THANK YOU again.Now if we could just get Lakeview open to the public .

Clayfish
I sent you a private message check it out