Hey Aaron,
Hope you make it out. I had ice in my birdbath all day today! Gotta be right around the corner. Unfortunately, I’ve got to work the weekend, so I’ll appreciate any info you can pass along. Thanks.
dick
Going past Bussy on the way to Cabela’s today, water looked like it had skim ice. On the way back, looked like plain ol h20. Channel temp at Dubuque is 37, so next week’s projected cold temps should put Bussy and other backwaters under ice. Finally!!
I joined ABA last year because I liked the concept of a trail for the “weekend angler”. I don’t have the time or the $$$ to travel 200-300 miles to fish against guys who are sponsored to do almost nothing but fish. I joined, even though I knew my work schedule would allow me only 3 shots in 2004. I joined, not knowing what the average draw per tournament was. The size of the pot didn’t matter to me. I’m a retired teacher and work to put gas in the boat. I joined because I love to fish and I enjoy the competitiveness of the draw tournament. I was a bit surprised at the numbers in the two tournaments I managed, 3 boats in one, 7 in another, but then, none of us is in it for the $$$. Sure, bigger pots would be nice, but the fun and camraderie of a day on the water far outweighs the size of the pot. Will I do it again? You bet. I understand my dues are good for one year from the date I joined, so I can get a couple 2005 tournaments in on the dues from 2004. What a deal!! Hope to see some more of you take a look at this neat “little” trail.
[censored] Saylor
I got my first GPS (handheld) in 2000 and used it strictly for fishing because I love to explore new waters. Got lost many times on those Canadian Lakes!
After my daughter moved to ST. Louis in 2003, I began using it to travel various routes there, then around the city. Very handy in the car in strange territory.
last summer I took a float trip on the upper iowa and used it there out of the canoe. Marked several spots we caught fish in and plan to go back this year. I don’t know if $100 would get you one that has these capabilities or not, but you could get it for under$200. Good searching!
I was on Twain this past weekend—16-18. Water was unusually muddy from 6″ rain last week and very high winds 4-5 days in a row.
Partner and I got around 30 bass out of South Fork. Saw bunches of crappie men/women all loading the boat. Most of the club I was with fished the Lick Creek area and had good luck as well. Unfortunately, not many keepers. Most of our fish came on Chartruese/white spinner bait or black/blue jig pitched along steep banks in 3-4 feet of water. Bass were not around the standing timber yet. Only places we took anything were laydowns connected to the bank
This was my frst time on Twain and really enjoyed it. Very impressed, especially with the crappies! Good luck
Thanks for the reply. I’ve been there a few times. Nice lake, great access. DNR has done a nice job with that one. Wish they’d do something like that around DBQ!
Man, am I getting itchy! Where is Crockodile Lake? Never heard of it around Dubuque. thanks
dick
Skip Class N Fish—-that’s exactly what I would do! I grew up in central Iowa, with a 100 acre lake 4 miles outside town—a nice bike ride! Missed very few days of school until the spring—then suddenly I’d have colds, flue, fever, stomach ache the works. By high school I was driving and got “sick” sometimes 2 and 3 days in a row. Of course in a small town, everyone knew what their neighbors were doing. My neighbor was a good friend of the principal. One day I was sitting on the bank of the lake catching bluegill left and right when I heard someone cough behind me. Looked up and there’s the principal! “They bitin’ today Dickie?” he asked, and sat down with me, pole in hand. “You usin” red worms or crawlers.” For the next hour and half we fished and chatted, then left together for the afternoon classes. Never skipped another day after that. The deal was, I could use his boat anytime I wanted as long as it was after school or on the weekends!
No, I didn’t make it out this weekend. Talked to a couple guys who were on pool 11 last week, Friday. Said action around FishTrap and Keough was considerably slower, but still there.
Haven’t heard from anyone on Volga yet this year. If you get there, let me know how you do. 
dick
Sounds like you had a great day, too. Glad to see some posts from pool 10. I spent Saturday on a small county lake and had the same type of action. Big bluegills in 8-10 feet of water off the weedy points. Sunday I was back on the river on pool 11 around Glenn Hollow. Not much action–sky was too bright I think.
