I got a chance to get on the water a couple of times this past week. Friday was an absolutely beautiful day with temps in the 80s. I gave Blackhawk Lake, Iowa a try, hoping to get into some early season walleye. I tried jigs and minnows and jigs and leeches for a few hours. The bite was very slow. I spoke to the gal at Clausen’s baitshop and she said the bite really hasn’t got going yet. She was right. I didn’t see anyone else with the net out either. I did manage this seventeen incher and a few catfish for my trouble.
Now, the crappie bite is another story. I have hit the local Missouri River oxbows and some local Nebraska farm ponds lately. The crappie are on the bite. I haven’t got into any 12 or 13 inchers but the 10 and 11 inch slabs were willing to bite time and time again. Here’s a shot with me trying to be my own photographer. 
I have been using a few techniques for crappie but the little 1/32 once tube jigs appear to produce the best. And, they’re incredibly fun to fish. If you haven’t tried it, you should. You don’t really have to jig it much. Just reel it in very slowly, more like a swim bait. You can also rig crappie tubes under a bobber and slowly retrieve. It’s a great way to get the kids involved too.
And if you really want to have a blast, catch these guys while there active on top. These little crappie poppers are about the most fun a guy can have catching pan fish. Fish ’em slow, giving a little twitch here and there and then let it sit for a 5 to 10 count and twitch it again. I kept the snap swivel on this one for a little extra weight for casting. It didn’t seem to bother the crappie this time as they were more than eager to bite. If they’re more finicky, you may have to tie it direct to the line. Now is a great time to get out there and catch these Northeast Nebraska and Northwest Iowa slabs!
Another tube pic…
Gotta love the tubes!!
Great report Wade!
Wade,it looks like you had a great day on the water.See you in a few weeks.
Ryan Hale
Great report Wade.
It’s not fair to tease former Kansans with a crappie report!
Nice report Wade. Glad to hear a report from Blackhawk. That’s not a deep lake so I’m assuming the walleyes are well past the spawn. When does the bite usually pick up?
Nice slabs Wade.
Another trick to get them poppers out further is to use a small bobber about 3-4 feet above the popper. I like those tiny red/white plastic bobbers.
Thanks guys!
Andy, It is very shallow at Blackhawk and the bite was VERY slow. The water was warm already, about 64 degrees surface temp! The air temp was in the low 90s and upper 80s over a 3 day stretch. I think the bite should pick up. I may try it again this weekend and will let you know. That eye came in 5-7 fow, on jig-n-minnow.
Ryan, I am looking forward to the Iowa Great Lakes opener. Can’t wait!
Derek, that is a great idea, using the bobber ahead of the popper. Those this are a blast to fish!
Ummm….excuse me.
We’re missing two things in your report…Where’s T1Blondie with the “big” fish???
Nice report/fish Wade…no cat pics for us slimballs??
Wade, next time you fish Blackhawk, try the East side near the bouy and in twards shore. Cast a #4 or #6 panther martin black with yellow spot body with a gold blade. Also try the rocks off Shotgun with the same lure cast over the rocks and work it back over. By the way tell Bill and Joanne at the baitshop hi for me.
BK, She was busy makin’ bacon for her hubby. Somebody’s got earn a buck or two around here!
Shaley, Thanks for the tip.
Wade….its goin now…lol, just got off the water about 1/2 hr ago, been checking it every 1-2 days since the warm up. I live down in carroll so its just a skip and jump after work. Pleased to report a heck of alot of 17- 19 inchers this year and the ice queen ( my wife)..lol, popped a very nice 25 incher tonight as well. surface temp was at about 59 – 60 tonight and it was a leech bite, clausens got some of the squigly walleye candy last week so thought we’d try it. 1 fish on minnow and fireball, the rest came on slip bobber and leech fished in 4 fow off of cottonwood point. Glad to see a report on my new home lake, (ack…hurts this okoboji boy to say that). Feel free to drop me a note if your headin up and i will gladly share what i hear for the current reports. John
LOL Live2fish that used to be MY home lake, I spent 20 years in Carrol now living in Milford. I still stop by and visit with the Clausens when I’m going through, and do plan to get back down and fish my old lake sometime soon but its hard to leave the water here
John, That’s great to hear. I’m heading to the area Saturday. My mother lives in Wall Lake. I’ve got an open seat if you want it. I’ll send you a PM here.
Black Hawk Lake, Iowa Open Seat 4-22-06
I know it’s last minute but I’m heading to the lake tomorrow, Saturday, 4-22-06. I will mainly target walleye but may chase the crappie a bit too. I won’t be getting on the water until around noon or so and will fish to whenever. I will have my phone with me, 712-204-3952, and I’ll check here before I leave. Contact me if you want to jump in for a day of fishing.