First ICE is here!!! I am excited!! After work today, I had the chance to get on ice for about half an hour. I only caught one fish, but it was WELL worth my time! The ice in my area is 2". It is a little hard getting on the ice, as the bank that is sun swept, was breaking up rather nicely..
I have only been in shallow water so far. Deeper water ice, is not safe yet, in my honest opinion. I was walking on ice last night, and there were a few cracks once and a while. Today there was little cracking. Tonight and tomorrow should be great for ice production!
The season is definitely upon us!!! A few things that I didn’t think of until I was on the ice this year: where did I put my yaktraks? Where are my bait pucks? I thought that I was prepared, but I had forgot a couple of things. I am glad I was able to spend time on the ice, now there is nothing I have forgotten!!
Today was the first day, that I was able to use my flasher in combination with the Reel Weeds!! This setup is going to be deadly this year for fish! I can’t wait to use the weeds more and report on them. They will help us ice anglers put more fish on the ice!! Especially in lakes with little or no natural weeds!!
I normally do not keep many fish, but I sure did enjoy this tasty dish tonight! Fresh iced walleye, with lemon and almond slivers broiled!! Wow, I am still in heaven, Ice and Walleyes!!!
Good Luck, and remember to be safe on the ice this season.
See you on the water!
Looks good Luke! Everyone be careful on the ice until it’s safe.
Thanks for the report Luke.
I hope to get out this Sat.
Nice fish luke!
You had my waxies and puck, right? you’re welcome. I just got home from work – no fun… I gotta hit that spot with you. Not a bad job site eh.
Your waxworms…MY puck..
Nice fish. Im headed for Cornelia tomorrow, Im taking the stuff, but I have my doubts whether I will be on the ice.
nice report glad to hear the guys in iowa are starting to get. Luke Can i hire you to cook my eyes
. that looks GGGGRRRRREEEEAAAATTTT. 
Great report and what an awsome looking dinner!!!
I can’t wait for that first keeper ice walleye this season!!! 
Nice fish Luke, planning on trying Bussey tomorrow, if I get my wifes Explorer fixed today.
Ed
Thanks for the report and pics Luke. I see we up north [Minnesota] guys finally got our ice before you did. The past few years there was more ice and snow in Iowa than here.
Thanks for saying what was on your plate because in your pic it looked like you were having waxies for part of your meal. 
Eyes must be getting older for this guy. 
Now to be serious, when using the ”realweeds” are you just having them below the ice in the water while you are fishing only and then taking them out or have you found a spot that you are leaving them there for awhile? Now people may say that they can put something in the water before it freezes BUT when a guy is ice fishing and you come across a spot that you want to fish and there is no structure or an area that needs more structure that person could drop down the ”reelweeds” while fishing and then remove them when done which would work very well. 
Could you please share with us more about the ”fish attracting/holding instant structure” that these ”realweeds” can be so everyone understands more about them and how they are rigged up to work. Thanks. 
These could very well be dynomite for ice fishing and open water fishing and could very well mean the difference between fish and no fish. Please educate us on how to use these.
Thanks, Bill
Walk softly and carry your ice picks
Nice report Luke, I had a feeling it wouldn’t take you long to hit the ice after getting that dandy buck 
A scrawny guy like you on 2″ of ice, WOW!!! Farm pond or bigger water Luke??? Nice eye.
Hopefully the ice sticks through New Years here. Evan wants to hit the ice.
Nice life jacket!!!!
Great idea for all early ice anglers….Better to be safe than sorry!!!!
Good job icing a nice eater as well!!!!
Fake weeds, what will they think of next. Is there a leader hooked to them or how do you retrieve theses. What do they cost? Nice report, but I need a little more than 2″ of ice to hold my a$$ up.
Dang im jealous! And those weeds rock. Used some last year on waubay and they attracted all sortsa perch that were cruising through the flats we were on. Anyway congrats on the successful first ice trip Luke!
Heres the answer
An oxbow off the wapsi…no current. I was on a lake tonight that had about five inches…most I have seen around here yet!!!! I just hope these temps don’t hurt us too bad.
Luke, the 10 day forecast is calling for 40’s to near 60 degrees.