Wow- What a day on the ice!! Mega slab crappies! Ice fishing the rivers in Iowa can be the most rewarding and the most frustrating at times! When those times are rewarding- they are VERY rewarding!
Today I was joined on the ice by fellow IDO staffer Andy Craig, and two new ice fishing buddies, Marshal Yanda, and Cam Cooley-
We met up at the shop today and came up with a game plan. We talked about how one of my river spots hasn’t had safe ice the last three times we have driven there. We wanted to try it again, because of the size of the crappies in there. Tim and I got into them earlier in the fall, and the crappies were consistently pushing the 14" mark.
However, we knew the possibility of the ice not being safe, yet we decided to load up and head out. As we looked at the river, we all were amazed that it didn’t look safe. However we got out and checked, and by planking our way out to the main channel, we were soon walking on water. Once we got away from the bank, we were on "fishable ice" The ice wasn’t the best, but it did hold us on the right side of the ice. With all the snow and rain that we have had in the area lately- the run off has kept some of the best river ice spots un-safe.
On to the fishing. Like I said earlier, this is one of my favorite spots to fish. We consistently catch slab crappies every time we fish it. Anybody that goes with me to this spot knows, that it is a catch and release spot only. And from the looks of andy’s fish, the rewards of catch and release are beginning to show themselves. A 15" river crappie through the ice is a trophy in my books anyday. Especially in Iowa.
We were targeting depths of 8-17 FOW with current near by, or actually fishing in the current. The big school of crappies that holds in that area, move around quite a bit. So hole hopping can work, but sometimes it is just better to sit in one spot and pick a few off at a time, as they come through.
The majority of the crappies were just barely lipping the baits. Last year I had a camera at this spot, and the crappies would just barely lip them. You couldn’t even tell with a croix spring bobber that they were hitting the baits. You really have to watch your line for a small "vibration" to catch these fish. Other times I would see a fish come up and "guess" that the fish had the bait in his mouth, and more times than not, the hook would be set into a crappie.
I was explaining this to Cam and Yanda as we were fishing, and Cam said, "so you just set the hook even if you don’t feel anything"- I said yep- and a couple of seconds later, he landed a nice crappie that "I didn’t even know he was there…"
Some of the fish today actually smacked the baits, and those hits were fun, especially on the bigger specks.
The hot bait today was a CJ&S White/Glow Ratso. Man that bait worked well today!! We were not using any bait with the lures today.
A little bit of "non-fishing" to end this report- This last picture is of Marshal Yanda- the baltimore ravens OT- And when you stand in at 6’4" 305 lbs, a 15" walleye looks like a cigar. Marshall and I met up three years ago on the ice, and I knew him from football, and he knew me from IDA- Funny how people meet sometimes. Marshall is from a small town north of where I grew up. He was a stand-out football player at the U of Iowa. We have been able to get out together twice this year on the ice- and hopefully a few more times yet before he heads back to baltimore. It was great to fish with you again Marshal- you and Cam are stand up guys! We’ll see you tomorrow!
For you football fans- check out Marshal’s hit here on the ISU Cyclone. GO HAWKS…er Ravens!! 
Yanda’s Hit
Good luck, stay safe, and we’ll see you on the hard water.
Here is one more of that fish…
The second photo is the average size of the crappies we were catching today. I think we caught around 75- all released..so they can get to be “andy tank” size
Awesome report! nice slabs… that eye looks like a baby.
Very nice crappies Luke and Andy. I used to take my small jon boat and 6 hrs. merc. at that time and fish crappies in the wapsi. As soon as the ice went out Id get that small jon and 6 hrs. up on plane and find shallow spots along the edge of the wapsi and fish those. I had one spot in perticular that was only 2′ deep and the crappies would be in there. This was right next to the deepest hole within a 2 mile stretch of the river and a very good spot for huge walleyes early too as big as 12 pounds. As best as I can figure those crappies would be in that hole and as soon as the ice went out they would go to that shallow 2′ deep small cove because the sun warmed it up. With water that shallow I put my hook 12″ to 16″ under the bobber and they never pulled it down, they would pull the bobber sideways slowly then Id set the hook. Its been along time since I’ve been there because my jons bigger now but I wish I still had it around for fishing like this, maybe I’ll get the canoe out. When the days start warming up befor the big melt and befor the water comes up was the best time to go and I never came home skunked as I always got a few. I’ve got a couple other places in the wapsi where the crappies average 12″ that are right in front of people and they overlook them, its nice to know thier there. Way to go on the good catch! BTW Andy nice crappie!
Great report, Luke!!! Looks like a fun day!
That hit was devastating!
Boy, for Black Crappies…those are true trophies!!
You don’t often see blacks that size! Or whites for that matter! WOW!
Oh, and how can your buddy fish without a neck?
That is one big dude!
I plan on being down in your area in about a week…We may have to go hit one of your hotspots!
Rashawn Parker
Hometown:
La La Land.
That hit was the very definition of de-cleater!!!!!!!!
Yeah…lets just say- Luke was careful with his sarcastic fishing mouth today…I didn’t want to end up like Rashawn…
Nice work on the slabs Luke, guess nobody tries to ease into your spots with mr yanda present. Good to see a Hawk highlight on here!
Nice slabs fellas….
I would let the big guy walk on the ice first…..If he stays up you know its safe for the rest of ya…. 
Luke,
Great report, and super Crappies. Awesome.
Jack..
Cal- we kept telling me the bigger fish were just a little bit further out…he kept walking out there
drilling… I sure hope yanda doesn’t read this before I see him again… 
Those are some dandy crappies Luke!
Cool report!
Iowa sure does put out some excellent NFL players. Other than Yanda, Kampman for the Packers and Vrabel of the Patriots come to mind.
Boog
Nice slabs-Andy,yours is a true tank
Thanks for the report Luke and the good story behind it.
Geez, bad ice, I think not, if Yanda can get out there I think a small S10 pickup could make it too.
Nice work on the slabs!!
Great slabs Luke.
You’ve been getting into a lot of great fish this season. I just might have to make a road trip that way. Our fishing around here has been on the VERY slow side this season. 
Well Done. Great Fish!!!
Gotta love that farm boy look. Carhart and jeans. My kind of guy!! While you two have your snowsuits on.
Just ribbing you bud. Nice fish!
Just jeans too. no long undies.
Great post…the crappies are great, but as a die-hard Hawkeye fan, that was probably the best hit I’ve seen in Kinnick Stadium. I thought he killed him.
Nice crappies dudes
Nice crappies
, this cold weather payed off after all 
Thats a definition of SLABS!!
The walleye looks like a fish tank guppie
next to Yanda.
Excellent report
Wow Luke thats one hunker. Did you put him in the fish contest?
Old Bear- No I didn’t- Andy and I are staff, so we can’t win any of the prizes…more for you!
Joel- all of the hilgenberg pro football players came out of Iowa…Nick Kaeding as well…
BTW- thanks mossydan!
BOY OH BOY, those are some slabs! Very nice Luke and Andy
You got something against eating some of those slabs?
great fish……..
Nothing against eating em. Just didn’t this time.
Thanks for the report Luke. I think with this last push of cold air I will finally have some fishable spots on the Wapsi I want to try. Now I’m definately eager to get out after seeing those pics!
Too bad I’m skiing this weekend instead of fishing.
Iowa Ice- Nope, I don’t have a problem with eating fish…I take them out of the res and macbride. However, at this spot, it is something special- and I like to release them…
I have always thought it is important to let the bigger “genetic” fish go, so they can reproduce, so far I would say it is working flawlessly at this spot.
Nice fish guys. Aren’t those all white craps?
To be honest, I have no idea…a crappie is a crappie to me…
They look to be white crappie to me.
White crappie have 5 or 6 spines on their dorsal fin. Black crappie have 7 or 8 spines on their dorsal fin.
Nice report guys, it looks like fun!
I’d agree they are whites.
Jason
Crappy Dappy Do!
Those are some beautiful Slab Crappies
Your welcome Andy, hey eigther you or Luke got a canoe? The waters wide open for a mile below the REA dam and its gin clear. I’ve got a couple spots where the walleye stay until spring. Im going tomorrow after I cut wood. Message me if you want to meet and you guys can go in my canoe with an electric trolling motor, I need a soft water fix bad.
Small jon-boat work Dan?
goodness those are some dandy crappies!!
How is Yanda doing Luke? I read that he might be out for the year with a pretty bad knee injury. Hopefully he can make a full recovery.