They’re back, and so are we!!! I have dreampt of this day many times during the open water season. Ice is finally upon us, and the drags really sang songs today!!
This is quite possibly, no definitely ice fishing at its best here in the midwest. I simply cannot describe the amount of fun these fish are to find, pattern, catch, and release!
As I was stating earlier, I found these fish early ice last year, and we had a fishing spree for over two weeks each night. I have long dreampt when this day would return…the return of the wiper!!
The pattern from last year holds true this year. Find the bait fish, and you will find the predator fish = locate shad, and you will catch catfish, wipers, and walleyes.
Andy Craig, Jeremy Crawford, and I started early this morning, with little luck early in the day on other bodies of water. We decided to give it a go at macbride. We hit the lake around 2:00 pm. I fired up my strike lite and began punching holes. Jeremy followed with his LX-3 checking the holes to find the break. Soon enough, his flasher showed the tell tale sign of WIPERS!
The hot baits for us this year are the same from last year. Big fish honors goes to Jeremy, he was using a blue/silver foil lightning spoon in 1/8 ounce. I was using a 1/4 ounce sivler/blue slender spoon.
These fish have a special spot in my book- They have an unbelievable attitude that will put any drag system to the test. I have never watched any game fish hit a bait through the ice with this much ferocity. Andy, and Jeremy- thanks for sharing a slab of ice with me today- Today will go down in the ice fishing memory books forever!
Please remember to CPR (Catch, Photo, Release) with these fish, they are too much fun to eat!
Good Luck, Stay safe, and we’ll see you on the water!
Nice fish Luke….
That would be cool to get one of those thru the ice!!
Nice wipers Luke
Jeremy Crawford…..I thought he fell off the planet.
Great report Luke. Those are some beauty fish.
Great report guys!!! That looks like a whole lot of fun.
wow! If you need a couple more guys to chase those things around, let me know. My buddy will be back this week, and we are going to hit the ice hard the next 2 weeks.
Nice fish Luke!
Way to go “Butterknuckles” Crawford!
Looks like you guys had fun!!
Love your report Luke!
So many places to fish…so little time.
Great looking fish Luke
Awesome fish guys
Well, it looks like you guys had yet another productive day out on macbride! Good job on the catch!!!
No, that clown is gone, I am the formerly known fisherman named Jeremy Crawford… Actually, the flood ate my house this summer and I am finally getting back on my feet. Luke was kind enough to take a bass / butterknuckled hillbilly fishing with him. ( thanks Luke ).
We had a great time. I am still waiting for the report on what we did prior to hitting the wipers!!!! How many 11 inch gills does it take to get a report posted?
Nice Report, that looks like a lot of fun!!!
If you have 1…11 inch bluegill that in itself is good for a report… Any pictures?
I have them
. Just stretching out my reports..
Nest week IDO TV episode was filmed with Luke last week in IA and we got after the gills pretty good. I don’t know if we caught any 11″ bluegills (I doubt any where that long) but suffice it to say Luke has some incredible bluegill waters close to home. We caught the heck out of 9 – 10 gills and had a blast sharing the ice together.
Well done fellas, how come Andy only catches bass? LM and Stripers…Can you get those foil spoons locally or even stop at the Coralville shop? I just don’t like having to order and have them ship when Custom is right here in town…I’ve got 2 weeks of no work and no MBA so I’ll be making some swiss cheese out of MacBride for those marble eyes. Hope to have some pics soon. Shoot me a PM if you guys are headed out.
Awesome fish guys!
JC glad to hear you’re back on your feet. 
John
Boy does that ever look like fun fishing through the ice.
Nice wipers guys!
Great report!!! Can’t wait to see next weeks show. Congrats guys.
Great report..
Mitch and I will see you down there!!
Wow…that looks like a lot of fun. The Whities up here will put a bend into your pole during summer months. I wonder how hard it is to locate them on Lake Pepin during winter months.
Great report guys!
Awesome fish and report.I just like the warm weather to get the wipers though.
Awesome! Now how about busting some of those tigers on topwater next spring!
Great Report
Looks like a Blast
Here’s one of mine from last winter when the ice is good enough I hope to get on them again