Fishing still continues to be tough, but as always, if you are willing to search for active fish, you will find, and catch them!
We are beginning to see the “dead sea” effect in eastern Iowa. There has been snow cover on the majority of our waters since early ice. This allows very little light penetration into the water. With out going into the science behind this, it dramatically slows the bite.
Still, you can find active fish. Most of my active fish have been holding near the structure. It seems that typical roaming fish, aren’t roaming, they are holding tight to their structure, looking for an easy meal. Some fish have been found suspending on the extreme tops of the structure, where light penetration is better.
Most ice fisherman, myself included, often make the mistake of fishing right in the structure- More times than not, the least active fish are holding tight to the structure. And if you don’t experiment with depths and how close to the structure your fishing- you may never locate the most active fish in the group.
This is where punching a bunch of holes, and using my MarCum LX-5 really are crucial to success. Before I even wet a line, I often check 15-20 different holes, looking for the highest riding fish in the group. After I locate these fish, then I get into presenting the baits, and finding out what the fish want.
Lately, the bites that seem to going great, are Bluegills, Crappies, and Walleyes. Ice conditions around Macbride are great, if you don’t mind trudging through the snow, and dealing with the slush spots. Walleyes are coming on the Cedar, Wapsi, and Iowa rivers, still in the deeper holes relating to current and the presence of bait fish.
There is still great ice fishing to be had- Grab a good friend, or the kids and head out and hit the ice- you never know what you will find!!
Bob, and Karl, it was great fishing with you guys as always. Bob did you out fish me, or did I out fish you this time?
All fish were released minus the six walleyes split amongst us.
Good Luck- stay safe, and we’ll see you on the hard water!
Picture One- I had a chance to get out with Baltimore Ravens football player Marshal Yanda recently- He has the ultimate ice vehicle- I can’t wait til he goes back to Baltimore and leaves me the key to this bad boy!!
Picture Two- Sunset on the ice-
Picture Three- Papa Karl with a pretty Gill-
Nice gill Luke! Yeah that quad is one mean machine!
Man what a gill
.
How much ice have you had on the rivers in the current areas? I’ve just been a sissy about the river ice except for a back water area with no current. Thanks
That machine looks like a drift flattener!!
Man, tell Mitch to call me next time so I can drive
that nasty looking thing!!!
Great looking bulls you guys got there.
Nice fish
That firetiger diamond jig has been a top panfish producer for us the past couple of ice seasons as well. Congrats.
Great report Luke.
……is it restricted to ice-snow only or all terrain? Manufacturer name?
That machine is tough looking
Nice Report Luke!! Nice Bull Gils!! Looking forward to putting those Diamond jigs to use as we begin our Slab trips shortly.
That machine is a Bombardier (Can-Am) 800 Outlander max 2-up Jeff (by the looks of it). The track kit make it unstoppable. I had the same unit last year with wheels, and the 800 power with extended wheel base make it about as good as I’ve seen for atv’s. Without tracks atv’s up here the past couple years have been pretty useless! BUT THAT BAD BOY CAN MAKE SOME HEADWAY as long as it is a good cold starter!! LOL!!
Oh..he told me the name, arghh I forgot.
I do remember Marshall said it took 2 hours to change the
tires over to the tracks..
But.. it’ll work year round every where!!
Nice report Luke! Looks like you got onto some nice fish!!
Jeff- Chris was right- funny thing is I went into the dealership to price that exact machine, but Marshal bought it the day before!
The tracks will wear out quicker if you don’t take them off after winter, but you can use the tracks all year round. The nice thing about that setup is how versatile it is- you basically have a snomobile that will never get stuck- and then take the tracks off and you have a fourwheeler for the warmer seasons.
Thanks guys, they look incredible.
Added to dream list
Nice report Luke.
Awesome gills!
Congrats on the PB gill. Very nice fish. That ATV looks like a kick butt ice fishing mancine
Nice fish guys….11″ gill that fish has to be pushing 1.8lbs for sure…
How are the ice conditions holding up for you?
We are still making ice! Temps have stayed well below freezing for some time now!
The only downside is that the snow hasn’t melted at all, and light penetration is very low right now, thus making the bite slower..
Hey Luke, that gill is a total slob, reminds me of the ones from my hometown ponds. Might just have to see how those fish are doing. Nice work on the eye’s too. Over break the Wapsi was all open water and now I have been too busy on my Master’s to hit my spots, may have to burn a vaca day or two and get out there. I did have a one good day at MacBride with the eyes but that bite dried up like usual. Keep up the good work, hopefully I’ll get out and get something post worthy to share.
Nice Gills Luke, its been along time since I’ve gotten into big slab bluegills like those and to think its right here in Iowa.
Luke,
What did the floods do to the health of the fish, number of fish, and any advisories on eating the fish in the rivers?
Nice job, great looking fish and really like the all-season dream machine.