Ice fishing Iowa

Snow, snow, and more SNOW!! I have been extremely busy snowplowing lately, but I wanted to give a quick update on the bites I have been experiencing.
We have had horrible weather for the past couple of weeks, the barometric pressure has been way to high for my liking, and it seems like the wind never stops blowing! Some Iowa lakes north of my area, received 30+ inches of snow. But as our hawkeye quarter back said it best, “love it or leave it!!” Some days I love it, some days I want to leave it.

I think I have put more hours in my truck looking for fish than actual time spent fishing. However the few times I have been able to wet a line, I have been having good luck.

I have been concentrating efforts on the cedar, and wapsi mainly this year. Fishing depths from 10-15 fow. The same pattern that held fish last year rings true to this year. Time in the off season spent in the boat, looking for currents seams, with deep water close by will have the best chance at holding walleyes, and icing over. These spots are gps’d on my h20c with lakemaster chip, and then when the cold weather arrives, I am able to find the exact spots I want to fish.

The walleyes in our interior rivers really don’t seem to mind the high barometric pressure, so that is what I have been focusing my efforts on lately. I have tried bluegill fishing and crappie fishing, however I would rather chase fish that are actively feeding during the current weather pattern.

I have been using my favorite spoon from CJS, a blue/silver foil lightning spoon in the 1/8 oz size. And I have also been using the “rainydaze” color, clown. Walleyes have also been hitting gill pills believe it or not, and jigging rapalas. I have not been using bait, and 5 out of the 9 fish I kept for meals, hit these lures so hard, they blew threw the gills, making an alive release impossible. But, I wasn’t complaining, my wife loves fresh iced walleye. She even helps me cook them!

I am falling in love again with my 36″ outside perch sweetheart rod, it is perfect for fishing the 1/8 oz size spoons. Matt introduced me to this rod, when they first started making it, and it is an amazingly versatile rod. However, my biggest walleye this year in the first picture above, hit a gill pill on my quiverstick!!! That fight took about ten minutes, with 2 lbs test line, and a tiny gill pill, one cannot be over careful.

The five fish that wouldn’t have made it if released, were kept, and then I also kept four more in the 14-15″ range. Call me crazy, but I think these are the best tasting fish. Lower levels of mecury, pcbs, etc..We ate one fresh meal each night with our neighbors.

“Love it or leave it” Today, I am going to love it, and get back out there and find some more fish!

Good luck, stay safe, and we’ll see you on the hardwater!