Spirit Lake/West Okoboji Fishing reports by Paul’s Fishing Guide Service

[Raider4ever]

Thanks. Stayed at Sandbar in July and liked it a lot. "Liked it a lot" would be "loved it" if they would of had power running to the boat hoists. Got to know the lake a little. Will poke around some more as to lodging. The overall shallowness of East O. Intrigues me as to early season possibilities.

[Inthehollow]

How has the fishing been on spirit would like to head up this sat 2-1 thanks Bret

[Esox_Magnum]

Slow is the best I have heard....

[PerchPounder]

I managed to keep 15 crappies and 10 gills on west last Saturday but only had 4 crappies until 4pm and it really picked up after that. I only fished until I couldn't see the fish anymore but they were still biting when I packed up around 5:30.

[Raider4ever]

Ok. Went to the DNR web site and looked at the two Okoboji's. The reports have East being nearly pathetic for LMB and SMB while West looked very promising. I like the relative shallowness of East early in the year but those netting numbers (2012 for East and 2008 for West) have me wondering. What are your opinions? I did find a place on East with a dock and power. Should I be looking for someplace on West instead? Thanks guys.

[Michael L]

I'm no local and have very limited knowledge of the bodies of water. I was there 3 weeks ago and there was not a soul on the East. I talked to the bait shop guy and my guide, that has the experience in the area, and they said it was shallow all the way thru, weedy and dirty water. Ruff fish haven I guess. I spoke to some locals on the ice and they called West O the Riviera of Iowa. I'm quite certain locals have a far better answer for you.

I did not ask about Spirit either.

[Raider4ever]

Found a place on West that will be open around 4/4, say they put their docks in as early as possible and have power to them. Now just hoping the "Ice-Out" and "Work" Gods won't be too cruel.

[Esox_Magnum]

Unless we get a huge extended warm up I plan to still be ice fishing in early April

[Raider4ever]

Looking at a couple of sites extended forecasts and it does not look good. A couple of days in the low 40's next week and then back below 32 for a LONG stretch of days. I believe you will be correct in your assumption Esox. Maybe I will just shoot for next year...or October. How is the fall fishing down there? Temps a lot warmer than up here that time of year.

[Esox_Magnum]

Fall can be great if the timings right...I fish until I can't get the boat to open water then get the auger out...

[Raider4ever]

I'm thinking mid Sept.-early Oct. Avg. high/lows there vs. where I go for my fall trip is a six degree warmer average high (74 vs 68 on 9/15 and 65 vs 59 on 10/5) with a 4.6 degree warmer mean temp 61 vs 57 on 9/15 and 53 vs. 48 on 10/5). Might not look like much but I'd rather take a chance on having it 74 than 68 or 65 than 59.

In April though I like the fact that at any given time down there it will be 8-10 degrees warmer than where I live with an average high differential of 13 degrees (61 is A LOT better than 48 on 4/20).

Man, this April thing is looking better and better each day. Well, maybe next year (unless there's a nice March down there).

[Kevan Paul]

Spring is sounding better and better everyday. LOL

[Raider4ever]

Right on KP!!

[Raider4ever]

Man, this weather is NOT helping with my April dream shot. I was hoping to get down there and blow big bucks at Godfather's and Hy-vee. Speaking of GF's (used to have one in my hometown and ate at the one in SL last summer), who has the best non-chain pizza in SL? Just wondering. Is there anyone in town with a decent deep dish? Not looking for Malnati's or Uno's grade, just good deep-dish. Thanks.

[Esox_Magnum]

GF and Pizza Ranch are about the only options....

[Raider4ever]

Ok. Thanks.

[Raider4ever]

Next 14 days at SL show highs in the 20's one day, 30's four days, 40's three days, and 50's six days. Nowhere on that forecast are the lows above freezing. How late do you guess ice-out on Spirit/the 'bojis will be? Ice-out up here is usually 3rd weekend in April. I'm thinking that you guys will be open the 2nd weekend.

[Esox_Magnum]

Almost 3 feet of ice at the moment my best guess is somewhere around the 10th to 15th. Going to be late this year unless we get warmer temps than forcast...

[crappiebuster]

Was over there a week or two ago during that slight warmup. Didn't wanna risk driving around the heave at hale's so fished emersons and millers.... A couple gills a day a couple decent crappies and some dink perch got cutoff by a muskie too. Was pretty slow. Probably gonna head over sometime next week with the wheeler and hit anglers hard. Hopefully make it thru the ice witout an extension. Was close last time.

[Raider4ever]

Almost 3 feet of ice at the moment my best guess is somewhere around the 10th to 15th. Going to be late this year unless we get warmer temps than forcast...

Of April or May?

[Kevan Paul]

Im guessing its going to get sloppy this week. The ice is great and the fishing should get better with some melt off.

[Raider4ever]

The forecast is not helping out the cause.

[Raider4ever]

Holy cow! They just knocked the snot out of the long-range forecast.

[Esox_Magnum]

Still driving on 30+ of ice... my guess is mid April for ice out. ..

[SpitnArgueDuckClub*]

Im guessing its going to get sloppy this week. The ice is great and the fishing should get better with some melt off.

Kevan saw your Clear Lake segment on Fishing the Midwest with Bob Jensen, Nice!!!