Honest big gills in NC Iowa?

[Selmer]

I've just moved here from NE SD last summer and was lamenting my loss of quality perch fishing and I have been told the gils make up for it, but I have yet to find any truly big gills here in the Mason City/Hampton area. I live in Hampton, looking for big gills. By big I mean average of 8, with 10 and 11 not common, but not out of the question. Please let me know some quality waters, I can trade info for top perch spots in NE SD that aren't discussed on the internet very much because they are small waters. I have been to Hallit's (sp?) Pit, Interstate Pond, Beeds Lake looking for big gills, find lots of little ones and a few small crappies. Please let me know.
Selmer

[Guest]

best chance is trying the missisippi river ,im from waterloo and to get an 8 inch gill would be nice around here but everyone takes them all out of the local lakes before they get to 7 inches ....new albin north of lansing iowa was my best gill spot this year ..no 10 incher yet

[delmuts]

it might be closer for you to head to southern iowa . sugema has been very good for big gils, and plenty of them. some of the other lake down that way are good fishing also. the river would be a long ways for you. buy a state lake map. good info. del

[supserdave]

I would try some of the pits in mason. We caugh some nice gills there. No 10-11's, but some 9's. Or else head to the river. Ive caught two 10's this year, one at the river, and one at a sand pit.
Dave

[Selmer]

Where do I find info about these farm ponds with big gills? I'm sure no one wants to reveal their own hot spot, I wouldn't. I was just asking for confirmation that the big gills do exist and aren't exaggerations. I've been fishing with a few different guys and when I pull in a 6 or 7 incher they say "hey, that's a nice one, better keep that" where on my two favorite gill waters in SD I wouldn't have kept any gills that I've caught this winter so far. That's all I'm asking, but if you do want to share info I'd love to hear it.
Thanks
Selmer

[IceC]

I had a buddy of mine that would always keep those little one's too! After enough ribbing and not inviting him to come with us, has broke him of that! In my opinion there should be a size limit on panfish, I see way to many people keeping small one's. Let them grow! I like eat fish not fish chips

There is all kinds of good spots on the mississippi.

IceC

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Have an Ice day

[jr712]

Selmer you moved to the wrong side of the state for big gills. need to get south of I80. Mostly farm ponds but only those with little pressure which means access is limited to close friends or family, or they are undiscovered. Some public lakes offer big gills, several in Adair Co. Others further south. Mostly smaller, county board lakes. Pick up one of those Iowa fishing waters handbooks the DNR puts out at baitshops etc. Or go to thier HSOforum. Call the biologist in wothern district that you are willing to drive to and ask him what lakes thier population surveys show the largest gills in.

Big gills are like big bucks, you have to hunt them up.

Not to make ya homesick or anything but fished Bitter last weds. and did great on pike running tip-ups in shallow water. you moved to Iowa where many of us are trying to figure out how to move to N.E. Dakota.... An ironic world we live in.

[Selmer]

To tell you the truth, I never fished Bitter, there are too many other smaller bodies of water that produce bigger fish and more of them for me in the area. The only reason I moved is my wife and I are both band directors and we both need jobs, that's a tall order to fill in SD unless you have a pilot's license and a car at each airstrip!
Selmer

[Guest]

How far are you willing to travel?
I have had my best luck for big gills in farm ponds. In Iowa the farther south you go the more ponds you find.

[IceJohn]

Selmer,Southern IA. for sure. By bloomfield 5 mile around there lots ponds.Big blue gills just stop and ask.Most people will let you fish and close all gates you open.Tell thanks helps.I am heading that way in a week and will report. FISH ON

[jr712]

I assumed as much, Selmer. The rural economy out there is desperate. I fished Bitter becuase the spot was very accessible. I had my business vehicle and driving on ice is a no - no. I usually fish the smaller lakes during fishing visits. Did extremely well last year on Minniwasta for pike and 'eyes... some real nice eyes. My local friends direct me to small sloughs for perch.

Check out the Iowa dnr HSOforum for latest fishing reports. They also will be posting a 2003 fishing forcast soon that will give you some idea what public lakes hold the largest gills.