Ice conditions

[rod bender]

I've got to get out soon or I'm going to drive my wife and kids nuts. Is there any fishable ice anywhere in Iowa. Post what you know so we all can help each other out. I've heard that Hickory Grove in Central Iowa still has 90% open water.

[goodyy7]

Unfortunately temps have not been cooperating and neither has the precipitation in terms of healthy ice formation. We really need a week of temps primarily in the teens or below and we will be on hard water. This rain and snow mixed with higher temps is just killing any ice around south of highway 20, and the stuff north of there is iffy at best. Little wall was holding 4-5" in places last week, but this weather could have killed that in no time. ANglers bay on Spirit is about the only place I have heard of people fishing. I am waiting for at least Lost Lake on Big Creek to freeze (as it always seems to be the first in cental Iowa), but it hasnt even come close yet.

I too am just way too anxious for hard water....going nuts.

goody

[IceJohn]

Some ponds by me got 2 inch of ice.That is Hawkeye area.I am still looking for people to fish withcan travel some.Hope to make southern Ia. alot Bloomfield area.And anywhere in between.ICE JOHN FIH ON

[rod bender]

Just drove by my farm pond and it was 90% water. This might actually be OK since I would have hated to have a few inches of slush on top of the real ice. Might make for a touchy winter. Now it can make some nice clear ice in the next couple of days. Weather sounds like it's going to cooperate.

[Guest]

I was up to Spirit Lake today, about 20 shacks out on trickle slough (NE side of Anglers Bay). Talked to a guy walking off- fish seemed to be hit and miss with a few gills and crappies. He said the ice was around 4-5 inches. Only other shacks I saw in the area were at Upper Gar. If the wind slows we will be fishing on most any of the lakes up here by this weekend. At least in the bays.