Spirit Lake Report

[Walleye #1]

Has anyone been out on Spirit Lake or any of the other Iowa Great Lakes? I was out this morning and the fishing was slow. The Ice is crystal clear and the fish seem spooky. We did manage to bag six perch. Any other reports out there? Lets hear some people! If not get out and fish!

Walleye #1

[Mr.Seaguar]

Could you see many or did you see many fish swim thru? It is tuff when you can see them. Sometimes.

[wallywalleye]

I've been out a few times on Spirit the past few days. The only thing I'll tell you is that if you want to catch walleyes be on the lake one hour before sunrise and about an hour before sunset. You'll know when they come through, you won't be able to use two poles!!! I almost forgot.. fish in 12 to 16 feet of water, 12 feet if you want to watch them come in and hit your bait. You can see them in 16 feet but not quite as clearly. Most of the walleyes you'll catch will of course be 12 or 13 inchers (just remember the legal limit is 14 inches) but it's still fun.

[abens1078]

3 of us went to Spirit Lake on Saturday afternoon to see if we could put up 2 portable ice shacks in that winter breeze blowing out of the east. We went on the north end about 250yrds straight south of the boat launch(14FOW). My Dad and I were able to stay in one place but my uncle's shack was blowing and shifting like a kite even when he had him tied off to ours so he went and fished by the grade. At about 4pm our action started as we could see the perch swim in to stare at our minows but not hit them. I had a horizontal jig tipped with two waxies and I use my finger to barely wiggle the line. The fish wolud inhale the waxies and swim upwards what appeared to be about six inches. It was almost unnoticeable except for the waxies disapearing. We ended up with only 9 fish but 2 of them were 12" and the rest were between 9-11" and one little walleye.

At the grade my uncle manage alot of 4-6" perch, some real small crappie and he said something straightened his hook a little but he was not able to see it. He did talk to a few other guys that had a few nice crappie and a decent bluegill.

I figure for the crummy weather and wind we did O.K. The sight fishing was a blast but it all ended around 5 as it got to dark to see the bottom and our jigs. The two bigger perch hit on a Williams Wobbeler with a 6" dropper which was tipped with two minows and left as a deadstick.

Ice was about 10-12"

abens1078

[abens1078]

I had a enough fun last weekend that I'm going to try a follow-up trip this weekend. At one point Saturday was suppose to be decent but that probably changed. Will any FMers be out and about in the Spirit Lake area? Dad and I will set up a black Frabil ice house and we will probably start on the north end again on Saturday afternoon. Should I bring along any extra jerky?

[goodyy7]

I will be up at the lakes this weekend...coming in from the DesMoines area with my dad and meeting up with several others from another HSOforum for the weekend. Staying at Four Seasons....should be a good time, even if the fishies arent cooperating

goody

[wallywalleye]

Yeah.. I'll be up there too. Look for a yellow Honda foreman with a black windshield pulling a Frabil XLT twin... I'll show you how to drowned bait

[abens1078]

Goodyy....Wally

How did you guys do?

On Saturday we were on the Perch and small Walleyes until the Northerns started coming through and scaring everything away. I had a Northern stare at my minow for a good 2 minutes and not do anything. We had 3 different pike and what definetly looked like a small Musky(He chased my minow right up to the hole and almost hit his head on the ice...I had a good look at him.) that managed to keep the Perch away. We did get 5 medium sized Perch and the usual small walleyes.

Sunday started slow but around 2:00 the first group came through and kept coming in about half hour intervals. We only saw 2 Pike on Sunday and the Perch seemed to notice as well, the groups were more active and larger in numbers. We ended up with 9 on Sunday and the usual mix of small Walleyes.

We talked to a few guys chasing Crappie and they were having a real tough time. The CO stopped in and said his surveys were not what they should be either. How did you guys do?

[goodyy7]

Well, after a long drive from south of Des Moines me and my dad got to the lakes area. HEaded out toward Miller's Bay on West 'Boji. Got on a really good early bite with a quick flurry of perch getting iced. The bite slowed, but didnt totally disappear if you could find the fish. By evening, the bite picked up a little with some more perch, big boji gills, and hammer handle pike getting iced. I managed a FAT perch just a hair under 12". Sunday the bite was MUCH slower. As the truck traffic on the ice picked up, the bite died. Fish turned into "lookers," but more perch, gills, eyes, and pike were iced. Nothing big today, but some good 11" perch and fat gills were found. Had to leave by noon-thiry to make the trip back home. Also had a nice chat with the DNR.

Truck traffic really killed the bite, adding current and sound to the water. Pattern was 9-17' on weeds and if there was a sand/weed transition it was even better.

goody

[wallywalleye]

Hey abens,

Wadinator talked me into going to Emerson bay on west boji, I had 1 perch on but he got away and wadinator got 1 bass. I got to see a really large pike though. We only fished for a few hours. (next time I'm going to Spirit)lol

[Wadinator]

Quote:

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Hey abens,

Wadinator talked me into going to Emerson bay on west boji, I had 1 perch on but he got away and wadinator got 1 bass. I got to see a really large pike though. We only fished for a few hours. (next time I'm going to Spirit)lol

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Yeah, me too. Spirit is way more fun, catching those 6" perch and 10" walleyes for an hour twice a day.

Ah, I don't care where we go, as long as the beer is cold.

[abens1078]

How far down could you guys see in West, Is it gin clear?

[Wadinator]

We could make out bottom in 21 foot of water with the sun going down. It was "gin clear" when we moved up to 15 foot.

[abens1078]

Well, I haven't been good and frozen for awhile so I'm headed to Spirit Lake again this weekend. Anyone else going to be around?

[wallywalleye]

Hey Abens, Shoot me an e-mail... wally at hickorytech.net