Des Moines area ice!

[tommyk]

Just incase anyone was wondering, I was down in the Des Moines area this past weekend and found a solid clear 5-6" ice on the small pond I fish as well as a good 6+" on parts of Big Creek, saw two guys and a potable out there (not far from shore though). Not sure how long this ice will last with your on and off warm spells this winter. Looks like round two on the ice season for you guys down there...for now anyways!

[rufishin]

Anyone been out ice fishing for gills or crappies?

How has it been going?

[PikeBayCommanche]

Got out on Tues. A few crappies but the High Pressure is never very good for them. Now that it will be 54 tommarow bye bye ice again. Got 1 day on the Ice this year in Iowa.

Soon it will be time to go the river for some Eyes'

Matt

[Tyler Holm]

I'll be down in Des Moines in April, but I'd bet the ice is going to be gone. I'm going to throw the long rods in, but I'm not sure how much time I'll have to hit the water. The wife probably has each timeslot filled. Humm... Maybe I can wake up super early and slide out before she awakes...

[PikeBayCommanche]

Yeah Where are you going to be in Des Moines? I know that there will be no ice unless something huge happens. I would throw the long rods in. I will probably have the Ranger out by then chasing some eyes on Saylorville Res. Its nice not having seasons down here.

[rufishin]

Thanks PikeBayCommanche. How is the walleye fishing in Saylorville Res? If you hook up with Tyler please be sure to let us know how it goes.

[PikeBayCommanche]

Very underated it holds some very large fish. 10 pounders come out of there everyear for sure. I hope that I can find them this spring.

Matt

[rufishin]

PikeBayCommanche, Thank you very much. You really opened my eyes about your area.

What do most guys in the area like to fish for?

[PikeBayCommanche]

I would say that the majority of fisherman are panfish anglers but after that Walleye and Catfish. Personally I tend to fish more for Bass, Walleye and Cats. There are also times that I target crappies, Lake Rathbun in southern Iowa has some huge crappies bigger that Upper Red Lake that I am going to go after this season. There are alot of rivers close that offer some fun smallmouth fishing which hardly anyone fishes.

Matt