IA muskies

[beatuplund]

Never fished Iowa for muskies before but I have an opportunity on W. Okoboji or Spirit in August. Looking for any help you can give! General tips/depths I should be targeting? Hows the water -- dark or clear? I know there are State Parks in the area. Are those the best option? Any info would be appreciated!

[HuskyMusky]

Hi. I fish the iowa lakes all summer and fall so i can give you a couple of ideas. Stay away from Spirit lake it really doesnt have a fishable population any more the DNR has finally confessed that there losing to many fish down the spillway and from there those fish and fish from east have been migrating down the river in lower gar that said there's still a fishable population in east and westand at that time of year you'll need to target the deep weed edges in emerson bay, smiths bay and the north bay. Spinner baits, bull dawgs, wades and crank baits in fire tiger ot walleye patterns will work best. West is a clear water lake and east will be real green at that time. If it was me i'd stay at the camp ground at emerson bay right next to the best boat ramp and a very nice clean camp ground. Hope this helps.

[beatuplund]

Thanks Husky -- good info!

[mattrd]

Husky,

Have you been having any luck down there lately? Still haven't made it down there yet this summer.

[moehawk]

I am surprised by this (not that I am questioning you) but I have personally had better luck at Sprit Lake it the last 3 years then West Okoboji, I have seen more fish at West but more fish in the boat on Sprit. Did the DNR say they are losing the small fish after stocked or larger fish. If you noticed at the hatchery this spring their were alot of nice fish in the Tank Labeled Sprit.

[HuskyMusky]

Yea last year i had 9 out of Spirit with 47 being the biggest but the head of the fish hatchery has admitted that there is a serious problem with adult muskies going down the spill way in the spring and if any of you have gone and looked in mill creek below the hill on hwy 71 in milford the last 2 springs you'll understand where they've gone. Maybe i'm wrong but i've got 60 plus hours on spirit in june and have seen only 2 fish and they where on the first day i was out. I've got 35 hours on west and have 4 a low 30", 40, 42 and a 46 and have seen a number of fish so i think that theres not as many fish traveling out of west probably because of the makeup of west with deep water shallow water and bays the fish just have more places to hang out and don't have to travel so much. These are my home lakes and it just sickens me to know what we had in the 80's and we can't have that now. I wish they would put a grate or fish trap between spirit and east and then manage it for muskies they could control the fish population in spirit if they would just do something to keep them from swimming down stream.