02-02-2007, 12:26 PM
Most of the ponds and lakes in southwest Iowa have 4 to 7 inches of good ice.
Don Williams (Boone): Small crappies and bluegills are being caught on wax worms in the evenings.
Rock Creek (Jasper): A mixture of bluegills and crappies are being caught. The crappies are running 9 to 11 inches. Wax worms have been the preferred bait.
Hickory Grove (Story): Medium-sized bluegills and crappies are being caught.
Lake Ahquabi and Hooper (Warren): Bluegills in the 7- to 8-inch range are being caught using wax worms a foot off of the bottom.
Banner Lakes at Summerset Park (Warren): The north lake is in the process of being renovated, so there aren’t any fish in this lake. However, more than 1,700 rainbow trout were stocked in the south lake on Friday. These trout seem to bite on anything from wax worms to small jigging spoons. Don’t forget your trout fee!
Big Creek (Polk): Small crappie and some decent bluegills are being caught at Lost Lake. Some folks are beginning to catch walleyes in deeper water on the main lake as well.
DMACC Pond (Polk): Bluegill fishing has been good, with some 10-inch fish being caught on wax worms.
Easter Lake (Polk): A variety of sizes of bluegills and crappies are being caught.
Contact: Ben Dodd (515) 432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the above area lakes.
Three Mile (Union): Reports of 6 to 12 inches of ice are common. Waterfowl frequent the lake and there may be thin ice areas. Some crappie can be caught over the brush piles and around the deep trees using wax worms or minnows. Lesser numbers of bluegills, walleyes and yellow perch are being caught in similar areas.
Fogle Lake (Ringgold): Many bluegills are being caught on wax worms near the deep brush piles or trees. Ice is generally at least 6 inches thick but it is possible that thin spots may exist. The crappies are suspended around the brush piles but usually prefer minnows.
Little River (Decatur): There is 5 to 8 inches of ice over most of the lake. Water fowl may have kept other areas open longer and thin ice could be possible. The crappies can be caught south of the big point that is west of the main ramp or from the deeper flooded trees. An occasional walleye is caught from the same areas.
Farm Ponds: Ice is usually good but some ponds did freeze late and might not have safe ice. The fish are biting usually in the deepest areas of the pond.
Contact: Gary Sobotka (641)464-3108 for information on the above area lakes.
Orient (Adair): Fishing is good for 8-inch bluegill and 8 to 10-inch crappie. Ice is 7 inches thick.
Greenfield (Adair): Fishing is good for 8-inch bluegill. Teardrop jigs tipped with a wax worm have been effective. A few crappies are being caught in evenings using minnows. Ice is 7 inches thick.
Nodaway (Adair): Good numbers of 7- to 8-inch bluegill and 8- to 10-inch crappie have been caught. Ice is 7 inches thick.
Meadow (Adair): A few crappies are being caught in brush piles using minnows. Bluegill fishing is slow using wax worms. Ice is 7 inches thick.
Littlefield (Audubon): No reports of fishing. Ice is 4 to 7 inches thick.
Anita (Cass): No report of fishing. Anita has a good population of 7-inch bluegill. Ice conditions are 6 to 8 inches.
Manawa (Pottawattamie): The fishing derby last weekend was cancelled due to poor ice conditions. Ice conditions should improve with the cold weather forecasted. Be safe and check ice thickness as you walk out from shore.
DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Crappie fishing is good using jigs tipped with minnows around sunken brush piles on east side of lake. Ice is 8 inches thick.
Prairie Rose (Shelby): No reports of fishing at this time. Ice conditions are 4 to 6 inches.
Willow (Harrison): A few bluegills are being caught on tear drop jigs tipped with wax worms. Ice is 5 to 7 inches thick.
Farm Ponds: Bluegill fishing has been good using wax worms. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows in evenings. Ice conditions are good averaging 6 inches.
Contact: Bryan Hayes (712)769-2587 for information on the above area lakes.
For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the SW Regional Office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.
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Don Williams (Boone): Small crappies and bluegills are being caught on wax worms in the evenings.
Rock Creek (Jasper): A mixture of bluegills and crappies are being caught. The crappies are running 9 to 11 inches. Wax worms have been the preferred bait.
Hickory Grove (Story): Medium-sized bluegills and crappies are being caught.
Lake Ahquabi and Hooper (Warren): Bluegills in the 7- to 8-inch range are being caught using wax worms a foot off of the bottom.
Banner Lakes at Summerset Park (Warren): The north lake is in the process of being renovated, so there aren’t any fish in this lake. However, more than 1,700 rainbow trout were stocked in the south lake on Friday. These trout seem to bite on anything from wax worms to small jigging spoons. Don’t forget your trout fee!
Big Creek (Polk): Small crappie and some decent bluegills are being caught at Lost Lake. Some folks are beginning to catch walleyes in deeper water on the main lake as well.
DMACC Pond (Polk): Bluegill fishing has been good, with some 10-inch fish being caught on wax worms.
Easter Lake (Polk): A variety of sizes of bluegills and crappies are being caught.
Contact: Ben Dodd (515) 432-2823, Ext.108, for information on the above area lakes.
Three Mile (Union): Reports of 6 to 12 inches of ice are common. Waterfowl frequent the lake and there may be thin ice areas. Some crappie can be caught over the brush piles and around the deep trees using wax worms or minnows. Lesser numbers of bluegills, walleyes and yellow perch are being caught in similar areas.
Fogle Lake (Ringgold): Many bluegills are being caught on wax worms near the deep brush piles or trees. Ice is generally at least 6 inches thick but it is possible that thin spots may exist. The crappies are suspended around the brush piles but usually prefer minnows.
Little River (Decatur): There is 5 to 8 inches of ice over most of the lake. Water fowl may have kept other areas open longer and thin ice could be possible. The crappies can be caught south of the big point that is west of the main ramp or from the deeper flooded trees. An occasional walleye is caught from the same areas.
Farm Ponds: Ice is usually good but some ponds did freeze late and might not have safe ice. The fish are biting usually in the deepest areas of the pond.
Contact: Gary Sobotka (641)464-3108 for information on the above area lakes.
Orient (Adair): Fishing is good for 8-inch bluegill and 8 to 10-inch crappie. Ice is 7 inches thick.
Greenfield (Adair): Fishing is good for 8-inch bluegill. Teardrop jigs tipped with a wax worm have been effective. A few crappies are being caught in evenings using minnows. Ice is 7 inches thick.
Nodaway (Adair): Good numbers of 7- to 8-inch bluegill and 8- to 10-inch crappie have been caught. Ice is 7 inches thick.
Meadow (Adair): A few crappies are being caught in brush piles using minnows. Bluegill fishing is slow using wax worms. Ice is 7 inches thick.
Littlefield (Audubon): No reports of fishing. Ice is 4 to 7 inches thick.
Anita (Cass): No report of fishing. Anita has a good population of 7-inch bluegill. Ice conditions are 6 to 8 inches.
Manawa (Pottawattamie): The fishing derby last weekend was cancelled due to poor ice conditions. Ice conditions should improve with the cold weather forecasted. Be safe and check ice thickness as you walk out from shore.
DeSoto Bend (Harrison): Crappie fishing is good using jigs tipped with minnows around sunken brush piles on east side of lake. Ice is 8 inches thick.
Prairie Rose (Shelby): No reports of fishing at this time. Ice conditions are 4 to 6 inches.
Willow (Harrison): A few bluegills are being caught on tear drop jigs tipped with wax worms. Ice is 5 to 7 inches thick.
Farm Ponds: Bluegill fishing has been good using wax worms. Crappie fishing is fair using minnows in evenings. Ice conditions are good averaging 6 inches.
Contact: Bryan Hayes (712)769-2587 for information on the above area lakes.
For more information on general fishing in southwest Iowa, call the SW Regional Office in Lewis at 712-769-2587.
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