Ice Fishing - Central Iowa

[FishnDave]

The ice has been on the local ponds for the quite a while, but it wasn't thick enough to fish on until we had the deep-freeze temps a couple weeks ago, when we had high temps in the single digits for about 4 days in a row.  My buddy Jay and I visited 3 ponds this weekend.  He caught fish at all 3 ponds, I got skunked at one pond, but did pretty well at the other two.  Here's a small taste of what I caught (all fish were released).

I'm a bit envious that most of you guys here on OA have open water nearly the entire winter...so for me, icefishing is a great way to diminish the winter-time cabin fever.

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, FishnDave said:

so for me, icefishing is a great way to diminish the winter-time cabin fever.

I hear you but a frozen pond won't cure my cabin fever.  Need sun.  Need warm.

[FishnDave]

Just now, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I hear you but a frozen pond won't cure my cabin fever.  Need sun.  Need warm.

Yes, that's the best and preferred remedy.   When Ma Nature deals the cards, you play the hand you're dealt. 😉

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 minute ago, FishnDave said:

Yes, that's the best and preferred remedy.   When Ma Nature deals the cards, you play the hand you're dealt. 😉

Honestly it's day after day of overcast skies that really gets to me.  The older I get the less I like winter. 

[FishnDave]

Catching was tougher while icefishing this past weekend.  Caught some, nothing very big.

[FishnDave]

Some better bass showed up this weekend.  Biggest 3 bass for me were 18.5", 18", and 16.5".

[FishnDave]

I icefished one day this weekend....nice weather, hit the low 40's each day.  9" of ice.

Fishing was not good for me....very slow.  Fish would show up, but most did not want to play.  I ended up with around 16 fish, a mix of bluegills and bass.  2nd to the last fish of the afternoon was a very good bass,  21.5":

[Johnsfolly]

On 2/17/2020 at 10:13 AM, FishnDave said:

2nd to the last fish of the afternoon was a very good bass,  21.5":

Great ice fishing trips for sure! Haven't seen too many folks pulling up toad largemouths through the ice. Livie likes to ice fish but didn't often have enough ice to fish. We had a couple of trips fishing the urban trout through the ice in Columbia.

[FishnDave]

6 minutes ago, Johnsfolly said:

Great ice fishing trips for sure! Haven't seen too many folks pulling up toad largemouths through the ice. Livie likes to ice fish but didn't often have enough ice to fish. We had a couple of trips fishing the urban trout through the ice in Columbia.

 

I assume the ice around St Louis doesn't last too long or get too thick, usually?  Based on that assumption, I gave all my icefishing gear away before I moved here.

[snagged in outlet 3]

19 minutes ago, FishnDave said:

I assume the ice around St Louis doesn't last too long or get too thick, usually?  Based on that assumption, I gave all my icefishing gear away before I moved here.

You are correct.  It happens but not often.