Where are the fishermen at?

CycloneYoda

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2009
6,091
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I caught some bluegills down at my father-in-law's pond a couple of weeks ago. Now that was some serious fishing. Bunch of fighters. :wink:
 

2020cy

Well-Known Member
Aug 7, 2006
6,348
2,636
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What do you guys think about the bag limit for panfish?

I like it myself...I don't know why you need bucket after bucket full of crappie & bluegill.
I think those limits were for groups of people, likely not native to Iowa who were taking excessive amounts of fish. It's been a pretty big controversy on both sides of the coin.
 

CyPride

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2008
2,542
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What is the best way to fish Big Creek from the shoreline? Best place(s) to go, best presentations, etc.

The picture of the 4 large crappie in this thread - you say caught at BC. Big Creek, or Brushy Creek?
 

CyPride

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2008
2,542
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Out at Big Creek yesterday...caught about 30 crappies and a handful of bass in 3-4 hours. Small jig with a tube or nymph (white or chartreuse).

I assume you were floating your jigs from a bobber? How deep?
 

mr89ia

Member
Mar 9, 2010
249
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Madison,WI
im coming home for five days next week before a summer up here. i CANT wait to hit my ponds. turkey hunt moning and afternoon, with bass fishing sandwiched in. im pumped!
 

illinoiscyclone

Well-Known Member
Jan 30, 2008
1,784
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Wisconsin
I think those limits were for groups of people, likely not native to Iowa who were taking excessive amounts of fish. It's been a pretty big controversy on both sides of the coin.

I'm not sure if we are on the same page, but are these the same people that keep every bullhead, buffalo, drum... etc that they catch? The very same that I can sell my carp (if I elected to, which I do not) to?


I went to Ada Hayden earlier this year, but the water was far too cold. I will be in Ames, so I will be looking to fish a bunc this year... Any suggestions for spots will be greatly appreciated. I went in the skunk last year and caught a few tiny bass on a black jig+ 3 in powergrub. That is my go to setup for bass, rock bass, crappie, and bluegill.
 

JT88

Member
Oct 7, 2009
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Yellow bass are in the spawn right now at Clear Lake. Going up tomorrow to fight the wind and see about putting some in the livewell.

Male crappie are moving shallow with the gals just ready to move in. At least that is the report I got last night. Buddy and his Bro-in-law kept 27 and tossed back that many more. They were fishing in 12' of water with red/white tube jigs.
 

Cyclonepride

Thought Police
Staff member
Apr 11, 2006
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A pineapple under the sea
www.oldschoolradical.com
Thread title made me think of this

633714593689506060-WhiteWomen.jpg
 

LikeACyclone

Member
May 20, 2008
65
5
8
Atlantic, IA
I have been out on a farm pond a couple weekends in the past month in SW Iowa and had some moderate success. Water was still pretty cold so things went pretty slow and I had to find just the right spot. Here the next couple of weeks things should really start to heat up.

I'm not much of a big body of water guy just because I don't have my own boat but for my folk's farm pond it always seems like Memorial Day weekend is when things really break out. We have a fish fry every year that weekend and the fishing is always dynamite.
 

zarnold56

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2009
2,426
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Heading to Big Creek or Saylorville this weekend to do some fishing. Never fished either of these lakes so does anyone have any tips? I usually go fishing in South Dakota on the reservoirs for walleye. Any luck with walleye in these 2 lakes or any where else around Des Moines?
 

4429 mcc

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2007
4,389
248
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Wall Street
Heading to Big Creek or Saylorville this weekend to do some fishing. Never fished either of these lakes so does anyone have any tips? I usually go fishing in South Dakota on the reservoirs for walleye. Any luck with walleye in these 2 lakes or any where else around Des Moines?

Big Creek is a no wake lake. Get there early b/c its not that big and it fills up quick. Little bit of everything in Big Creek including some nice muskie....but if you're looking for walleye I would suggest the Des Moines river just below the spillway of saylorville. Boat launch on NW66th.
 

ss

Member
Apr 10, 2006
265
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hazleton
i was down at 12 mile a couple weeks ago. had good luck with walleye and blue gills/crappies. caught lots of bass but were all under the 15" mark.
 

CloneIce

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
37,768
21,149
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Heading to Big Creek or Saylorville this weekend to do some fishing. Never fished either of these lakes so does anyone have any tips? I usually go fishing in South Dakota on the reservoirs for walleye. Any luck with walleye in these 2 lakes or any where else around Des Moines?

Lots and lots of small walleye in Big Creek, huge population. Catching the big ones is hard though, few and far between and the lake gets a lot of pressure. I caught a 5 pounder there a few years back at the North end in May in just maybe 3 feet of water fishing for catfish.
 

Sterling4Cy

Active Member
Nov 13, 2006
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I've been fishing quite a bit at Lake Petoka in Bonduarant. DNR stocked it again with trout the first part of April.
 

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