Jim McDonnell
02-25-2003, 12:43 PM
Big Spirit's perch bite continues to be good in 20-foot or so of water. Severe cold fronts will knock the bite dead for a day or two, before it picks up again.
Buckshot Glow Rattle spoons, with a dropper line tipped with a minnow or wax worm, is a good choice. Use a Glo-Buster Lurelight to charge the spoon or jig, every so often. This blue light is visible up to a mile, and is great for finding my deer stands and turkey blinds in the dark. When using minnows in a lite-bite bobber, try an attractor hook or creep worm to keep the minnow in the fish zone.
West Okoboji has a good bluegill bite going at he north end, Millers Bay and Little Emerson. Doodle or Jiggle Bugs, tipped with a Power Grub or Wax Worm are good choices. Often bluegills will be high in the water column, so keep an eye on your flasher.
Minnewasta is also producing some nice bluegills. Silver Lake at Ayrshire has a fair perch and crappie bite. Center Lakes bluegill and crappie are on a good bite. You might also pick up a walleye if you are lucky.
Ice conditions have improved on all area lakes, but I would still use an ATV, snowmobile or go on foot.
Keep a tight line and may your aim be straight.
Jim McDonnell is a professional fishing guide, avid hunter, trapper and outdoor writer in the Iowa Great Lakes area. 712 933-5532.
Buckshot Glow Rattle spoons, with a dropper line tipped with a minnow or wax worm, is a good choice. Use a Glo-Buster Lurelight to charge the spoon or jig, every so often. This blue light is visible up to a mile, and is great for finding my deer stands and turkey blinds in the dark. When using minnows in a lite-bite bobber, try an attractor hook or creep worm to keep the minnow in the fish zone.
West Okoboji has a good bluegill bite going at he north end, Millers Bay and Little Emerson. Doodle or Jiggle Bugs, tipped with a Power Grub or Wax Worm are good choices. Often bluegills will be high in the water column, so keep an eye on your flasher.
Minnewasta is also producing some nice bluegills. Silver Lake at Ayrshire has a fair perch and crappie bite. Center Lakes bluegill and crappie are on a good bite. You might also pick up a walleye if you are lucky.
Ice conditions have improved on all area lakes, but I would still use an ATV, snowmobile or go on foot.
Keep a tight line and may your aim be straight.
Jim McDonnell is a professional fishing guide, avid hunter, trapper and outdoor writer in the Iowa Great Lakes area. 712 933-5532.