Jim McDonnell
04-07-2003, 05:57 PM
Mother Natures recent 10 inches of partly cloudy has slowed down the fishing for at least several days. The dam at Linn Grove and the Peterson Hole had been doing great on walleyes, with some nice northern pike and carp being taken also. Several methods were productive. For numbers of fish, casting a 1/16 oz. jig head with a 3 or 4-inch Power Grub in white or chartreuse was producing many fish from 12 to 19 inches. Larger walleyes seemed to like big chubs fished on a Roach Rig on the bottom. Set your rod up so that line can play out when a walleye picks up the bait.
Cold conditions really didn't bother the walleyes before the blizzard, but it certainly did after the 10 inches of snow. A fishing buddy and I tried it for 3-hours and caught one 15-inch walleye and one carp that tried to eat the Power Grub. We did have the river at the dam to ourselves for most of the morning. Some other hardy fisherman dropped by to try their luck to no avail. Mother Nature can sure slow things down when she wants to.
The Grade and Templars areas on Big Spirit have been producing many crappie and a few bluegills. As of right now, you will have to do alot of sorting to keep a mess of eaters. 1/32 oz Gypsi Jig tipped with a wax worm suspended below a bobber will work well. Silver Lake at Lake Park and Lost Island are producing a few walleyes. Gill netting for walleyes has not begun yet, we need some warm weather to bring everything together.
Keep a tight line and may your aim be straight. Jim McDonnell is a professional fishing guide and outdoor writer in the Iowa Great Lakes area. 712 933-5532.
Cold conditions really didn't bother the walleyes before the blizzard, but it certainly did after the 10 inches of snow. A fishing buddy and I tried it for 3-hours and caught one 15-inch walleye and one carp that tried to eat the Power Grub. We did have the river at the dam to ourselves for most of the morning. Some other hardy fisherman dropped by to try their luck to no avail. Mother Nature can sure slow things down when she wants to.
The Grade and Templars areas on Big Spirit have been producing many crappie and a few bluegills. As of right now, you will have to do alot of sorting to keep a mess of eaters. 1/32 oz Gypsi Jig tipped with a wax worm suspended below a bobber will work well. Silver Lake at Lake Park and Lost Island are producing a few walleyes. Gill netting for walleyes has not begun yet, we need some warm weather to bring everything together.
Keep a tight line and may your aim be straight. Jim McDonnell is a professional fishing guide and outdoor writer in the Iowa Great Lakes area. 712 933-5532.