Jim McDonnell
08-27-2003, 08:41 AM
West Okoboji is excellent on bluegills, with a few perch and crappie showing up. Fish the deep weed edges on an inside turn, with an attractor hook, power crawler, or wax worms and a split shot. I prefer to not use a bobber on these deep gills. I catch larger ones, more often, with this method.
Smallmouth action is good in 12 to 16-foot of water on the rock piles. Try a 1/16oz plain jig with a crawfish or piece of crawler. Surface baits work when the fish are active. Power tubes resemble a crawfish so it is a good artificial choice.
Walleye fishing is slow on keeper size fish. There are many smaller fish on the weedlines. Rainbow spinners or a Roach Rig with crawlers are top bait choices. Some fish are being caught deep with crankbaits.
Big Spirit perch action has slowed with the hot weather conditions. You will need to do alot of sorting again for 9 to 10-inch fish.
East Okoboji and Minnewasta are fair for white bass. A few walleyes are being caught in the deeper water on crankbaits.
The Little Sioux and Des Moines rivers are excellent for catfish. Dip baits, sour clam, and night crawlers are some bait choices. Use as light a sinker as you can get away with.
Muskie action remains slow. Your best chance is to fish the early morning or late evening shift. But you can't catch them if you don't go.
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. He writes from his home in Royal. 712 933-5532.
Smallmouth action is good in 12 to 16-foot of water on the rock piles. Try a 1/16oz plain jig with a crawfish or piece of crawler. Surface baits work when the fish are active. Power tubes resemble a crawfish so it is a good artificial choice.
Walleye fishing is slow on keeper size fish. There are many smaller fish on the weedlines. Rainbow spinners or a Roach Rig with crawlers are top bait choices. Some fish are being caught deep with crankbaits.
Big Spirit perch action has slowed with the hot weather conditions. You will need to do alot of sorting again for 9 to 10-inch fish.
East Okoboji and Minnewasta are fair for white bass. A few walleyes are being caught in the deeper water on crankbaits.
The Little Sioux and Des Moines rivers are excellent for catfish. Dip baits, sour clam, and night crawlers are some bait choices. Use as light a sinker as you can get away with.
Muskie action remains slow. Your best chance is to fish the early morning or late evening shift. But you can't catch them if you don't go.
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. He writes from his home in Royal. 712 933-5532.