By Steve Weisman
Finally some cold weather! The extended 15-day forecast shows daytime temperatures between the teens and mid-20s, while the lows range from single digits to mid-teens.
That is good news. However, there is still some concern for the lakes where ice formed before the last snowfall. That blanket of snow will slow down the ice-making process and cause inconsistent ice thickness. It might be two inches in one spot; a few yards away it could be six inches…that makes caution really important. Plus, you really can’t tell where there might be a bad spot or a seam.
The best news is that all of the snow came before most of West Okoboji froze over. Little Emerson, most of Big Emerson and Smith’s Bay to the Emporium were iced over, so there is a lot of snow on those spots. So, those areas will require caution and watching. However, with a 15-day forecast that shows only slight chances of snow and below freezing temperatures, we could get some really good ice on the main part of West Okoboji.
With the water running over the Big Spirit spillway, anglers should be especially careful of the current where it dumps into East Okoboji on the north end and at each of the bridges that run through the Okoboji chain till the water flows out of Lower Gar.
This hasn’t been as big of an issue the past few years as it will be this winter. I’ve heard there is a really strong current on Minnewashta, which will make ice thickness inconsistent but also cause trouble with keeping the tiny jigs down where you want them.
I do believe that we will have some terrific fishing on all of our lakes this winter as the ice becomes safer.
Winter trout stocking
The Iowa DNR will release trout in seven locations this winter. One of those locations will be Scharnberg Pond near Everly on Saturday January 9 at approximately noon. Everything hinges on favorable weather conditions and ice safety. I certainly hope by that time that we’ll have good, safe ice.
This stocking effort has become really popular and gives anglers that would ordinarily never get the chance to fish for rainbow trout the opportunity to have this experience.
The stocking is supported by the sales of the trout fee that all licensed anglers must possess. Each stocking event is treated as a family friendly event.
Children age 15 or younger can fish for trout with a properly licensed adult, but they must limit their catch to one individual’s daily limit. Youngsters can purchase a trout fee, which will allow them to catch their own limit.
It’s really a pretty cool event, first watching the trout leave the tanks and then drilling some holes for some trout action. The trout will usually mill around the release area, so that is where a lot of the fishing will take place.
Hunting seasons ending
Most of the hunting seasons are now closed. Our pheasant, late muzzleloader and archery deer and archery fall turkey seasons all close on Sunday, January 10. Furbearer seasons, squirrel, quail, partridge and grouse remain open until Sunday, January 31.
Cottontail rabbit season is open until Sunday, February 28, while crow season opens on Thursday, January 14 and runs to Thursday, March 31. Beaver trapping season closes on April 15.
Canada goose season closed here on Friday, January 1, the south zone closes on Friday, January 8 and the Missouri River zone closes on Friday, January 15.
