By Steve Weisman

(photo by Steve Weisman) A nice two-person bucket of yellow perch and walleye taken from Big Spirit Lake.

What an interesting ice fishing season this has been. Here we are beginning the year 2020, and our ice conditions have not improved much over the past couple of weeks. Water is flowing nearly 7 inches over the Big Spirit Lake spillway and leaving the system at Lower Gar nearly 8 inches over full. Definitely lots of current running through the system with bridges having lots of open water. Certainly, caution is advised around these bridge areas. The recent rain and mild temperatures left a lot of water on the ice. Much of that will soak in and the forecast for January 5-12 shows daytime highs in the mid to upper teens and lows in the single digits. That should solidify the ice we have and maybe start making more ice.

Big Spirit

At this point, ice thickness on Big Spirit seems to run 7-10 inches in depth. However, there are seams and heaves to be wary of. Especially be careful of the heave and seam off of Buffalo Run that runs toward Crandall’s. Not long ago, Okoboji UnderWater Recovery Specialists recovered an ATV that went down just north of Buffalo Run. It seems like the ice is always moving and changing, so don’t just assume that ice conditions will stay the same.

Big Spirit has been the go-to lake to this point with a good crappie/bluegill bite in Anglers Bay and Trickles Slough. The walleye bite has been early morning and late right before dark anywhere from 12-14 feet and out in the basin using traditional lures like spoons and jigging raps tipped with a minnow head and a live minnow on a slip bobber rig. Nice keeper 14-16 inchers along with lots slot and over slot fish.

Perch fishing has been good with nice 9-11 inchers are being taken, along with a mix of 8 inchers and smaller. It seems that early morning and late afternoon have been best. Using tiny tungsten jigs and jigging spoons tipped with wigglers and a slip bobber with a minnow have been better baits. One of the hot new baits is the Element 74 Tungsten jig.

The north end off of the Mini Wakan boat ramp out in the muck has been the most fished area. Not long ago, over 70 vehicles were counted from the boat ramp all the way out to the main road. The more this area is fished, the tougher the bite will get. Anglers have reported that there seems to be schools of perch moving around all the time, but it’s often difficult to get them to bite. Sometimes, huge schools of shiners move through. Sometimes a better bite will occur if you take off and explore new areas. However, it takes time, patience and lots of hole drilling.

East Okoboji

Stay away from the bridge areas. Most of the action has been from out in front of Parks Marina and out in front of The Ritz and then from Kum and Go boat ramp north toward Mau Marine. Ice is 6-11 inches. Lots of yellow bass and some walleyes reported off of Parks Marina. Best time for walleye is early morning and late evening. The bluegill bite has been best out in front of the Ritz and off the Kum and Go boat ramp.

(photo by Steve Weisman) Water continues to flow over the spillway on the south end of Big Spirit Lake.

West Okoboji

About a week ago, a truck went through the ice on the south end of the lake in Browns Bay near the Terrace Park area. Access is good at Emerson Bay boat ramp, Little Emerson off the camp (pass from the office is required to access from the camp) and Little Millers, but the Triboji access is terrible and not recommended. Ice depth is in the 6-10 inch range in the bays. However, the main lake has 4 inches or less. The bite for both bluegills and crappies has been hit and miss. Lots of largemouth bass in the bays are more than willing to bite small panfish jigs.

Trumbull Lake

Excellent population of yellow perch. Size quality is outstanding with perch up to 13-14 inches. However, sorting is required and don’t expect to catch large numbers. Fish the main lake using tiny jigs with wigglers or slip bobber and a minnow combination.

So, there you have it. As for the month of January, the Weather Channel shows northwest Iowa being in the normal to above normal temperatures. If that holds true, we won’t be gaining much ice depth. Not sure if there’s anything normal about the weather anymore.