The VEXILAR FLX-28 and FLX-30BB

In the fall of 2020 Vexilar introduced their newest flasher, the FLX-30BB.  After three seasons of using this model on the ice, as well as the FLX28, FLX20 and FLX12, the 30 has become my favorite everyday flasher.  If you are still using the FLX12 and FLX20, and you should they are great flashers too, it may be time to upgrade to utilize more options that the 28 and 30 give you.  Let's take a big dive into the 28 and 30 models from Vexilar.

Technical advances that sets the FLX30BB apart from ALL other flashers: The BB stands for Broad-Band, or different settings for your transducer in kHz power.  The settings range from 160kHz to 300kHz can be changed with the push of a button.  In the 160kHz setting the unit will show you a 15-degree cone angle, and can be adjusted down to an 8-degree cone angle in the 300kHz setting (7 different cones angles in total).  Another new feature is the addition to a third zoom option.  This unit will allow you to zoom to the bottom 18 feet of water, along with the standard 6 foot and 12 foot options available on other models.  This larger zoom area is perfect for deep water lakes.  Vexilar also added a 15-foot range on the manual range settings for this unit.  Another new feature on the FLX-30 is the ability to choose from normal(high) power, medium power or low power.  Using these three options along with the 7 different cone angles it allows you to fish under 21 different settings with one transducer.  Lastly, it comes standard with a 9amh Vexilar Lithium Battery, which will power the flasher for a couple of days.

On the Ice:  The biggest advantage I have seen is how much smaller the lines on the screen showing your bait and fish are.  This allows for precise jigging, and location of fish.  This has also made fishing brush piles much easier with less clutter on the screen.  Another great upgrade on this unit is the medium power, it has really been great for fishing weed beds.  Other Vexilar units offer either high or low power, much of the time low power takes away too much of what we can see down below the ice, while the medium power option is a perfect fit in most weedy situations.  Another nice upgrade to the FLX30 is the ability to change zoom settings by pushing the gain button.  On other units you must turn the dial to change zoom settings, which can be cumbersome with gloves on, a small thing I have noticed but has been a very nice difference.  Multiple cone angles is an important part of ice fishing, the new Broad-Band transducer on the FLX30 is even better.  With a press of a button I can cycle through the seven different cone angles very quickly to see which screen I like.  When searching fish 160kHz is best as it has the largest cone angle of 15-degrees.  However, when fishing near brush, weeds or on top of a large school of fish, the narrower the cone angle the better.  I will be able to pick out my jig and how the fish are reacting to it much easier in a 9-degree cone.  Again, this is done by pressing the gain button and you can cycle through all 7 cone angles in the matter of a few seconds to see which screen looks the best for that particular hole you are fishing.  As you cycle through the different cone angles they narrow down as you push the gain button.  It really is amazing how a small tweak can let you see so much more of what you want to see.

FLX-28:  This model is still the "king" of finding fish under the ice.  The Pro-View transducer, which is standard on the FLX28, has the capability of widening your cone angle to 30+ degrees.  When used correctly this a huge advantage to anglers.  If you do not have Forward Facing Sonar but want to get as much as possible out of drilling holes to find fish, then the FLX28 is the one for you.  Mathematically speaking, the FLX12 or FLX20 (with the standard 12-degree ice ducer) can see a diameter of about 4.5 feet in 20 feet of water.  The FLX28 can show you upwards of 12 feet of diameter in 20 foot of water.   That is three times fewer holes while searching for brush, weeds or schools of fish.  Again, by turning the gain up you increase the cone size of the Pro-View ice ducer, making it ideal to minimize the holes you drill and maximize what you see under the ice.  Then when fishing, adjust the gain down to whatever cone angle fits your situation.  It is a WIN-WIN for ice anglers.

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Both of these above mentioned Vexilar products are top-notch.  The FLX30 is $80 more, but the extra features are worth it.  As you can see there are many advantages to the new FLX30BB, it is a fantastic system for those that like to visit many different lakes with unique fishing situations.  There has not been one situation that I have not been able to fine-tune the FLX30 to fit my every need.  It has led to more fish, no doubt.  Let me know if you have further questions about the FLX28 or FLX30, there are many locations to get a closer look near you.

Email: treedbass@yahoo.com

Holiday Ice Fishing Gear

~ This article appears in the The Iowa Sportsman Magazine, December 2023~

Soon, the entire state of Iowa will be covered with snow and ice, at least that is what Ice Fishermen are hoping for.  Ice anglers from across the state are hoping for colder weather every day so they can explore their favorite lake or river during the winter fishing season.  Whether you have been ice fishing for decades or are new to the game, your equipment is as valuable to your success as the ice you are walking on.  Having an appropriate lineup of ice fishing gear will make your day on the ice easier and have you catching more fish.  Let’s break down the must-have equipment of all anglers heading out on the ice. 

Clothing: In the summer we must endure the heat, while ice fishing we must brave frigid temperatures to chase down fish.  Your clothing choices are your first line of defense against the harsh Iowa winters.  While many anglers like to sit in an ice shack while ice fishing, you still need to get onto the ice, prepare your fishing area and get back off the ice safely too.  Having an insulated pair of boots that are waterproof is your first concern.  Drilling holes and walking through snow will show how an ordinary pair of boots will ruin a trip before you even get to fishing.  Insulated coveralls that are also waterproof should be at the top of your list as well.  Many companies make bibs and coats specifically for ice fishing, these typically are waterproof and will keep you nice and warm.  Many anglers use hunting bibs and coats that serve the same purpose as well.  Underneath your shell covering you will always want to layer your clothing.  If you sit in a heated shack or move around all day drilling 100 holes, you will get hot, this isn’t good either.  The sweat you produce will linger and send chills to your body when you cool down.  Layering will help you maintain your body heat as you remove and put the clothing back on during your fishing day.  Another great article of clothing to help maintain your body temperature is a stocking cap.  They keep in the warmth but are easy to take on/off as you get warm and cold throughout the day.  Lastly, a good pair of gloves that slide on and off easily are an ice angler's best friend.  Working with the small tackle, rods, reels, and electronics, you will need to take off and put on the gloves numerous times in a day.

Baits:  Ice anglers have so many choices these days, it is hard to even keep up.  Most baits can be split into two groups to help simplify things.  Ice jigs and spoons are favorites all over the state for all kinds of species.  Tungsten jigs have taken over the jig boxes of ice anglers in the last decade, and for a good reason.  They are smaller in profile due to their higher density than lead, making them perfect for panfish.  They come in many sizes, however if you are just getting started, I would recommend the 3mm or 4mm size for panfish.  Like any fishing lure, these small jigs come in more colors than Crayola has ever invented.  Have a variety of colors on hand, from whites to darker colors as well as some glow-in-the-dark varieties.  Spoons and horizontal baits, like the Tikka Mino and Z-Viber, have become popular for larger species like walleye and the different varieties of bass.  They are great for crappies and perch as well.  Again, have a variety of a few colors, and don’t forget the ones that glow.  Visit your local tackle dealer to check out all the great companies that make these specialized ice fishing baits. 

Rods/Reels/Line: Ice fishing rods and reels are specifically designed for ice anglers.  There are so many to choose from these days, it really comes down to how much you want to invest in your hobby.  There are great rod/reel combos on the market for about $60, and there are specialty rods out there for sale for $120 or more.  The more important thing to know about selecting rods and reels is the taper of the rod, or sensitivity.  Like mentioned above, you will be using very tiny jigs while out on the ice, as well as spoons, which weigh a lot more than the jigs.  At minimum you need a rod for jigs and a rod for spoons, several for each is ideal.  When using the tiny jigs, you will want to use a spring bobber or a rod that is super sensitive at the tip.  That tip needs to “load” when your jig is tied on.  If your rod tip is not bending while the jigs hang freely in the air, then that rod will not be a good jig rod.  You need to be able to detect the smallest bites, and if the rod you are using is not showing you the weight of your jig, it certainly will not show you a soft bite.  A spring bobber is the best way to go if you are starting out in the hobby or have not had the best success.  There are many spring bobber rods on the market, Clam Outdoors, a leader in the ice fishing world has several at different price points.  A spring bobber is a small wire that extends out from the rod tip adding the ultimate sensitivity to your rod.  They can be a bit cumbersome when transporting them, but they are well worth it when using small jigs.  If you want to chase crappies, walleyes, yellow or white bass then a spooning combo is what you will need.  The same physics apply when choosing a rod for a spoon, it needs to “load” the rod when you have it tied on.  My favorite spoon rod is the Jason Mitchell Series, Dead Meat Combo from Clam Outdoors.  This combo is ideal for any spoon and comes with a nice compact reel which stays smooth during the winter months.  The reels on the rods are not quite as important as a fine-tuned rod, but a reel without a good drag system is useless.  When purchasing a combo from different companies like Clam or Scheels it will most likely have a size “10” reel.  These are a good all-around fit for most anglers, however if you are purchasing the rod and reel separately, I would encourage you to try a size “15” reel.  The larger size is nice to hold in cold weather and the spool allows your line to fall off a bit easier than a size “10” reel.  This is a switch I have been going through for the past five years or so and it has really simplified things for me.  Although not a rod/reel combo, a tip up or tip down are very good tools for an ice angler as well.  These are live bait rigs, the tip up is typically a large fish rig, northern pike and walleye are the target fish to catch on these rigs with a live chub or bait fish.  A tip down is a simple rig used to present a live minnow to crappies or perch.  These do count towards your limit of 2 lines per licensed angler, so if you are jigging, you may only have one of these devices out.  Check your DNR regulations, as the Mississippi River has its own set of rules on these rigs.    

Auger: Ice fishing is full of choices these days, there are so many good companies out there that produce nice equipment to help us catch fish on the ice.  Augers are no different, there are several varieties of augers on the market, gas powered, propane powered, and electric powered.  In the state of Iowa, an electric powered auger is probably your best bet, and it is the best choice economically also.  Gas and propane augers are best when the ice is two feet or thicker, when drilling dozens and dozens of holes is not practical with electric augers.  However, most lakes in the states do not reach that thick of ice.  An electric auger, either powered by the manufacturer drill or your own personal work drill is a reliable choice.  Eskimo and Strikemaster both make great eclectic augers, but both will cost around $500.  Most ice anglers are turning to their drills in their garages and attaching an auger bit to them.  Using your own drill and batteries with a purchased auger bit is by far the cheapest way to go.  Again, there are many good choices of auger bits out there, some made of metal, some made mostly of plastic.  I really like the K-Drill for most of the ice fishing season.  It is very light, and the blades have a lifetime of free sharpening, that’s right, buy one auger and you have sharp blades for the rest of your life for free.  If you ice fish a lot you will probably go through at least one set of blades per year, if not two.  My advice, try a few different ones to see which one you prefer, and which one fits your style.

Ice fishing is finally in sight for most of the state, something I have been looking forward to since Labor Day.  I love the fall season of fishing, but there is something magical about walking on frozen water and catching fish.  Next month we will tackle all the electronic side of ice fishing, until then, stay safe and good luck.

A CRAPPIE Fall & Fish Cleaning Tip

 

The weather this fall has been overall very nice.  The weekend weather has offered some beautiful
temperatures to get outside and enjoy some fishing.  Typically this time of year bass take up most of my time, this fall held true to that.  However, I did find myself enjoying some crappie fishing on several bodies of water too.  I was able to take several trips with friends and family, all enjoying some crappies coming into the boat.  The crappies did not seem to be affected by the up and down water temperatures as the bass were, making bass fishing up and down this fall.  The crappies held true and allowed many hours of enjoyment.  I find myself chasing crappies and gills more and more each year on the boat.  My winter is consumed by panfish through the ice, and this fall was a great warm up!  Different types of jigs and colors all worked throughout the fall, some days certain colors worked better than others, but I pretty much narrowed it down to a green or pink leadhead with a variety of plastic trailers.  It seemed the crappies this fall did get educated, as you caught a few out of a brushpile or dock, a change in color or jig action was needed to catch a few more.  I always say it, "let the fish tell you what they want", don't force it and don't become a creature of habit.  By mixing things up as the days went on, we were able to keep catching crappies.  Catching crappies is awesome, however eating them is the real treat!  

Bleeding out crappie makes the cleaning
process much cleaner and the 
fillets will turn out pure white.

CLEANING TIP:  Crappies are one of my favorite fish to eat.  I prefer to fry them in a dry batter or bake them to make fish tacos.  One major thing I have been doing doing for many years is
bleeding the crappies out.  No matter if I am on the ice or in the boat, bleeding out crappies is the way to go.  Slicing them right under the "chin" and letting them bleed out allows you to have the whitest fillets you will ever see.  It makes cleaning them so much nicer as well, no bloody cleaning table that makes everything messy.  While ice fishing this process can be done immediately as the fish lays on the ice it will bleed out.  While in a boat you will want to wait until the end of your trip.  When keeping fish, there are two things to consider, keep them alive to clean them or get them on ice.  This preserves the meat for maximum taste and the fillets will stay nice and firm.  

Only a couple more weeks in the boat...the ICE will be here soon!

Slow, Slow and SLOWER

 There are just a few weeks left for boat fishing here in Iowa for the season and anglers across the state have been enjoying this nice weather.  No matter what your favorite species is, this time of year when that water dips below 45 degrees, you must slow down.  On a recent quick 1-hour trip looking for bass, I was reminded of this once again.  The water was beautiful and 48 degrees, the weather was so nice, so why not throw a spinnerbait?  That wasted about half my fishing time along with throwing a swimbait.  I then changed to jig and chunk.  It didn't take long, I worked it as slow and picked up a bite right away, however the hook didn't connect.  I slowed down even more and the bass loved it.  This time of year when you thing you are going slow enough, you probably need to go slower.  Enjoy the last few days in the boat...it is time to start shifting into ICE FISHING MODE!

Fall Bass Fishing...what a mess!

 

This fall started out great in October, the temps slowly cooled down and the bass increased their appetite each week.  Things were going as planned in the world of bass fishing until the late October winter weather arrived.   Those few days of below freezing weather really turned the fish off, it was such a drop in temperatures the bass didn't know what to do.  Now, sitting here on a Monday night with temperatures reaching into the 60's for the entire week, what are the bass supposed to do.  Water temperatures in this area were 41 last weekend, typical for early November, just a day ago the water temp was 44, excuse me Mother Nature, wrong way!  All experienced anglers know that consistency is key in the fall and the spring, we have had very little of that this fall.  In turn, the bass have not reacted with a typical fall bite window that is normally great.  Bass have been caught, but certainly not in the numbers or size of a typical fall.  

This fall reminds me as an angler, no matter what sometimes, the fish and their environment are what we are in, they dictate what happens, and ultimately how they will react to weather patterns, for the better or for the worse.  

I will keep at it, who knows, in a couple days I may be back throwing TOPWATER baits for them! :)

Indee Bass Club Year in Review

2023 Angler of the Year: Colton Cameron
and Coach Todd Reed

The 2023 Indee Bass Club fishing season has come to an end. A few weeks ago, the club had their end of the season banquet. Many awards were passed out at this event and a record number of families and friends of the club were in attendance. The bass club offered students of the Independence community a fishing event every month from April through October. Let's look at these events and which anglers took home end of the season awards.
April brought some very cold weather to Eastern Iowa, causing this event to be pushed back a week. With temperatures in the low forties and wind gusts up to thirty miles per hour, Coach Reed along with President EJ Miller and Vice President Ranger Reed decided it would be best to postpone the first event. This was a wise decision as the weather was horrible that day. The rescheduled tournament was held on the Wapsi River here in Independence. The weather was much better that day and 18 kids participated in the April event. Colton Cameron and Carter Eddy were the champs that day, they caught three bass that weighed 5.36 pounds. Gable Eddy caught the big bass of the event, a smallmouth bass that weighed 3.35 pounds.
The May event was the annual Iowa High School Bass Team Championship held at MacBride Lake. Forty-Nine boats (98 anglers) from seventeen different schools took part in this event, including several boats from the Indee Bass Club. The top placing team from Independence was Jackson Beatty and Gable Eddy. They were 4th place out of those 49 boats. Team Independence (calculated by the top two boats) placed 2nd out of the 17 schools.

April Wapsi Champs

As the students moved into summer, the bass club traveled to Pleasant Creek Lake near Palo, Iowa. Once again Colton Cameron and Carter Eddy came away with the win. They had a five fish limit that weighed 10.85#. Carter also had the big bass of the event, it weighed 3.24 pounds.
July was home once again to the annual "scramble event". This event randomly partners anglers and captains together to fish for the night. It was a gorgeous night on the Wapsi River and a lot of bass were brought to the scales. Colton Cameron and Will Clark found the winning bass, they had a three keeper limit that weighed 6.35 pounds, Colton also had the big bass that weighed 2.36 pounds.
The Iowa Bass Nation State Tournament was held in August on Pool 10 of the Mississippi River. Again, teams from all over the state participated in this event, the Indee Bass Club had 5 boats represented. The highest placing Independence team was Cal Sweeney and Hunter Sherwood, they placed 11th out of 37 High School teams. Later this month a virtual fishing tournament was held. Anglers from all over Independence fish whenever their schedule allowed and sent pictures of their catches on a ruler to Coach Reed. The top three anglers were 1st- Carter Eddy, 2nd- Clinton Junk, 3rd- Ranger Reed.
As school started back up again for the students, excitement around the September tournament grew. The last points tournament of the year was scheduled at Lake Delhi, and that would decide who was Angler of the Year for 2023. Fourteen students fished in this tournament, and every boat weighed bass in, a first for the year. Ranger Reed and Jackson Wolf were the Delhi Champions, they had five keeper bass that weighed 8.55 pounds, included in that was Ranger's Big Bass, a smallmouth bass that weighed 3.00 pounds.

Gable & Jackson at the HS Team Championship

A special event took place in October. The Highway 20 Bass Club Battle, for the second year in a row took place between the Cedar Falls Fishing Team and the Indee Bass Club. The Indee Bass Club won this event in 2022 on Lake Delhi, but in 2023 it was Cedar Falls that picked the venue. The Cedar River in Waverly was the site for this year’s event. Once again, the Indee Bass Club came away with the team win. In this unique format that places one club versus another, all boats go out fishing like a typical tournament, however at the end of the day only the top three boats from each team count in the club totals. The Indee Bass Club was led by Wyatt Mether and Carson Hanoway, they had 11.02 pounds, Ranger Reed and Jackson Wolf had 10.81 pounds including Ranger's big bass that weighed 4.40 pounds, and the third team was Colton Cameron and Carter Eddy with 9.16 pounds. The total was 30.99 pounds compared to 25.66 pounds that Cedar Falls was able to weigh in. It was a great fall day of fishing, and the traveling plaque once again is displayed at the Independence Junior/Senior High!
The Indee Bass Club is run by volunteer coach Todd Reed. Garry Anderson and Keith Donnelly assist at events as well. This club is free for any student in the Independence or St. John's school system. The club was able to give out fishing gear and gift cards throughout the entire year at every event, totaling several thousands of dollars. The club also pays for memberships for students which includes a subscription to the Bassmaster magazine. These great perks available to students would not be possible without the help of our great sponsors: Colony Plumbing/Heating and AC, BankIowa, Buchanan County Wildlife Association, Cy & Charley's, Tim Reed State Farm, Rick Wendling Memorial, Klever Concrete, Shay's Minn Kota, Scheels of Cedar Falls, Hank's Bait and Tackle, Quantum Rods and Reels, Hot Rod Baits, The Rod Glove and X-Zone Lures. This great list of sponsors keeps all these activities free for students and puts fishing gear in their hands for future enjoyment. Another huge shoutout to the many "Captains" that took the kids out fishing, many are parents of students, and some are just volunteers to help the next generation enjoy the great sport of bass fishing. These captains include Todd Reed, Dan Sweeney, Brian Miller, Jackson Toale, Cyrus Butters, Travis Butters, Dave Wilson, Chris Weepie, Steve Bley, Shane Beatty, Garry Anderson, Andy Sommerfelt, Kevin Christensen, Aaron Svoboda, Chuck Lee and Chad O'Brien.

Hwy20 Bass Club Battle CHAMPS

It is hard to believe that fall is here, and winter is just around the corner. As the seventh year of the Indee Bass Club came to an end, the annual awards banquet caps off all the great accomplishments brought forward by the members of the club. The awards banquet took place on October 12th. The largest group ever showed up to celebrate with the club members with cookies and milk enjoyed by all. During each club event, four in total, anglers accumulate points towards the Angler of the Year. A 1st place gets you 10 points, 2nd place 9 points, 3rd place 8points, etc. When all things were calculated, Jackson Beatty was in 5th place, Ranger Reed in 4th Place, Gable Eddy finished in 3rd Place, Carter Eddy in second place and Colton Cameron was crowned the 2023 Angler of the Year. Ranger Reed earned this title in 2022, and Jackson Toale won it in 2021. Anglers that weighed in a limit at a tournament received their 2023 Limit Medals, those included Will Clark, Ben Anderson, Colton Cameron, Carter Eddy, Jackson Beatty, Gable Eddy, Ranger Reed, Carter Cameron, Hunter Weepie, EJ Miller, Owen Latwesen, Jackson Wolf. The Big Bass of the year award went to Gable Eddy, he weighed in a 3.35# smallmouth bass he caught on the Wapsi River.
It was a great year for the anglers and a lot was learned about the sport of bass fishing. Again, the Indee Bass Club thanks all fourteen of the different boat captains for their help and the sponsors for allowing the club to give away fishing gear and gift cards to help build the kids' equipment and enjoyment of fishing. Kids have already voted on places to fish for the 2024 season and planning is already happening to ensure another great season for the Indee Bass Club. You can find out more information about the club on their Facebook, Instagram and website, search them out for pictures and information.

2023 SPONSORS

4 Rivers in 4 Weekends

 

Fall in Northeast Iowa means one thing to me...time to get on the rivers as much as possible.  While thinking back this week, I realized I have fished four different river systems in the past four weekends...something I have never done before.  It started off on the Mississippi River near Lansing, then the Maquoketa River near Manchester, then my adventures took me to the Cedar River near Waverly and of course, lastly the Wapsipinicon River in Independence.  All four of these are very different, however there were definitely some similarities at each river that will always be consistent.  River bass love Texas Rigged Hot Rod Baits tubes, they love IMA crankbaits and they love current.  These are all things I have come to find out over the years and in the fall it can be no truer.  October is special time on the rivers of Iowa, smallmouth bass really start to show up like no other time of the year.  As the water temperatures dip into the low fifties and high fourties, the smallmouth start feeding up, they know winter is around the corner.  The weather patterns are a bit behind the typical year, this past weekend the Wapsi River still had water temperatures around 54 degrees.  It is close to the prime time of the year, but not quite there yet.  It does make for some fantastic fishing, and applying those baits with a proper Quantum combo just makes things that much sweeter.  

I have started to see the bass slowly get out of the current, several weeks ago on the Cedar River, anywhere that you could visually see current, you would catch bass.  More recently on the Wapsi River, the bass are not currently in those current areas.  I do believe as the cooler weather moves in, the bass will rush to the current areas once again for some easy food, and then start to migrate to their winter haunts.  

It is an exciting time of year to chase bass, and any day could be your best day of the year.  Get out when you can, the days are numbered.

Topwater Time Running Out

 

Fall is definitely here in Eastern Iowa, the first "frost warning" has been issued for tomorrow morning.  I absolutely love this time of year, topwater bass, smallmouth start to group up, and of course ice fishing is within sight.  The only sad thing about this time of year is that the topwater rods and boxes will be put off to the side shortly.  There is still time...that is for sure, but the days are numbers.  This time of year my favorite topwater has to be the IMA Lures Little Stik.  This walking/spitting bait is fantastic as the water cools.  You can work it erratically or slow it way down, enticing the most lethargic bass this time of year.  It has a smaller "brother" too, the Baby Stik which measures 4.1 inches, which works great for smallmouth and more finicky bass as the water cools.  Rig this bait on a 7'2" Quantum SmokeX Rod/Reel combo and you have yourself one BIG BASS catching machine.  

Get out there...topwater time will soon be gone!

Indee Bass Club: Lake Delhi Season Finale

Ranger and Jackson with the winning bass

The Indee Bass Club traveled east to end their season on Lake Delhi.  Back in the winter of 2023, students voted for areas to fish, and Lake Delhi was once again the top vote getter.  Delhi is known for a large population of bass, both smallmouth and largemouth.  The lake has large numbers of bass in it, however, catching the bigger 12-inch keepers is sometimes a chore.  No matter what, fishing Lake Delhi after the Labor Day weekend is always a fun thing to do, the water is cooling and that typically means the fish are hungry.

Fourteen members of the bass club made the trip to try and find a limit (5) of bass, 12-inches or larger to weigh-in. It was a beautiful day, a southern breeze, partly cloudy and temperatures in the sixties and seventies. As the tournament got underway at 8am, boats spread out over the entire lake to try and reach the goal of five keeper bass. On this day, every team of students was able to bring a keeper to the scales at the 2pm live weigh-in, which was a first for 2023 season.

 
The results of this tournament varied quite a bit from first place to 7th place, proving once again that putting the right baits in the right locations will yield more bass than others. The winning team of Ranger Reed and Jackson Wolf came to the scales with five keeper bass that weighed 8.55#. When asked about the day, they stated, "We caught our first good one on a deep diving crankbait in about ten feet of water. After that, all of our keepers came on Hot Rod Baits tube in the Dirty Craw color and Stickbaits. We caught fish all tournament long, it was a great day." Ranger Reed also caught the big bass of the event, a 3.00 pound smallmouth bass, this pair was captained by Todd Reed. In second place was Jackson Beatty and Gable Eddy. Jackson said, "We caught them on Hot Rod Baits tubes in the black and blue color. We fished around rocks and docks around six-foot in depth." They were able to bring in a limit of bass that weighed 6.35#, Shane Beatty was their captain. In third place was Colton Cameron and Carter Eddy, with captain Dan Sweeney. They reported catching all their bass on Texas-Rigged Hot Rod Baits Tubes or Wacky rigs. They ended up with 4 keepers on the day that weighed 3.50 pounds. Chris Weepie was once again a captain for his son Hunter Weepie and Clinton Junk. They weighed two bass that weighed 3.19 pounds, good enough for fourth place. In fifth place was Ben Anderson and Curran Meyer, Garry Anderson was the captain for this Junior High duo. They had one keeper that weighed 1.52 pounds. Sixth place belonged to Christian Simmons and Aiden Svoboda, along with captain Dave Wilson. They had one largemouth that weighed 1.43 pounds. In seventh place was Carson Hanaway, Wyatt Mether and their captain Steve Bly. They had one keeper that weighed 0.91 pounds. The top three teams along with the big bass were awarded prizes from Scheels and Hank's Bait and Tackle. Other sponsors of the club include Colony Heating/AC Plumbing, Klever Concrete, Tim Reed State Farm, Cy & Charley's, Shay's Minn Kota, BankIowa, Rick Wendling Memorial, Buchanan County Wildlife Association, Quantum Rods/Reels, X-Zone Lures, The Rod Glove, and Hot Rod Baits Bass Series. The bass club was able to send everyone home with fishing gear after the tournament, as well as a great meal at the ramp, thanks for cooking Jennifer and Taylor Simmons. The club would not exist, and the kids would not get the opportunities without our great list of sponsors.

 
The Indee Bass Club is free and open to any student at the Independence and St. John's schools. You can find out more details on the opportunities the club has for students on their Facebook, Instagram and website.

BIG BASS: 3.00# Smallmouth

Ending Summer with a Bang

I was able to fish the Mississippi River for three days this past weekend.  This was in preparation for the Hot Rod Baits Bass Series final tournament of the season.  As you probably know, I am a school teacher, so this was a great way to end my summer break.  Having three days to fish one of the best bass fisheries in the Midwest is always a treat, and it certainly didn't disappoint this time around.

Dan Sweeney and I teamed up for this event at Pool 9 out of Lansing, Iowa.  We were able to fish Friday and Saturday to try and find the best quality of bass we could.  The river was a bit lower than normal, but the water quality was fantastic everywhere we fished.  We were greeted by clean water and a mild to low flow from the Mighty Mississippi.  Typical summer patterns on the river were holding true, bass were hanging on the wing dams, points and weeds where current was present.  Our practice fishing time led us to four areas that we planned to hit during the tournament hours on Sunday, we were feeling pretty good about this, as all four were within 5 miles of each other. 

Popular baits for us were bladed jigs, Texas-Rigged Hot Rod Baits Tubes with a Reins tungsten weight, swim jigs and an IMA Lures Little Stik, a topwater walking bait.  Having the proper Quantum rod/reel combo is very important for each of these baits.  With their wide selection of rods and reels it is so easy to get the perfect combo for any bait. These different baits were key in the many areas we fished, but come tournament day, it came down to one bait.  We caught all our keeper bass on the IMA Little Stik.  It was an amazing day of topwater action.  We ended up staying in our first area all day, never having to move around.  Shallow water next to a deeper channel was the key area for both largemouth and smallmouth bass.  The smallmouth were using the shallow water to feed and the largemouth were traveling the deeper channel.  

At the end of the day, we had three smallmouth bass and two largemouth bass to complete our limit.  Our best five bass weighed 15.26 pounds, good enough for 2nd place in this event.  We were very pleased with our weight and finishing second against this group of anglers is an accomplishment. Catching so many bass on topwater baits throughout the entire day may never happen again, however I will always remember what we learned this past weekend about the behaviors of bass on the Mississippi River, and as always, I can't wait to get the boat back there to look for more beautiful river bass.

The IMA Little Stik is a walking bait
that is 5.5 inches long and weighs an ounce

Indee Bass Club July Tournament on the Wapsi

The Indee Bass Club held their third event of the year for students in the Independence Community.  It was a beautiful night on the Wapsipinicon River in Independence on July 12^th for the event.  The temperatures were in the low eighties and the 14 anglers were ready to hit the water.  At this annual event, students are partnered up with other club members randomly as well as a random captain (adult in the boat) to enjoy a night of fishing.  This format allows anglers to make new friends within the club, as well as learn new tips and tricks from adults in the community.  This is the only event all year that Captains are allowed to fish and count their bass towards the team weigh-in, giving students a first-hand look at how others fish, more experienced anglers fish.  Students and captains had four hours to try and bring in three keeper bass from the Wapsi.  With the water slightly rising with the recent storms, the bass were biting!

All boats reported catch fish, which is the best news after any youth tournament.  Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleyes, and northern pike were all reported being caught on the Wapsi on that evening by the 14 student anglers.  Popular baits to fool the bass on this night included; crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits, Texas-Rigged plastics, wacky rigs and ned rigs. Coming in at fifth place was the team of Cal Sweeney and TeJay Ratchford, them and their captain Dan Sweeney were able to bring in one keeper bass that weighed 1.30 pounds.  In Fourth place as the team of Jackson Beatty and Ben Anderson, these kids and their captain Jackson Toale brought in a limit of three smallmouth bass that weighed 3.62 pounds.  In third place was the pair of Carter Eddy and Hunter Weepie, along with their captain Shane Beatty.  They brought in three keepers that weighed 4.03 pounds.  In the Runner-Up spot was the captain Dave Wilson and the pair of Ranger Reed and Gable Eddy.  They brought in two big keepers weighing 4.88 pounds.  The Wapsi Scramble Champions weighed in 6.35 pounds.  The championship duo of Carter Cameron and Will Clark, along with their captain Todd Reed brought in three smallmouth bass for the victory.  Colton Cameron also brought in the big bass of the event, that smallmouth weighed 2.36 pounds.   

The top three teams walked away with trophies and Scheels gift cards for their accomplishments.  Colton won a gift pack from Hank’s Bait and Tackle in Waterloo for bringing in the big bass.  All anglers came away winners as they enjoyed a beautiful night on the Wapsi learning more about the great sport of bass fishing.  The club enjoyed some pizza after the weigh-in, and each angler also received fishing gear randomly given away because of our generous sponsors.  The 2023 Indee Bass Club  sponsors include; Colony Heating/Plumbing and AC, Buchanan County Wildlife Association, BankIowa, Cy & Charley’s, Tim Reed State Farm Agency, Klever Concrete, Rick Wendling Memorial, Shay’s Minn Kota, SCHEELS, Hank’s Bait and Tackle, Quantum Rods/Reels, The Rod Glove, X-Zone Lures, and Hot Rod Baits.  The Indee Bass Club is a free club for all students in grades 7-12 in the Independence Schools, including St. John’s.  The club is run by volunteer coach Todd Reed, along with many helpers to make things run smoothly, Keith Donnelly, Garry Anderson, Randy Toale and Dan Sweeney are all key parts to this organization.  You can find more information by searching out the Indee Bass Club on Google, Facebook and Instagram.

 

 

What's in My Tacklebox

This BIG smallmouth couldn't resist
a Hot Rod Baits Tube in the
Dirty Craw color.

Summertime fishing is in full swing, and you change up your baits you will be catching a lot of bass during these hot months.  

The Iowa Sportsman Article: Summer 2023



What’s in My Tackle Box? Bass Fishing Edition

Bass fishing in the state of Iowa can take you to many diverse locations without traveling very far. This may complicate things when thinking about all the different types of lures you must have to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass. I have been chasing these creatures around the state for three decades and have learned a lot of lessons along the way. When loading up a tacklebox for a trip, it is vital to have a little bit of everything. Here is what you need for a successful day of bass fishing:

Fast Baits: Spinnerbaits and Bladed jigs are a must for all bass anglers. These cover water quickly and can be used around wood and sparse weeds that will be starting to grow this time of year. Crankbaits are a great tool as well. Have a variety of depths when you pack things up. Shallow running crankbaits all the way to 15 feet will cover most applications in any river or lake. Colors of these baits should include white, crawfish and chartreuse colors. Last, but not least is a swim jig. This can be fished around all types of cover and can be worked through and on top of grass mats.

Slow baits: Jigs are a go to bait this time of year, my personal favorite is a Wig’s Jig in the black and blue flash color. Texas-rigged plastic baits are a must for any bass angler. There are literally hundreds of plastic style baits imitating all sorts of different creatures. Keep it simple and have some crawfish imitators and some 4-inch Hot Rod Baits tubes. These two styles of baits will catch you plenty of bass. Colors to have are the typical crawfish colors, black/blue combos and bluegill patterns.

Trailers: Each tackle box needs to have a few plastic trailers for the baits mentioned above. Jig chunks, twister tails, paddle tails and minnow style plastics will dress up the jigs, spinnerbaits, swimjigs and bladed jigs. White and natural colors to match your color preferences will be needed.

Topwater Baits: I must admit that this one is the hardest for me to narrow down, I love topwater baits, and there are so many good ones out there to use. Each and every time I hit the water this time of year it is a must to have a good array of topwater baits. No matter if you are on a lake or river system, these can provide you with the most fun of any day on the water. The easiest topwater bait to use for bass is a buzzbait. Black, white and chartreuse are all good colors to use. In clear water situations a bluegill pattern can be great as well. Poppers are the next topwater bait that everyone should have in their tacklebox. These come in every color under the rainbow, the action of the popper is more important than the paint job most days. I stick to the white colors and bluegill patterns for these. Walking baits like the IMA Big Stick are by far the most challenging lure to use for the angler. Once you master the “walking” action with your rod sweeps, you will fall in love with this lure. Lastly, the hollow bodied frog. If you are fishing around a lot of weeds and or docks, this bait is by far the most exciting bait to put on your line. This floating lure will float on top of weeds and can be skipped under docks to entice those fish hiding along the poles. My favorite is the Optimum Baits Furbit frog, there are a lot of color choices, and they are built with a 6/O hook, helping to keep those fish on the line as you reel them in through the weeds.

The above-mentioned baits may seem like a lot to some anglers and not very many to other anglers. This is a quick rundown of the baits that are overall successful this time of year, and will work for a pond, river or any lake in the state of Iowa. There are many, many other types of baits out there to catch bass, but I never go fishing without these mainstays, they will help you catch more bass this time of year. As always, experiment with colors, sizes and retrieval speeds as you fish. Sooner or later, the bass will tell you what they want on a particular day, and when you find out what they like, get the camera ready for some awesome Catch/Photo/Release pictures!

Indee Bass Club travels to Pleasant Creek Lake

 

Pleasant Creek Lake CHAMPS

The Indee Bass Club members voted on areas to fish for 2023 and Pleasant Creek Lake, near Palo made the cut once again.  This event began at 6:30am, which gave anglers about six hours to chase down as many bass as possible.  The two-angler teams are in a boat with their adult captain, the goal is to catch five keeper bass.  

The morning started out very nice, the sky was overcast, a mild breeze and the bass were biting.  Anglers searched the entire lake looking for their limit of bass, a goal that many anglers were able to accomplish.  

Colton Cameron and Carter Eddy were once again the winners of the event.  They were able to bring five keeper bass to the scale that weighed 10.85 pounds.  Carter also caught the Big Bass of the event, a largemouth that weighed 3.24 pounds.  Coming in second place was EJ Miller and Owen Latwesen.  They caught five largemouth that weighed 9.64 pounds.  In third place was Jackson Beatty and Gable Eddy, they had five keepers that weighed 8.27 pounds.  In fourth place was Ranger Reed and Carter Cameron, they had five keepers weighing 7.32 pounds.  The anglers able to catch their limit reported catching fish on a variety of baits; chatterbaits, crankbaits, topwater baits, stick baits, spinnerbaits, swimjigs and Texas rigged plastics.  In fifth place was Cal Sweeney and Hunter Sherwood, they had three keeper bass that weighed 4.63 pounds.  In sixth place was Hunter Weepie, he had three bass that weighed 3.75 pounds.  In seventh place was Wyatt Mether and Carson Hanaway, they had three bass that weighed 3.31 pounds.  A total of 17 students participated in this event, all of which received awards and fishing gear.  

The Indee Bass Club is a free club run by volunteers.  This is possible by the great support of sponsors, they include; BankIowa, Klever Concrete, Colony Heating/Plumbing/AC, Tim Reed State Farm Agency, Buchanan County Wildlife Association,  Rick Wendling Memorial, Cy & Charley's, Shay's Minn Kota, Scheels of Cedar Falls, Hank's Bait and Tackle of Waterloo, The Rod Glove, X-Zone Lures, Hot Rod Baits, and Quantum Rods and Reels.  All Independence students, including St. John students are able to participate in the club events.  For more information on the Indee Bass Club, check them out on Google, Facebook and Instagram.  

Summertime Panfish

When the weather is hot, the panfishing can be hot too, if you know where to locate fish in your nearby lake.  Hot summer days with a mild breeze are great days to get outside and enjoy some panfishing.  This can easily be done with a boat or small craft like a kayak or canoe.  These hot days of summer place panfish in certain locations throughout lakes that you can pattern from one area to another, keeping you busy on these hot Iowa summer days.

Panfishing in the summer can be done with a variety of techniques and baits. It is a time of year when you do have to experiment to know exactly what the fish want and where they are located. Here are a few “can’t miss” strategies as you begin to look for summer panfish.


Locations: Panfish live in all lakes here in Iowa, of course some lakes may thrive with bluegills while others may have a great population of crappies. These two panfish, typically the most sought after here in Iowa, live together throughout the year. Oftentimes when you find one species the other isn’t too far away. For the most part, these creatures are eating the same food as one another and cruising the lakes for their next meal. The food source this time of year can be a variety of creatures. Panfish will feed on microorganisms, first year fry, baitfish, bugs and crawdads. Basically, if it moves in the water and they can fit it in their mouth, they will eat it. With that in mind, as anglers we need to think where do these creatures spend their day, when you find the food, you will find the panfish. In most lakes there are three specific things to look for to find your next meal of panfish. The first being brushpiles, these are magnets for the bait that panfish eat. Brushpiles give the small creatures a place to hide, and in turn make an excellent place for panfish to come and grab their next meal. There are times where you can anchor down around a brushpile and cast to it for hours picking up fish after fish. Another great location are weed lines. Summer in Iowa always creates a lot of weed cover, ponds, small lakes, and big lakes typically will have submerged weeds and weeds on top of the water too. I always try to find some of the deeper weeds in the lake. They may be close to an old creek channel or at the mouth of a cove. I have seen in many cases that the bigger panifish will be closest to the deepest water. Lastly, and the most difficult area to find panfish is the open basin of the lake. Fish will roam during these hot months swimming over the deepest parts of the lakes looking for a meal. In most cases there is no rhyme or reason for their location, they are simply swimming, however staying close to channel swings and or flooded timber should increase your chances. Do not fish too deep in the basins, if a thermocline is present the panfish will not be active below it. These three distinct locations have always been a great place to start looking for summertime panfish, some are better than others on specific lakes, give them a try on your favorite panfish waters this summer.


Techniques: Catching panfish does not take a lot of fancy gear. Keeping things simple is a great way to chase after these fish. One cannot write about summer panfish without mention of a slip bobber. This technique has caught more panfish over the years than anything else combined. A bobber, when used to its fullest potential, can be deadly on panfish. Over the years I have found a bobber to not only zone in on a specific depth of water, but to use it as a trolling device. Once you cast it out, you can reel it in at any speed to control that deepest depth the bait will run. Some days a slow steady retrieve will have the panfish going crazy. Anchoring down and “trolling” your bobber slowly all around the structure or basin that you are is very effective this time of year. Casting and retrieving your favorite jig or small spinner is great too. Trolling the deep basin is a tried and true way to catch fish in the summer. If possible use the trolling motor instead of the gas motor to sneak up on the fish. On windy days, use the wind to your advantage by setting up a controlled drift. Use the wind to move you, and your trolling motor sparingly to adjust speed and direction. As with any fishing day, change up your colors and sizes of plastics, as it can make a big difference. Live minnows are hard to beat when searching out crappies, make sure you have some way to keep them alive during these hot months, they won’t last long without a plan. Small worms are a bluegill’s favorite meal, always have some ready to tempt them.


Fish Care: When catching fish in the summer months it is important to keep the care of the fish in mind. If you are going to catch and release for the day, have your camera ready for a few pictures. When the water temperature warms above seventy degrees, fish cannot be out of the water very long and survive another day. If you are going to keep some fish for eating it is important to care for them as well. It is best to keep the fish alive up to the point of cleaning it this time of year. If you cannot do that, then it is vital you get the fish in a cooler with ice. Chilling the fish while they are alive will preserve the meat and make those filets taste better than ever.


Panfish are a fun fish to chase, even when the weather may tell you to stay at home in the air conditioning. They are great to go after when kids or older adults are involved in the fishing trip. By concentrating on certain structures and cover in the lake you should be able to quickly find some hungry fish. The many techniques to try to catch these fish will have anglers interested and hopefully bringing in their fair share of fish for the day.

Iowa High School Bass Team Championship

 The 2023 Iowa High School Bass Team Championship keeps growing.  This year there was a record setting 49 boats entered in the event.  With only a $20 entry fee per boat, and working with sponsors I was able to give away OVER $3,000 worth of prizes.

SCHEELS of Cedar Falls~~The Rod Glove~~X-Zone Lures~~Quantum Rods/Reels

Check out the story filmed by John Campbell of KCRG-TV-9 below:

Indee Bass Club Kicks off the 2023 Year

 The Indee Bass Club held its first tournament of the year on the Wapsi River on May 3rd.  This event took place on a Wednesday evening and the weather couldn't have been any better.  Sunny skies and nice springtime temperatures made the night a beautiful one for fishing.  Eighteen anglers set out to catch as many legal bass as they could and bring back their five largest to the scales.  Although the weather on this day was picture perfect, the weather in the weeks prior to the tournament was not the typical spring weather the bass are used to.  Extremely warm temperatures and then a big cold front had the bass in unusual places and not willing to feed up as they typically do this time of year.  That did not stop the members of the Indee Bass Club though, as spirits were high when they were released to begin the event.

As sun was setting and the boats were coming back to the dock to weigh in their catch for the night the chatter around the parking lot wasn't as jovial as when they started.  Reports of bass being caught were on the low side.  Walleye and Northern Pike kept a few anglers busy, but the goal was to bring in five keeper bass.  The Wapsi River has a length limit on bass species, they must be 12-inches to keep.  That was also the regulation for the event.  No team was able to bring in a limit of five bass, which is very unusual for the Wapsi River.  However, as in any bass tournament, someone always finds some fish to weigh-in.  In first place tonight was the team of Colton Cameron and Carter Eddy.  They had three bass that weighed 5.36#, they were captained by former club member Cyrus Butters.  In second place was Gable Eddy and Zach Sidles, they had two bass that weighed 4.25#, their captain was former bass club member Jackson Toale.  In third place was EJ Miller and Owen Latwesen, they had four keeper bass that weighed 4.08#, captained by Brian Miller.  In fourth place was Ranger Reed and Carter Cameron, they had one keeper bass weighing in at 2.17#, captained by Todd Reed.  In fifth place was Christian Simmons and Carson Hanaway, they had one bass that weighed 1.09#, captained by Dave Wilson.  Big Bass honors went to Gable Eddy, he brought in a big smallmouth bass that weighed 3.35#.  Others involved in the event were not able to bring a keeper bass to the weigh-in.  

All anglers were treated with Subway sandwiches, chips and drinks at the weigh-in, provided by Tim Reed State Farm Agency.  Needless to say, they were hungry and very appreciative of our sponsor helping out!  The Indee Bass Club is a free club to any student in grades 7-12 at the Independence schools, including St. John's.  This is made possible by the awesome companies that support the club.  They include Colony Heating/Plumbing/AC, BankIowa, Klever Concrete, Tim Reed State Farm Agency, Cy and Charley's, Rick Wendling Memorial, Shay's Minn Kota, Hank's Bait and Tackle, SCHEELS, Buchanan County Wildlife Association, Quantum Rods/Reels, The Rod Glove, X-Zone Lures, and the Hot Rod Baits Bass Series.  You can find the Indee Bass Club on Facebook, Instagram, and their website.  The next club event is June 24th at Pleasant Creek Lake.  

 

Early Spring Bass Fishing

 April is always a great month to get on the water and explore the new fishing season.  The first few times out I keep it pretty simple, when targeting largemouth bass I stay shallow and have a Wig's Jig tied on along with an IMA Lures shallow crank bait.  Two rods...that's it.  Once the water temperature hits 55 degrees, then it is time to add a few more to the deck.  If I am looking for smallbass I incorporate four different baits.  A medium diving IMA Lures crankbait, an IMA Lures Flit jerkbait, drop-shot rig, and a Texas-rigged Hot Rod Baits tube.  These baits have done very well for me in the past, and in the first few weeks of the open water season, this is all I need.  Sure, other baits will catch fish, there is no arguing there, however for over 90% of the bass I catch early in the season, these baits trick them.  Either way, I have them tied to a Quantum Rod and Reel.  The durability and 5-year warranty on these products cannot be beat, click the link to find your next combo.

Spring bass fishing can be feast for famine this time of year, and I don't' think there is a rhyme or reason behind it most of the time.  I have had great days fishing in cloudy weather with 20mph winds and I have done well on sunny 60-degrees days too.  The more times spring rolls around I really think it has more to do with stability in the weather.  IF we get several days in a row of similar temperatures overnight and daytime highs, the fish really seem to feed up.  When we have 70s for a day and then 50s for a few days and then back to a 70 degree day, I feel as though the fish get a little confused.  Either way, if I have some free time in April and May, I'm hitting the water!

The First Casts to OPEN Water

I hate to see ice fishing go away each spring, but that feeling disappears pretty quickly after that first catch out of the boat.  That first catch turned out to be a largemouth bass, which is pretty typical for me.  I love getting into shallow backwaters soon after the ice and trying to find where those largies are feeding up after the long winter.  April 1st was the first day floating on the water, as usual there weren't a lot of bass caught, but 4 in the boat in a few hours felt pretty good.  The big one for the day was a bit over 3 pounds, so all in all it was a good first day out.  

The rivers are high right now, and the lakes are still pretty cold, who knows what the next time will bring! 

Good Bye Ice Season

 The 2022/2023 ice fishing season was another great one.  I was able to get out a few times with some kids,  many times with my ice buddies and squeezed in a few over night trips too.  We covered a lot of lakes throughout the season and hit the Mississippi River a few days also.  As I write this, there is still ice available to fish in the Okoboji area, but with the waters thawed and the rivers flowing it is time to shift to the boats.  We didn't try too many new locations this winter, but one that we did try will see us again next winter.  5 Island lake, known for its large population of Yellow Bass was a great trip.  Yellows are a favorite of mine to chase, and this lake seems to be full of them.  We had a group of six of us there for a couple of days and we will certainly be visiting there again next season.  The yellow bass are not the large size like found in Clear Lake, but most of them are of cleaning size and they have that yellow bass attitude, which I love.  Clear Lake continues to put out some great fish during late ice times.  Walleyes, crappies and BIG Yellow Bass make the trip worth it every time.  The smaller lakes that dot Eastern Iowa still perform for short trips, and I keep trying a few new ones each year.  As this closes out the ice season, I have already booked our annual early ice trip to the Okoboji Lake system, perhaps the best fishery in the state.  Time to get the gear all charged up and safely put away until November. 

4 Steps You Will Want to do Soon

I LOVE Catching fish, and enjoying many meals of my catches throughout the year.  This simple recipe has become one of my favorites.  I typically use Yellow Bass, but Bluegills and smaller crappies work well too.

Step 1: Bake fillets for 12 mins at 350 degrees

Step 2: Break up the fillets with forks into shredded pieces

Step 3: Add your favorite TACO Seasoning

Step 4: EAT UP!

The "Magical" Yellow Perch

The Yellow Perch is chased all around the upper states of the US threw the ice.  The characteristics of these fish make them fun to chase down, they look gorgeous and are pretty tasty too.  These unique fish live in quite a few Iowa lakes and are thriving in the Upper Mississippi River Pools along the NE State border.  Finding these fish are the hard part during the winter months.  Long walks to out of the way backwater areas are the first step, but that just begins the quest.  Once you get to a perch location, your walking has only just started.  If you want to have a successful day on the ice for perch, you have to put in the miles.  Perch move.  No matter if you are in Iowa, South Dakota, or Minnesota, if you are expecting a good day of perch fishing, a lot of walking is what you will need to do.  Perch move.  It is highly unlikely that you will land on a school of perch and not have to move around to stay with them.  My experiences have shown that needing to find several school of perch each time out is necessary.  My favorite baits are spoons for these fish.  You can drop down quickly on the fish, and the treble hook no doubt helps hooking up too.  I like a 36-inch rod, my favorites are the Clam Dead Meat series.  These are set up very well for a variety of spoons, and the length is key to hole-hopping quickly.  Never sitting down or kneeling on the ice keeps you moving and will get you more perch.  Perch move.  A good, quality reel is vital for these fish, I use a variety of Quantum reels in the "15 size".  The Smoke model is by far the best, while the Throttle and Drive work well too.  The larger spool helps with line management, and allows the baits to fall faster.  Being able to move quick is key, packing light is part of staying of mobile, a couple of rods rigged up, auger, Vexilar and your food/drink for the day is all you need.  Too many items will slow you down, the perch will not slow down.  Perch move!  

I love these fish, they are fun to chase down, and at times impossible to chase down.  If every fishing trip was perfect, I think the allure of the fish would die.  The chase...I love the chase.  Stay dry my friends, another month of frozen water left...hopefully.

Time for FRESH Line

There is no doubt that the mid-winter blues are here for us.  The easy bites and eager fish are no longer so cooperative on the ice.  The recent rain, then heavy snow pac on most of Iowa's lakes has caused the slowdown to increase the typical mid-winter blues.  I am not sure of the exact science, but sunlight surely does play into it.  The fish, typically are more lethargic this time of year than any other time.  As ice anglers we need to do everything possible to get bite possible this time of year.  Smaller jigs and live bait offerings are a good place to start, but over the past few years I have noticed a big difference after changing line on my finesse rods.  

Fresh line does two major things this time of year.  First, you will immediately notice the or spin of your lure will almost disappeared.  This is crucial this time of year when panfish will look and study your bait.  This can be seen first hand when sight fishing, or when using a camera to study the fish.  When your jig is spinning...which is not a natural thing for microorganisms to do, the fish will simply back away.  Secondly, your line will now be "less curly".  New line, no matter what reel you use will always have some memory, this is worst with a spinning reel.  The coils in the line will give an advantage to the light biting fish.  When there are coils in your line, you loose a lot of sensitivity and direct contact with your jig.  When fish are slow and picky, you want total control over your jig and you want the utmost contact with your jig.   My favorite ice line for panfish is 2lb test line.

If you are experiencing the mid-winter blues, get to your Scheels and grab some new line.  Soon you will be catching more fish through this tough winter slow-down.