Okoboji Lakes

I often get asked, "Where is the best place to fish in Iowa?"  In recent years my answer has been very quick, the Okoboji Lakes.  It doesn't matter whether it is ice fishing or fishing from a boat, these lakes are my number one place to visit.  It is a 4-hour drive, so unfortunately I only get up there 3 or 4 times a year,  I do wish it was much closer.  

This past weekend was one of those trips.  The hopes of catching a big Spirit Lake smallmouth, a giant Largemouth from the Okoboji Lakes and some giant crappies and bluegills was the plan.  That plan did not go as planned, and that's fishing.  The wind kept us off Spirit Lake for most of the weekend, so no giant smallmouth bass.  The panfish did cooperate on the West Okoboji, we found several schools of fish relating to deeper docks in the spawning mode.  Making accurate casts was vital, often times "shooting docks" were the only way to get a bite.  If you have never "shot a dock" for panfish, you need to get with me for this awesome fishing technique!  Other times pitching your jigs between dock poles had to be done to catch fish.  It made for a fun yet challenging way to fish.  Bluegills and crappies were had, which some were used for a group meal of tacos on Saturday night.  As for the largemouth bass, which grow HUGE in this chain of lakes, I didn't catch a giant, but a few good ones on this trip were fooled.  Casting a Strike King swim jig with my Lew's Custom Lite combo seemed to be a good way to entice some nice largemouth.  There are always a lot of ways to catch fish, this weekend turned into a lot of moving trying to hook up with that one "big one".  It is always great to out to the Okoboji Lakes, although this trip was plagued by wind and my inability to find bass quickly, the panfish were there to save the weekend.  It was great to get out with friends and catch a bunch of fish, even better enjoying them at the cabin.

Another BIG GILL for dinner