Early Ice Fishing Locations on the Iowa Great Lakes

By Steve Weisman

Although many outdoor enthusiasts are still in the hunting mode, there is another group ready for the first good solid ice to take advantage of one of the best fishing times of the entire year: early ice! Here on the Iowa Great Lakes that can be as early as Thanksgiving but most usually around the middle of December. Now that doesn't mean that the main lakes are frozen and safe. However, back bays, canals and the smaller bodies of water are fishable for bluegills, crappies and perch.

First fishing ice occurs on the canals of West Okoboji, the Grade on the north end and Templar Park boat ramp on the southwest side of Big Spirit. These areas are no deeper than 4-5 feet deep, so they freeze first. These areas all provide good bluegill, crappie and perch opportunities. Shortly after, Upper Gar, a shallow lake between East Okoboji and Minnewashta, will freeze up and offer some great panfish action. These areas are sometimes relatively clear water, so if you have a portable shelter, you might be able to see the fish movements below. If not, I always make sure I have my Vexilar FL-22 flasher and Vexilar Scout underwater camera along.

The next areas to freeze over include Angler’s Bay on Big Spirit and finally Little Emerson Bay on West Okoboji, followed by Big Emerson Bay, Miller’s Bay and Smith’s Bay-all on West Okoboji. These main lake bays on West Okoboji and quite often Angler’s Bay on Big Spirit are all clear water areas, and that means sight fishing.

However, this also can cause a problem, because these panfish are sight-feeders and as a result, these fish want the presentation just right. For this reason, go with as light of line as possible. I try to go with two-pound test and sometimes lighter.

Think small and think finesse. Although my ice fishing tackle box is full of lures, my go-to is Lindy’s System Tackle developed by Dave Genz. The Techni-Glo Genz Worm and Fat Boy work especially well on perch and on big gills, but I also have a supply of tiny 1/80 to 1/120-ounce jigs for gills. When it comes to sight fishing, experience has shown me the need for that tiny of a jig.

Whatever bait you use, it is important that the lure be tied so that it doesn't spin. Finicky panfish will back away if the lure is spinning.
Lure movement needs to be subtle, but watch the fish as they come in. They will react to the movement of your bait. The good news is early ice usually means aggressive fish, and the finesse movements need later in the year aren’t quite as important.

My first presentation is a subtle jiggle, jiggle, jiggle action. If the fish is aggressive and keeps on coming, I keep on moving the lure exactly the same.

However, if the fish stops and stares, then it's time for plan "B". If I haven't fished these fish before, it becomes a guess. Maybe they want it dead still - no movement at all. So, I'll do that. If they begin to slowly fin back and away, I will try to very subtly jiggle the bait, and if the fish responds, I will slowly bring the lure up a bit, continuing to jiggle the bait.

I do know this however: if a fish comes into the zone and you are working a jig in a certain manner, DO NOT change what you are doing. If you do, these sight-reliant fish will often simply back off.

As for bait, wax worms work well, but I often go with only plastic. Sometimes I will go an entire day and not use live bait. Movement triggers the strike. Finally when this won’t even work, I will go to a tiny trout fly with a bead to help the fly slowly drop.

Remember to work the water column up and down. There are times that bluegills, especially, will come through only a few inches below the ice.

Location is also a big key, and I totally believe in the Genz philosophy of mobility. Keep moving until you find the fish. When you fish these bays, a big key is finding standing weeds with “passage areas” for the panfish to move through. I often target late fall panfishing areas (using gps), where I think there still might be good standing weeds.

I can’t wait until the first solid ice, because I know what that means: fish on the bite!