Photo by Mike Gnatkowski.

For over a century anglers have been targeting Iowa’s Great Lakes for the great fishing these lakes offer. Most of the ice-fishing takes place on Spirit and West Okoboji lakes, but fish can still occasionally be taken on the rest of the lakes.

The Iowa Great Lakes are a series of interconnected waters of widely varying sizes and with differing habitat. East Okoboji, Upper and Lower Gar and Minnewashta lakes can produce when conditions are right, but the majority of anglers are sticking to Spirit and West Okoboji, the two largest lakes in the system.

Ice-fishing the Iowa Great Lakes can put fish in your bucket and a smile on your face. Here are a few things you’ll need to know to make it one of the best hardwater trips you’ll take this year.

SPIRIT LAKE
With over 16 miles of shoreline, its average depth 17 feet and its maximum about 23, this largest of the state’s largest natural lakes -- it covers 5,684 acres -- is at the top of the chain.

"Without a question, Spirit Lake should be a lot of fun to ice fish this year," said Jim Christianson, a fisheries biologist with the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery. Both on and off duty, Christianson knows the Great Lakes backwards and forwards, being an avid ice-angler in his own right.

"The 2001 year-class of walleyes are in the 14- to 16-inch range," he reported, "with some up to 17 inches. We’ve had some record harvests recently, and if we get 10,000 walleyes out of Spirit Lake annually we’re doing pretty well. By June and July of last year we’d already harvested 12,000."

Christianson recommends targeting the rockpiles on the bottom of the lake; walleyes will move in on these to chase minnows with a Rapala Jig-N-Rap. The bait is lifted and then circles back around until it comes to rest horizontally. This trick works well in water from 10 to 22 feet deep. According to the biologist, the fish will be close to some breaklines, transition areas or the rockpiles, and fishing is best in the early morning and late evening. He added that the lake also has a respectable northern pike population.

"We’ve seen it increase over the years," he said, "and at the same time have seen the harvest rate decrease. People just don’t seem to be out there fishing for them like they used to be. There’s been some 10- to 12-pounders caught this year, but most will be in the 4- to 6-pound range."

Spirit Lake is also guide Ryan Hale’s top pick among the Great Lakes for all-around ice-fishing opportunities. "The last couple of years I’ve been finding the crappies on Spirit Lake," he said, speaking to what’s no small accomplishment. "In late February I’ve had success in Angler’s Bay and the Grade Area in about 5 feet of water or less. They’re roaming and looking for food. Look for cattail fields and reeds protruding up through the ice, drill some holes on the outside of the weeds -- and get ready!"