Looking for First Open Water

Looking for First Open Water

By Steve Weisman

I live in the Iowa Great Lakes, home of some of the best ice fishing in Iowa. Don’t get me wrong, I love ice fishing. However, after nearly five months of cold, snow, wind and ice, I can’t wait for ICE OUT! Ice out! Now, that’s not such a big deal for anglers living along the Mississippi River and in southern Iowa, but up here in Northwest Iowa, it is a big deal.

There are really three choices, when it comes to early spring walleye fishing: lakes, inland rivers and the Mississippi River. The pre-spawn time is a great time as the walleyes put on the feedbag in preparation for the spawn. Of course, there are areas that have specific size restraints and are closed during this pre-spawn and spawn timeline. So, it’s important to know the regulations for the body of water you are looking at fishing.

There are times that this fishing is phenomenal, but personally, I only keep enough eating size (14-18 inchers) for a fresh meal from time to time. Most of those fish are males. If I happen to catch the larger pre-spawn females, I will turn them back. Obviously, boat fishing offers anglers a lot more flexibility and mobility, but the other two options work very well.
Once you pick your body of water, it comes down to three more choices: boat fishing, wader fishing and shore/bank fishing.

Mississippi River
The use of a boat offers a lot of flexibility and gives you the ability to be more mobile. This especially holds true when fishing lakes or the Mississippi River. I feel comfortable on most lakes. However, the Mississippi River offers the challenge of moving water and current. It is here that I will rely on someone who has more expertise than I when it comes to handling the boat. The one huge variable on the Mississippi River is the potential for flooding. Quick snowmelt up north or huge spring rains can turn the river into a truly dangerous place to be.

The tail waters always seem to be good, but this is where a lot of the boats end up. I consider each Pool to be its own body of water, so you have a lot of choices from northeast to southeast Iowa. Unless I have my own fishing expert taking me, I rely on local bait shops to at least give me a general indication and location.

With water temperatures in the 30s or low 40s, walleyes are still in the early pre-spawn period. They might be found holding in light current and feeding off and on. Some of the top locations include the edges of the main channel, deep holes and washouts around wing dams and other current breaks. It takes searching, but try different depths, say from 12-20 to over 30 feet of water. As pre-spawn draws to a close, walleyes will near their spawning areas, along gravel or rocking or riprap shorelines where the current is light.

Inland rivers
Mention the Cedar, Shell Rock, Wapsipincicon, East and West Forks of the Des Moines, and Little Sioux rivers, and walleye anglers really become excited. Again, these rivers can really be susceptible to heavy runoff and go from easily accessible to not accessible. Now, in the summer and fall, these rivers are great for floating or motoring with small boats and kayaks. However, in the spring, I stay away from being on the river. Each of these rivers is known for great walleye fishing. As pre-spawn begins, the walleyes will move upstream to a lowhead dam or a spillway. I find this the perfect time of year to fish from the bank at these areas. Sometimes, it takes walking into an area on, hopefully, state or federally owned land. If it is private land, make sure to get permission.

Although I consider inland rivers to be untapped fisheries, when the bite begins, the word gets out and lots of anglers come to these areas.

Lakes
The fun thing about lakes is you can use a boat, fish from shore or from waders. When you start to think about it, Iowa has a lot of walleye lakes, both large and deep and small and shallow. Of course, any of the lakes south of Highway 20 are usually free of ice much sooner than lakes to the north. What I like about pre-spawn walleye fishing on lakes is that you can access them via waders or from shore with some of the best fishing coming in the shallows.

The first thing to look for is running water coming in from a tributary, a stream, even a tile or a current area like around bridges. It is the lure of the rocks and rubble that bring the pre-spawn males into the shallows. The sun’s warmth is especially important as it warms the water temperature and triggers fish activity. Often working the shallows, and the windy side of the lake will be better as it pushes baitfish that way.

Lowlight conditions in the shallows are preferable with the evening usually being warmer for anglers to fish. If you are going to boat fish during the day, try the windy side and maybe just out deep enough so that the fish don’t see or sense the boat.

When talking shallows, it might mean casting out to 5 feet deep and then bringing the jig back slowly. I’ve also fished off of docks in lowlight conditions that were in 6 feet of water and caught walleyes casting back toward shore in just a few inches of water.

If you are going to be wading, make sure to dress in layers and have a good set of chest waders, because that water is definitely cold! By the evening’s end you will be glad you have a good pair of neoprene/thinsulate chest waders.

Presentations
Think spring walleye, river or lake, and lots of anglers turn to jigs tipped with a minnow, a Berkley powerbait or a Mister Twister. Some like the short shanked hooks like Northland’s Fireball jig for casting and retrieving, while others like long shanked hooks for putting on plastics or twister tails and if they are vertical jigging. Others will use a slip bobber and a plain hook tipped with a minnow and let wave action move the bait. Some anglers fishing after dark or before sunlight will use lighted bobbers and a minnow.

So, yes, I live in ice fishing country, but it’s time to hit the open water for pre-spawn walleyes!