We’ve reached the time of year when sportsmen may start going a little stir crazy. There are
plenty of options for outdoor enjoyment, but a comfortable couch, warm fire and good ball game
on television have a way of keeping us indoors. It takes strong mental fortitude and real desire to
bundle up and beat the cold to venture out into the elements. But when you do, the adventure can
be incredible. You have far less company on the water and in the woods.
Ice fishing is a tough activity to beat this time of year, but doesn’t apply to a large portion of the
Midwest. You’ll have to head up north for this, but it’s worth the drive. Largemouth bass action
is still an option down south on open reservoirs. Central Flyway light geese are still hitting the
ground and trappers across the region are collecting pelts. Crappie anglers are taking advantage
of the schools on brush piles. Here are a few more suggestion for beating the winter blues.
Iowa: Paddlefish snagging
Paddlefish regulations in Iowa are about as complicated as the worst western draws for bighorn
sheep, but the state has an abundance of these prehistoric fish and each spring anglers pursue
them with snagging equipment. The season is open all year on interior waters, but differs on
rivers. The Mississippi River and Missouri River both produce paddlefish below numerous dams.
The DNR suggests the Iowa River from Coralville Lake to River Junction and the Cedar River
from Cedar Rapids to Moscow. In most of the state the daily limit is two with a possession limit
of four, but there are places where special tags are required. Your best bet is to make sure you
read the paddlefish section of the Iowa Fishing Regulations booklet.
Nebraska: Light Goose Conservation Order
The Light Goose Conservation Order (LGCO) is a special season set by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to help reduce the number of Light Geese because they are causing harm to
critical tundra habitat. Killing these birds is harder than most might think. They are hunted about
nine months out of the year from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, so it’s easy to understand how
that kind of pressure can make a species tough to kill. Light Geese travel in massive flocks, so it
stands to reason you need giant spreads of decoys to attract them. Smaller spreads will work, but
typically, the more decoys the better. In Nebraska, the LGCO runs the entire month of March in
all zones. Light geese include snow geese, both white and a blue phase birds, and Ross’s geese.
Missouri – Wipers at Thomas Hill
Most lakes in North Missouri are covered with ice in February. Not Thomas Hill. This 4,950-
acre reservoir has a warm water discharge from a power plant. Making it a year-round, open
water fishery. If jigging a tiny rod while starring down a hole isn’t for you, break out your favorite bait caster, tie on a big silver Rat-L-Trap and give your arm a workout hauling in some
of the lake’s mean hybrid striped bass, otherwise known as wipers. According to MDC fisheries
biologist Mike Anderson, they stock 49,500 wipers into Thomas Hill each year and the
population is very good. He said growth is excellent because of the gizzard shad, with most
sampled fish being between 18-25 inches. Trophy fish much larger are fairly common, he added.
Give the Brush Creek Arm a try where in February the water remains between 55-63 degrees.
North Dakota – Perch Patrol at Devil’s Lake
Addictions can be hard to break. Mine with eating fried lake perch dunked in drawn butter is
hopeless. With the decline of southern Lake Michigan’s perch fishery, I have had to look for new
sources of supply. The most exciting I have found is ice fishing Devil’s Lake. This massive
200,000-acre reservoir has become a destination for lake perch ice fishing. The daily limit is 20,
but the possession limit is 80. Meaning, if all goes right, you and a partner could leave after four
days with 320 of the best eating fish filets to be found in the Midwest. At least in my opinion.
Tanner Cherney of the Perch Patrol Team say they have 10 guides over 200 years of combined
iced experience who promise to make the trip fun for the whole family. “You’re going to catch a
lot of perch and our guides will entertain you. They’ll also take the time to teach you how to
catch perch through the ice on Devil’s Lake,” Cherney said.
See you down the trail…
Brandon Butler
driftwoodoutdoors@gmail.com
