The 2012 Ice fishing season is well underway. We've had an extremely mild winter raising questions about ice quality. I hope these photos are enough to convince you that there is plenty of ice and there are plenty of fish to be caught. We are not driving trucks everywhere. Some places...but not everywhere. Most of the other areas we are fishing are accessable by snowmobile. As you can see the bite has been FANTASTIC! most days. There have been a few slow days as there always is with fishing. In the first week of January I placed 7th overall in the Okoboji Hardewater Open. One of only two locals to place in the top 10. I also won the pot for biggest bluegill. It was 9 3/4 inches and .84 lbs. Makes the effort worth the time. For the rest of the ice fishing season...you can see my "Ice Fishing Tips" on KSFY Channel 13 in Sioux Falls, SD every Wednesday during the 6:00 PM News.

The late Fall bite is on. Night time temperatures are finally dipping below freezing. The water is cooling off...creating a HOT bite. Had three limmits of Perch (75) yesterday for Don Heiney, Jeff and Jason Hamm. The Perch are on a roll and we're picking up a few walleyes as well. Just a few weeks left to get in on the Great Fall perch bite.

FIANALLY!!!! The wind has subsided. The wind has wreeked havoc with the fishing for the past two weeks. But its laid down now and we can reach the formally wind blown spots where the fish are feeding. Last weekend Brothers Joe and Paul Cookingham landed a 23+ inch walleye and a 32" pike along with a nice mess of big gills. Then Yesterday the DeBore party limmited on GIANT Bluegills. Most of these gills were over 9-inches with the largest measuring 9 3/4 inches. I know many of you are waiting for the perch bite to begin. Nothing consistant yet. But with cooler temperatures forecast I expect perch fishing to pick up. Still lots of fish being caught and lots of openings available.

September was another GREAT month of fishing. With the exception of one very tough day....Big 9 to 9 1/2 inch bluegills were plentiful. Steve Bruns and his buddy limmited on a rainy day in early september. A few walleyes are being caught...however nothing consistant and no big numbers yet. Gaylene Hammer of DesMoines released a nice 19-inch slot Walleye in mid September. Dennis Dickson of Valparaiso IN boated a nice Catfish from East lake. And Mike Fielmier and Abbi Berg hit a couple nice pike. On another note....I was featured on the cover of the Winter CSI Fishing catalog. I will also be doing Seminars at Cabelas this winter Still plenty of time for open water fishing. Walleyes and perch should be getting ready to take off!!

The HOT July temperatures finally gave way to cooler August weather. The first cooler temps in quite some time gave us a tough bite for several days. But nearly everyone scratched out some good fishing. In early August My cousin Julie and her family traveled all the way from Maine to fish Okoboji. The Gunderson's from Sioux city had a day they'll never forget with tons of panfish and beautiful bass. Tom Jessen, his son Blake and son-in-law Jeff limmited out on their annual trip to Okoboji. My son Calvin caught a Monster Smallmouth a few days ago and this weekend had a WONDERFUL fish fry for the Walkers from Omaha. Still lots of great fishing to come in September and October....Can't wait!!!