rellison8

I would think you guys would be far better off fishing the river up there than you would be trying to beat up on the West Lake Park ponds if you have access to a boat. The Mississippi is likely the best bass fishing resource we have in the state. It does take some time to get tuned in on but once you do the fishing is excellent and the challenge keeps you going back for more. Just something to think about. Don't overlook that resource right in your back yard. Lots of good large and smallmouth bass out there.

This link here is about the only decent one I know of for the pool that has all the wing dams and such noted on it. Hope that helps ya. http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/NIC2/mrcharts.cfm?index=3

I live and fish on Pool 19 about 150 or more days a year. I wouldn't worry about the lack of fish turned in early in the year when the Elite Series was here. The river is recovering nicely from the floods and the fish are on fire right now. I would expect some big bags to be turned in. I caught this 6# 2oz monster off Pool 19 a couple weeks ago. I would pack your swimjigs, frogs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, and lots of different plastics. Maybe some chatter baits if the water would dirty up. However right now the water has gotten gin clear and very low so even a small shakey head has been real affective. You fishing the FLW Stren tourney or some other event. There are so many tourney's on this pool anymore it is hard to keep track of them all. If you want, give me a shout and I'll do what I can.

I don't blame him a bit. Something need be said. I think they could have done a little better job of dealing with the last couple weeks too. Oh well, I'm sure they will learn from it and get better. They are still a good time to watch and with some of the new coverage such as bass cast and stuff they are trying to make it better for us too. I can appreciate that.

It wasn't the best. Water temps in the mid 60's in the warm water arm. Water temps are coming around on the rest of the main lake to though 51 to 56 and many of the tournament anglers on the lake last weekend started looking in other places besides the warm water arm. We also found some fish over by that camper town type area across the lake. Here is a couple pics of the nicer fish we caught. Always some ugly fish in that muddy lake though. Nothing great. Both just under 3#'s.

Hi all, Wondering if anyone has been on Thomas Hill lately. We are heading over that way tomorrow and haven't fished it since last spring. Just curious what the bite has been like here lately. Thanks for the help!

You are 100% correct. My house is close enough to pool 16 that I can hear the roar of outboards and the slapping of the hulls on the water (about 2 blocks). Each year the spring floods completely change the bottom contour and the depths (especially in the backwater areas). Your best bet is to get a navigational map, use aerial photos and go driving around during your prefish time. JT Bagwell I am about that close to Pool 19. It is my home water and I fish it all the time. However I still don't have a good contour map. You guys have already gave the reason though. Constantly changing. I'll be more than happy to offer any info though if I can help. Just let me know.

Good to see the ole pond hoppers water pumping out some early season hawgz. With fish like that I might even come over and fish. Nice pics!

That's funny Russ! ;D He never mentioned anything about that to me. Besides he has one the better guides around Southern Iowa. Once again, she's a Hawg Darrin. Congrats! No it wasn't exactly warm either. Started the day with frozen line and reels and made it up to around 45 maybe. I have never seen so many big fish come out of cold water as I am seeing guys catch this year. Sure is something to look forward too.

I will PM you.

We had a decent weekend down our way and even saw a 6# 3oz Hawg get landed on a jig. River should be coming around soon but I haven't checked it out much yet. Getting high now so I hope that doesn't stay around too long.

Yea, I live in Burlington. I wrote earlier on this thread about possibly fishing with you this spring to prep. for non-boater tourney. I just have to get a new truck so I can fish most days after work. Going looking this weekend so hopefully I'll be fishing for more than 30 mins by mid-week next week. Yeah sorry, my mistake, I remembered it after the fact! : I have an open spot in the back of my boat a lot of times so just get ahold of me. Like I said I don't fish too many tournaments but I fish almost every day. We were out again tonight with a buddy from Muscatine at P and got into a few fish again. They are starting to come around.

Yeah I kinda looked around and found some others. I am just gettin into the video scene so I have a lot to learn but this was our first open water trip of the season. Feel free to tell me what you think.

What lake was that you fished, only thing I can think of in that neck of the woods is P that one lake out by Donnelson. Did you do any good? I went today on the river with no luck. Lot of ice still floating around in the harbor. Only a small area where theres some rocks was open, I thought there'd be at least one in there though. Those rocks should have absorbed enough sunlight to warm the water just a little and bring em in. Maybe a little more warm weather and I can start to catch em. Yes I fished P last night. I am itching to get back on the river but I am waiting for the ice chuncks to end, I don't care for them so much. I got 5 bites last night just FYI. I take it you live close to me? Nobody knows about P.

Thanks for the info. That is usually when I have fished it so I suppose that is why I like it so much. We went to Thomas Hill and got into some early season fish and it felt real nice. I would post a You tube movie that I made of the trip here but I don't know if that is allowed. Can anyone tell me?

JT shoot me a line any time and I will be more than happy to tag along with you on Pool 19. I am out on it a couple days a week for sure. MOF I'll be out in it here real soon. I am gonna go visit my local home lake tonight. Things are really starting to open up here in southeast Iowa. Ice is gone and its time for the boats.

Get back to work Randy! ;D Another Iowa guy here too although in the S.C. part of the state. RWhusker, a buddy of mine started a tournament series that includes hitting 3 mile twice, let me know if you have any interest. Stupid ice :'( As for you my friend. > : I wondered what user name you were hiding over here under. Man you are hard to keep track of.

PM Sent!

I am a Mississippi river guy too. I am all the way down on Pool 19 though. We have some awesome bass fishing on the big river and can't wait for the big show to come fish my pool this summer. It's gonna be a blast. I met a couple of the elite series guys down here prefishing last summer already and they seem like some real cool guys.

I am in the east but I love 3 mile. Very nice lake and good quality fish. Not too many dinks that I have come across. Hope to be making more trips that way in the near future.

Awesome! Thanks for the info. I am leaning toward a trip to Thomas Hill possibly this weekend so we'll see what happens. Mark Twain is in the cards very soon though. I love that lake.

I am here also. In the very southeast corner. Chances are you are pulling your hair out like me waiting to get the boat back out. I am a lot close than you are I bet.

Yes Thomas Hill is a powerplant lake. It also has a warm water discharge into it that normally will always keep it open from what I have been told but I have yet to ever fish it. Thinking seriously about it though.

Yep, I am ready!!! Looking to possibly start driving south till I can find some open water as I am sick of short poles. Bring on the warm! Watching the classic last weekend didn't help none either.

Hey all, I am stuck up here in the frozen tundra we call Iowa this winter and my boat is screaming that it is ready to get back on the water and I am tired of fishing with short poles. : Hoping someone here has a report on if Mark Twain is indeed not frozen or maybe Thomas Hill. I have heard rumors that they are but hate to get the boat ready and drag it all that way only to find out I can not get on them. :'( I don't wanna drive for 4 hours to get down to the LOZ but I really need to find some soft water. Any info you could offer would be great, thanks a million! Randy