About Southwest Iowa Fishing Adventures
Southwest Iowa Fishing Adventures is a veteran-owned and operated business. Doing guided ice fishing trips has been a lifelong dream of mine. I’ve been an avid fisherman for close to 50 years and have always enjoyed taking people with me, introducing them to this great sport, and helping them catch fish. I retired recently, and that has provided me with an opportunity to pursue this dream.
You will be fishing in the warmth and safety of a Wilcraft Mammoth. The Wilcraft is an amphibious vehicle that will float if the ice breaks, and allows you to safely drive back onto the ice pack. It’s basically a shelter on wheels that allows you to drill your ice holes inside and then lower the machine down onto the ice. In addition to the safety aspect, this allows you to be extremely mobile, which is the key to being successful on the ice. Moving consists of reeling in, raising the machine, and driving to our next spot! We will primarily be fishing on Pony Creek Lake or Lake Manawa. We’ll talk before your trip and determine which lake best suits your needs and expectations.
Pony Creek Lake
Pony Creek is located a few miles north and west of Glenwood, Iowa. It’s a fun lake to fish, with loads of structure and a high population of fish. You can expect to catch Crappies, Bluegills, Yellow Bass, Largemouth Bass, and an occasional Red Ear Sunfish or Catfish. The Crappie and Bluegill tend to run on the smaller side, but they’re abundant and of cleanable size. All these fish tend to school together, so you will typically catch a variety of fish out of each spot. If you’re bringing a child or wanting to catch a bunch of fish for a fish fry, I would recommend this lake. Obviously, the weather can affect how aggressive the bite is going to be, but I can usually find some active fish, and you can generally expect to catch a lot on this lake.
Lake Manawa
Lake Manawa is located on the south side of Council Bluffs. I usually target Wipers and Walleyes on Manawa, but there are Crappies, Bluegills, Yellow Bass, Largemouth Bass, and Catfish there as well. Manawa can be a tough lake to fish in the winter, but there’s nothing like catching a nice Wiper or Walleye through the ice! I describe it as a boom or bust lake. When it’s good, it’s great, but it can be really slow. This fall, they placed several rock piles in the lake, which provided some much-needed structure. Between that and the Wilcraft’s ability to quickly move from spot to spot, I’m hopeful that fishing can now be more consistent on this lake.
What You Need to Bring
- Everyone 16 years and older is required to have a current Iowa Fishing License.
- Snacks and drinks. (Space in the Wilcraft is limited, so no large coolers.)
- The Wilcraft is heated, but you will want some warm boots and a midweight jacket.
- If you want to keep fish, you’ll need a cooler to take your fish home.
- I will provide bait, tackle, quality rods and reels, and a Garmin Livescope. If you’ve never fished with a Livescope, you will be amazed.
Rates
$200—Two People for Four Hours
$250—Two People for Five Hours
The Wilcraft is limited to three people in total, including me. If you have two smaller children, we might be able to make that work, but it will be tight. If you want to fish longer than five hours, we can discuss rates.
Contact Info
Chad Meyers – Owner/Operator