Wisconsin Statewide fishing report 1.22.10
Ice depths on most lakes continue to hold at 12 to 16 inches, but ice thickness is often un-even across a lake. Overall, access and ice fishing conditions have been generally good. Walleye action has continued to be very sporadic on northern lakes. The most consistent spots have been the mid-depth break lines and the mud flats in 8 to 12 feet of wate. Northern pike fishing has been fair to good, with the bright sunny days producing the best action during the middle of the day. Panfish have been providing the best action with some decent catches of perch, crappie and bluegill all being reported.
Anglers fishing the Fox River have been having good success with both walleye and perch. Anglers fishing Green Bay have reported some success on perch and whitefish, with the best catches in 10 to 20 feet of water. A few anglers have been targeting northern pike but numbers were down over the last week. Sturgeon Bay anglers have been targeting perch at Sawyer Harbor. Along Lake Michigan, open water anglers have been catching brown trout and occasional rainbows near the Port Washington power plant discharge. Anglers have been catching an occasional brown and rainbow trout through the ice at the Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha harbors.
The Mississippi River has been steady over the past week and was at the 7.7 foot stage at Prairie du Chien. Ice conditions continue to improve even though warmer temperatures moved in last week. Most of the popular ice fishing spots have upwards of 8 to 12 inches of ice. Ice conditions still vary greatly and are considered unsafe. The main channel is frozen over, but travel on it is not recommended. Good catches of crappie, bluegill and some perch are being reported from the backwaters. Walleye and sauger anglers have been venturing out onto the ice below the Lynxville dam, but travel in this area is not advisable. Those anglers venturing out reported a few sauger and an occasional walleye being taken.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties)
Ice depths on most lakes in the area continue to hold at 12 to 16 inches. Many anglers have once again started to drive out to their fishing spots but caution is still urged. Ice thickness is often un-even across a lake and some undisturbed, drifted areas have been reported to have only 8 to 10 inches of ice thickness. Overall, access and fishing conditions have been generally good -- with relatively light snow cover, very little slush, and unseasonably mild temperatures in the last week. However, angling success has continued on a generally slow trend. Walleye have still the main species of interest across most of the Northwoods and action has been very sporadic. Some days have produced decent action but it seems the fish have been very finicky on the bait they'll hit and the spot where it's being presented. The most consistent spots have been the mid-depth break lines and the mud flats in 8 to 12 feet of water, with small sucker minnows for bait. Most of the walleye caught have been in the 12- to 16-inch range, but a few fish in the mid-20 inch size have also been landed. Northern pike fishing has been fair to good, with the bright sunny days producing the best action during the middle of the day. The best success has come on large golden shiners and sucker minnows, fished near green weeds in 4 to 8 feet of water. Some nice pike in the low 30-inch range have been reported from the area in the past week. Panfish have been providing the best action in the area with some decent catches of perch, crappie and bluegill. Perch have been found just off the bottom in water from 5 to 15 feet deep, while the larger crappie and bluegill have been suspended over deeper water and near any green weeds. In addition, the most successful anglers have had to move around quite a bit to find the active fish.
Marinette County
The Menominee River was producing walleye at both the Hattie Street Dam and the Sixth Street Slip Landing. Tip-ups and jigging are both good bets. The lures of choice for walleye jigging are Rattlin Raps and Moonshines in blue or Fire Tiger. Some whitefish were being caught at Sixth Street.
Oconto County
Oconto Breakwater Park has seen a moderate number of anglers jigging for perch in and around the mouth of the river with a few people fishing the north side of the break wall for pike. Anglers at Oconto Park I and II are starting to stage for northern with a few permanent shacks being placed on the Bay proper.
Green Bay
Anglers that have been fishing off Volk?s near the Dykesville landing reported some success on perch and whitefish. The best catches seem to be in 10 to 20 feet of water, with most fish biting on wax worms or minnows. People venturing out of Bayshore and Red river have found decent numbers of whitefish with most action coming in 8 to 20 feet of water. Most anglers have been jigging with wax worms or minnows.
Brown County
Voyageur Park anglers have been having good success with both walleye and perch. Jigging with Buckshots or Rattlin Raps tipped with minnows have been working well. Anglers have been staying close to shore in about 10 feet of water. Duck Creek has been producing perch jigging with minnow heads and wax worms. Sunset Beach Landing was also producing some nice perch along with the occasional northern; jigging and tip-ups with large shiners were both working well.
Sturgeon Bay
Anglers at Little Sturgeon Bay have been doing well on perch in 10 to 20 feet of water. The best catches have been on waxworms, but minnows were producing the larger fish. Also a few anglers have been targeting Northern pike but numbers were down over the last week. Anglers have still been doing well on whitefish around Henderson point. Anglers have had the best luck on waxworms or the head of a rosy red. Sturgeon Bay anglers have been targeting perch at Sawyer Harbor; most anglers have been jigging for them with waxworms. Anglers have also been targeting perch and whitefish at Stone Quarry. A few anglers have been fishing Bullhead Point and the yacht club for northern pike with some success.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County
In Sheboygan 8 inches of ice has been reported in the marina, but fishing there has been slow.
Ozaukee County
In Port Washington open water anglers have been catching brown trout and occasional rainbows near the power plant discharge. Both spawn and casting artificials have produced fish. The west slip has open water, and the north slip is mostly open as well.
Milwaukee County
McKinley Marina in Milwaukee has approximately 5 to 7 inches of ice. Anglers there have been catching occasional brown trout, and tip-ups have produced with both shiners and spawn. Ice anglers have also been fishing in the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park, but action there has been on the slow side. Open water anglers fishing the Menomonee River at the MMSD offices have been catching a few northern pike.
Racine County
The Racine harbor is ice covered, but use caution as the ice thickness varies considerably. Water clarity in the harbor has been somewhat poor, but both browns and rainbows have been caught.
Kenosha County
Ice anglers in Kenosha have taken a few browns on minnows and spawn in Southport Marina.
Crawford County
The Mississippi River has been steady this past week. Currently the river stage is at 7.7 feet. Ice conditions continue to improve even though warmer temperatures moved in last week. Most of the popular ice fishing spots have upwards of 8 to 12 inches of ice. Ice conditions still vary greatly and are considered unsafe. Ice fishers are urged to use caution when traveling out onto the frozen waters. The main channel of the Mississippi River is frozen over, but travel on it is not recommended. Another dangerous spot is on the Ambro Slough just upstream from the USFWS boat landing. There, Mill Coulee Creek enters the Ambro Slough and open water/very thin ice exists. Ice fishing activity was very good on some days and spotty during other days. Fishing activity and ice conditions are as follows: Prairie du Chien Area and Lower bottoms: Garnet Lake has decent ice but access can be tricky. Fishing activity there has been slow mainly due to access. Dilman?s pit was producing some very nice white bass (stripers) near the bottom of 40 feet of water. Recently action there has slowed considerably. Ice conditions are pretty good except for Rotten Slough and Hunter?s Slough which are located near the sewer treatment plant. Caution in these areas is advised. Prairie du Chien Ambro Slough Complex: The lower end of Gremore Lake was producing good catches of crappie, bluegill and some perch. The past couple days activity slowed. Tilmont Lake is still producing some very nice crappie and perch primarily in the morning. Mud Slough, the Lower Doubles and Fish Lake have been very slow. Little Missouri was hot last week but slowed down somewhat the past couple days. Good catches of perch, crappie and bluegill were reported. Big Missouri and the Upper Double are starting to produce bluegill and crappie, but action remains spotty. The Fennimore Cut and Spring Lake have been spotty also, but a few decent crappie and bluegill along with a perch here and there have been reported. Largemouth bass have been active throughout the Ambro Slough complex. Panfish anglers report catching many undersized bass and few keeper size. Ice conditions are generally good with the exception of the Mill Coulee Creek and Ambro Slough area. Sturgeon Slough Area: Sturgeon Slough has been very quiet recently. Some anglers have ventured down to Sturgeon (aka McGregor or Horseshoe) Lake but success there has been slow. Sturgeon Slough and Sturgeon Lake have good ice, however travel to Sturgeon Lake can be tricky. Stay on established paths. Cold Spring: Fishing has been slow. Anglers have reported a few bluegill and crappie, but overall very slow. Ice conditions on the southern lobe are good except near the boat landing/stream where open water and very thin ice exists. Mississippi River: Walleye and sauger anglers have been venturing out onto the ice below the Lynxville dam. Ice conditions there vary greatly and day to day. Travel in this area is not advisable. Even so, some anglers have been vertical jigging or dead lining through the ice with a few sauger and an occasional walleye being taken. Ice conditions have been reported as ranging from an inch or two to 6 inches.
Brunet Island State Park
Panfish action has been fair with more small fish moving in to the bays. Northern pike are being taken in the channels around the islands. Anglers are reporting generally good ice conditions in the backwater areas. The park does not monitor ice conditions. The Cornell flowage water levels fluctuate throughout the year and we urge caution when venturing onto the ice.
Minocqua Wi. fishing report
http://wisconsinoutdoor.com/smf/index.php?topic=3245.0Wausau area fishing report
http://wisconsinoutdoor.com/smf/index.php?topic=3240.0Chetek Chain Of Lakes Fishing Report
http://wisconsinoutdoor.com/smf/index.php?topic=3221.0Information compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
