Wisconsin Statewide fishing report 2.19.10The 2010 sturgeon spearing season ended Thursday, Feb. 18, at 12:30 p.m. after 90 percent harvest closure triggers were hit Feb. 17 on both Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes. As of Wednesday spearers had harvested 1,657 sturgeon, including 78 fish 100 pounds or larger and a record-setting 212.2 pound, 84.2-inch sturgeon speared on opening day. DNR fisheries biologists have been tracking the harvest since the first year of mandatory registration in 1955. This percentage of large fish began to drop through the 1980s and 90s followed by a dramatic increase in the 100 pound plus fish since 2000. Biologists say the size and condition of the sturgeon fishery in the Winnebago Pool is a testament to the long-running management program has been designed to create a stable sturgeon population comprised of adults out to 100 years or more in age. The program also means increased survival of these fish and the opportunity for them to live to an older age and larger size.
The seasonable weather of the past week has resulted in a moderate amount of fishing pressure, but success continues to be at mid-winter lows. Walleye and panfish anglers have been out in pretty good numbers, but action has been erratic. The best walleye action has been in short time periods just before dark. Panfish success has also been inconsistent with anglers moving around quite a bit to find active fish. Crappie were being found suspended 2 to 4 feet off the bottom in deep water, and perch have been just off the bottom at deep break lines and mid-depth mud flats. Northern pike activity has been generally slow.
Green Bay anglers continue to report some success with both whitefish and perch.Some whitefish as well as a few northern were being caught at the Oconto Breakwater. Perch and walleye were still being caught on the Fox River at DePere. Whitefish and perch were being found along the Door County side of the bay, with best action on whitefish.
The Mississippi River dropped slightly this week, and was at 7.9 feet earlier this week at Prairie du Chien. Ice conditions generally remain good on backwaters, and the main channel remains frozen, but is becoming even more treacherous with warmer weather and travel is not advised. Once again, inconsistent barometric pressure caused spotty fishing conditions throughout the week, but anglers were reporting spotty action in the backwaters for bluegill and crappie. Ice anglers venturing out on the river reported some sauger and the occasional walleye.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) -
With recent snowfall adding another 3 to 4 inches of insulating snow cover, ice thickness on most lakes continues to hold in the 16 to 20-inch range. Access conditions have become a bit more difficult with the deeper snow depth (about 6 to 8 inches on most lakes), and many vehicles have had to stick to the packed trails that have developed on the lakes. In addition, a few small areas of slush have also been showing up, but they haven't been deep enough to bog down any vehicles yet. The seasonable weather of the past week has resulted in a moderate amount of fishing pressure, but success continues to be at mid-winter lows. The die-hard walleye and panfish anglers have been out in pretty good numbers, and they all have been finding action to be very erratic. Some days produce fair catches, but on others, bites have been very tough to come by. The regular walleye ice anglers have reported generally slow action, with a decent bite occurring about every third day. And then when the active feeding is going on, it's been only for about 30 to 40 minutes just before dark, and then shuts off like a light switch. No one tactic has been better than the other -- as deep break lines, mud/muck flats, gravel drop-offs, and weed edges have all been producing generally low catches. Panfish success has also been inconsistent and these anglers have been moving around quite a bit -- both lake to lake, and from spot to spot on a lake. Active fish have been hard to come by, with each hole often producing only one or two fish before the angler has to move on to the next hole. Overall catches have been low, and anglers have had to work to bring home a decent bag of eight to 10 fish. The crappie that have been caught were being found in deep water and suspended 2 to 4 feet off the bottom, and the perch have been just off the bottom deep break lines and mid-depth mud flats. For bait, both waxworms and crappie minnows have been working okay. Northern pike activity has been generally slow and few reports of success have come in.
Marinette County -
Open water fishing at the Hattie Street Anglers' Walkway is slowly improving for trout during the day on stick baits and twister tails. Panfishing with jigs and waxworms in the slough areas of the lower Menominee has also been producing fish.
Oconto County -
Oconto Breakwater Park is producing some whitefish as well as a few northern, with perch being present but a bit hard to get them to engage the bait. Anglers at Oconto Parks I and II were also having limited success with pike; baits of choice have been dead sticking smelt or large shiners suspended a foot off the bottom.
Brown County -
Perch and walleye are still the game fish of choice at Voyageur Park. People were fishing in 10 feet of water with jigs tipped with minnows. Perch anglers at Duck Creek were catching fish although many are small. Sunset Beach was also producing perch for anglers jigging with minnows; early and late bites seem to be best.
Door County -
Anglers have been targeting whitefish and perch at Volk?s Reef in 15-20 feet of water. The best action has been on whitefish. A small ice jig was the most productive. Red River anglers have been getting perch and whitefish in good numbers out in front of Red River. People have been fishing water depths ranging from 10 to 30 feet. Successful anglers are finding perch close to the bottom with a minnow or minnow head for bait. Whitefish are being caught higher in the water column on jigging spoons tipped with wax worms. At Little Sturgeon Bay, anglers have been venturing out inside the bay have been finding good numbers of perch; however most are too small to keep. Waxworms have been the most productive bait, but minnows are producing the largest fish. Anglers that have been venturing outside the bay have been doing well on whitefish and some larger perch. Most have been jigging over 10-30 feet of water. Sand Bay anglers were also doing well on whitefish. Some walleyes were being caught on Larson?s reef early in the mornings or around dusk. Sturgeon Bay anglers have been catching some perch at Potawatomi State Park. The best tactic was a jig and waxworm combination. Most perch have been biting in the morning. Anglers are also catching some pike at the yacht club using golden shiners for bait.
Wyalusing State Park -
Local ice anglers report that ice fishing has been slow on the Mississippi River in the area. Fishing activity is subject to many different elements.
Willow River State Park -
Ice fishing continues with reports of slow action on panfish.
Crawford County -
The Mississippi River dropped ever so slowly this week. Last week the river was at 8.1 feet and currently is at 7.9 feet. Ice conditions in most areas are pretty good. Most of the popular ice fishing spots have anywhere between 10 to 24 inches of ice. Even so, 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. Once again, inconsistent barometric pressure caused spotty fishing conditions throughout the week. Temperatures were normal however scattered snow fell about every third day. Fishing activity and ice conditions are as follows: Prairie du Chien Area and Lower bottoms: Garnet Lake has decent ice but access to it is tricky. Garnet Lake has been slow. Pickerel Slough was producing some bluegills. Fishing activity in these areas was light. Dillman?s pit white bass (striper) action was very spotty this week. Ice conditions are pretty good there. Rotten Slough, St. Feriole Slough and Hunter?s Slough, which are located near the sewer treatment plant, have ice that, in areas, is not safe. Caution in these areas is advised. Anglers have been fishing between the Blackhawk and Washington Street bridges. On some days the bluegill action was pretty good, but the average size was small. St. Feriole Slough has open water areas near the bridges and in the center of the channel so use caution there. Prairie du Chien Ambro Slough Complex: Gremore Lake?s northern end has very low oxygen so fishing action there is very bad. The lower end of Gremore Lake really slowed down. Even so a few crappie, bluegill and perch were taken have been taken from time to time. For the most part Gremore has about 20 or so inches of ice. Tilmont Lake was producing perch and bluegills and a few crappie, but that area really slowed down too. There is about 24 inches of ice on Tilmont Lake. Anglers are urged to use caution crossing over the Black Slough to get to Tilmont Lake. Mud Slough, the Lower Doubles and Fish Lake have been pretty slow recently. A few bass were caught on tip ups over the weekend but panfish action was very slow. Ice conditions there are good with around 24 inches of ice. Little Missouri slowed down, but every once in a while a few decent fish are taken. Good ice exists on Little Missouri. Big Missouri on the other hand has been very slow for some reason. The Upper Doubles had been the best area to fish, but there too action has slowed. Tip up anglers are still finding a few bass. Bluegill action has been very spotty. Upwards of 24 inches of ice exist on the Upper Doubles and Big Missouri. The Fennimore Cut has produced some perch, crappie and bluegill. The bluegills have been small and overall action was spotty. Spring Lake has been very slow even though good ice conditions exist. Access to the Doubles, Big and Little Missouri, the Fenimore Cut, and Spring Lake can be tricky. Poor ice conditions exist where Mill Coulee Creek enters the Ambro Slough. Anglers traveling on the Ambro Slough must monitor ice conditions as current is slowing in it and ice conditions can change rapidly. Sturgeon Slough Area: Sturgeon Slough remains very quiet. Some anglers have ventured down to Sturgeon (aka McGregor or Horseshoe) Lake but success there has been very slow. Recent oxygen level testing on Sturgeon Lake shows very low oxygen levels. Anglers probably don?t need to try that area until conditions change. Sturgeon Slough and Sturgeon Lake have good ice, however travel to Sturgeon Lake can be tricky. Stay on established paths. Cold Spring: Fishing here remains very slow. Reports of a few small bluegill and an occasional crappie and a fair amount of small bass have been reported, but overall very slow. Ice conditions on the southern lobe are still good except when you get 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. This week some anglers came off the ice with a few sauger and an occasional walleye. Ice conditions have been reported as ranging from an inch or two to 6 or more inches.
Minocqua area fishing report
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