Wisconsin Statewide (ICE) Fishing report 1.20.11Ice conditions are good on nearly all lakes across the state, with ice depths holding in the 12 to 15-inch range. In the north, ice fishing success sis approaching mid-winter lows and action has become more sporadic than in the past several weeks. Walleye success has continued its erratic trend with a few anglers reporting some decent catches in the 12- to 16-inch size, with a few in the low 20-inch range landed. Panfish have provided more consistent action, though it has slowed up a bit in the last week with perch and bluegill easier to find than crappie. Northern pike success has been fair. Panfish and northern pike have also been providing the best action on southern waters.
Ice conditions continue to improve on Green Bay with the cold weather. Door County anglers have been fishing perch and whitefish with some success. Perch fishing slowed on the west side of the bay at Oconto, but the Menominee River at Marinette has been a hot spot for walleye, panfish and the occasional whitefish.
The Mississippi River had been holding just over the 10 foot mark at Prairie du Chien for several weeks, but has dipped below that mark this week. Many backwater sloughs have moderate to strong current flowing under the ice, which can create rapidly changing conditions. The Wisconsin River was also falling and creating dangerous conditions in some areas where there is an ?air gap? between the ice and the water below. Generally speaking ice conditions remain pretty good with ice thickness averaging around 14 to 16 inches in the backwaters of both rivers. Ice fishing has been pretty good at times, with nice sized bluegills being caught in some areas, but northern pike action spotty.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties)
- Ice conditions are good on nearly all lakes across the Northwoods and ice depths have been holding in the 12 to 15-inch range. After several light snowfalls last week, there is now about 6 to 8 inches of light grainy snow on top of the ice and this has made travel a bit difficult for two-wheel drive vehicles and some ATVs. Snowmobiles and 4WD vehicles are still accessing most areas of the lakes and slush has not been reported to be a problem on any of the waters yet. Ice fishing success seems to be approaching its mid-winter lows and action has become more sporadic than in the past several weeks. In addition, there have been some lakes that are experiencing very poor fishing success while others are having some consistent and good action. As such, it is advised that anglers check with local bait shops to find where the hot spots are and target their effort on those lakes. Walleye success has continued its erratic trend across the area with some anglers reporting good success and others complaining about coming home skunked! On several lakes, it seems to be a real finicky bite for walleye this season ? that the fish are in a particular habitat (mud/sand flats), at a specific depth (5 to 8 feet), feeding for a short period of time (about 20 minutes, and an hour before dark) and hitting a certain size bait (large fathead or small sucker minnow). A few anglers have been reporting some decent catches of walleye in the 12- to 16-inch size, with a few in the low 20-inch range also being landed. Panfish have provided a bit more consistent action, though it has slowed up a bit in the last week. Some nice catches of perch and bluegill have been made, with crappie being a bit tougher to find. The perch have been hitting small fathead minnows in 5 to 10 feet of water, and the bluegill have been biting on waxworms suspended just off the bottom in 10 to 15 feet of water. Northern pike success has been fair, with some decent action during the mid-day hours on golden shiners or large suckers near any old weed beds. One side note - many of the shallow and weedy pike lakes are starting to see lower oxygen levels down near the bottom. The northerns will still be active but anglers may need to move their bait closer to the surface where oxygen levels are often higher. In addition, aeration systems have been operating on many lakes and recreationalists should steer clear of the barricaded areas around these open-water spots.
Peshtigo
Ice conditions continue to improve with the cold weather and even though it has snowed frequently, travel on the ice in most places has not been impeded. Extreme care should always be exercised when traveling on the ice.
Marinette County
The 6th Street Slip has been the hot spot on the Menominee River for walleye, panfish and the occasional whitefish for anglers jigging Rap's tipped with minnows for walleye and jigging minnows and grubs for panfish. Ice conditions up to this point has made fishing by the Hattie Street Dam difficult, reports of fishing activity in this area are sparse.
Oconto County
Perch fishing at the Oconto Breakwater has slowed some as has the whitefish bite. Most anglers are fishing in the area of the Oconto River mouth jigging with minnows for both species. Pike anglers are still plentiful from Oconto Breakwater north to the mouth of the Peshtigo. Dead smelt in the round and shiner minnows fished in the 4 to 12 feet of water is working best.
Green Bay
Brown County -
Anglers in tents are plying their trade for walleye off Voyageur Park in 8 to 10 feet of water using jig and minnow. Sunset Beach has seen some perch activity last week. Anglers are reporting many small fish but those who put their time in are catching 8 to 10 inch perch. Jig and minnow are the baits of choice.
Door County -
Sturgeon Bay anglers have been fishing perch and whitefish off Stone Quarry with some success. Anglers have been using jigging spoons in gold or green in color. Anglers that have been venturing from the state park have been finding some perch. They have been targeting the remnant weeds for best action. Also good numbers of anglers have been fishing in front of Bullhead Point and have had success on perch. At the yacht club anglers have been targeting pike and pinfish with limited success. Little Sturgeon Bay anglers have been finding good numbers of whitefish from Henderson?s Point to Lime Kiln road. Also anglers have had some success on perch inside the schools of whitefish. Anglers have been fishing Sand Bay for walleye and white fish; the white fish activity has been constant with occasional walleyes mixed in. At Chaudoir?s Dock, perch were being caught in 30 feet of water. Anglers are not finding many but the ones that are being caught are big. Those after whitefish are also finding some good success. Dykesville anglers were finding good numbers of perch, but the biggest key to success has been staying on the move. Most anglers are moving several times throughout the day to stay on active fish. Also good numbers of white fish are being caught as well however staying outside the many group of anglers to find less pressured fish is important.
Dane County -
Ice fishing on area lakes has been slow, with few game fish being caught.
Jefferson County ?
Fishing success is fair on the northern Jefferson County lakes. Northern pike have been biting the best but many are undersized on Rock Lake. Shiners are the preferred bait. The Jefferson County snowmobile trails are open. Snowmobilers are reminded to call the county trail hotline numbers prior to going out each day. The number for Jefferson County is 920-699-7669. A couple snowmobiles have sunk recently on the Crawfish River at Milford trying to skip about 100 yards of open water.
Minocqua Area Fishing Report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/minocquafishingreport.htmChippewa Flowage Fishing Report
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/chippewaflowagefishingreport.htmLake Michigan Fishing Report and tips
http://www.wisconsinoutdoor.com/lmfishingtips.htmInformation compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
