Wisconsin Statewide Fishing Report 12.4.08
Some lakes across the Northwoods now have from 3 to 6 inches of ice, but many lakes have less, and larger lakes like Trout in Vilas County are still open. Ice is forming along some lakes in the south and a few smaller lakes have frozen over, but only with minimal ice. A few early ice anglers have been creeping out onto northern lakes, mostly targeting walleye with some fair catches of 12- to 15-inch walleye made, with the best action coming in the hour before dark. Thin ice is now covering most of Lake Winnebago and Lake Butte des Morts. A few brave anglers have been jigging for panfish.
Along Lake Michigan, cold nighttime temperatures have been causing ice to form in slow moving stretches of tributaries, but warmer daytime temperatures have melted some of what forms overnight. Anglers fishing off the piers and at harbors have been catching a few brown trout and some steelhead.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) -
Ice fishing has begun on many of the area waters, but conditions are variable. Smaller lakes and bays have up to 6 inches of good ice now. However, the larger lakes still have open water over deep pockets, while Trout Lake and Fence Lake are wide open. Fishing has been good, and should continue to be during the "early ice" period which can last through early January. Anglers have been having great luck fishing walleyes off rocky points in relatively shallow water, 10 feet deep or less. Some walleye were also being taken at weed edges that taper to deep water. Tip-ups baited with small golden shiners have been best, although early in the season jigging with a Swedish Pimple or jigging Rapala can be excellent too. The last hour of daylight is the best time to try. Northern pike have been hitting just about any time of day especially if it is overcast or pre-cold front. Large shiners on tip-ups are the best bet for northerns, and folks have been setting a couple tip-ups while jigging for panfish with their third line. Best action for panfish will come from using the lightest line (2 lb test or less) and small rocker jigs baited with spikes or wax worms.
Woodruff
Please remember that even though the lakes have begun their freeze-over, ice thickness is not stable. Ice thickness varies considerably as the last of the larger lakes just beginning to freeze over. Anglers are reporting some success on walleye activity but with no real patterns to rely on. Reports indicate that fish are being taken at all times of the day and late into the night. Before venturing out onto the lakes, remember to follow these precautionary measures: Use common sense, test the ice thickness before travelling on it, and use the following guidelines for safe and enjoyable ice fishing. 1) Immediately following freeze-up, ice toward the middle of the lake is thinner than the ice along the shoreline; 2) Beware of lakes covered with snow; heavy snow cover slows freezing and causes overflow seepage of water on top of the ice; 3) Cloudy ice or ice formed by the freezing of slush and overflow or under windy conditions is weaker than clear ice; 4) Ice thickness is not always an accurate measure of its strength; clear lake ice is strongest and new ice is stronger than old ice; 5) Beware of areas that attract lots of other people; continuous travel over the same path will weaken thinner ice; 6) Keep weight spread out; 7) River/flowage ice thickness can vary throughout the winter in different parts of the body of water, according to the strength of the current beneath it, and whether we are having a cold or warm spell;
River/flowage ice is 15 percent weaker than lake ice.
Upper Wisconsin Basin fisheries report (Oneida, Vilas, Lincoln, Langlade, Forest and Florence counties) -
Most lakes across the Northwoods now have about 3 inches of ice, with an inch of light snow on top of that. This is still not considered safe for ice travel as there are still many areas with only 1 to 2 inches of ice --especially around any moving water, inlets and outlets, and the centers of the larger lakes. However, there have been a few early ice anglers creeping out onto the small and medium-size lakes. Most of these early-season ice anglers have been using tip-ups and targeting walleye, and the first reports indicate mixed success. Some fair catches of 12- to 15-inch walleye have been made in 5 to 6 feet of water on the mud flats, with the best action coming in the hour before dark.
Marinette County -
Ice is forming on the main waterways with sloughs and tributaries basically ice covered. A few lakes in the northern half of the county are ice covered enough for adventurous anglers. Success rates for fishing has been minimal at this time. Anglers have still been somewhat active below the Hattie Street Dam on the Lower Menominee River. One angler caught a smallmouth that he believed to be near record size from the Lower Menominee.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Cold nighttime temperatures have been causing ice to form in slow moving stretches of local tributaries, but warmer daytime temperatures have melted some of what forms overnight.
Sheboygan County -
In Sheboygan shore anglers fishing off the south pier have been catching a few browns on spawn and spoons. In the Sheboygan River some browns have been caught on flies near the Kohler dam.
Ozaukee County -
In Port Washington, shore anglers have been catching a few browns on spawn near the power plant and on spoons in the harbor.
Milwaukee County -
Shore anglers in Milwaukee have been catching a few browns on spawn in the Milwaukee River under the Hoan bridge. Browns and steelhead have been reported in the river downstream of Estabrook Park. Both spawn and flies have been producing fish.
Racine County -
In Racine water levels on the Root River remain low, but fair numbers of fish can still be found in downstream stretches of the river. Good numbers of brown trout and a few steelhead have been hitting drifted spawn sacs in the deeper parts of the lower river.
Kenosha County -
Shore anglers in Kenosha have been catching a few browns and steelhead in the harbor on spawn or tube jigs tipped with wax worms.
Jefferson County -
Anglers have been catching a few legal size walleye below the lower dam in Watertown. The fish were biting on a jig and minnow. Success is slow overall.
