Wisconsin Statewide Fishing report 2.5.09
Ice depths are in the 18 to 22 inch range on most lakes. The erratic and constantly changing weather of the past week has made for some tough fishing action. Walleye anglers reported inconsistent success, panfish action has continued its mid-winter slow period, with most anglers moving around quite a bit searching for the active fish. Success has been low but a few fair catches of crappie and perch have been reported. The best action in the past week has been for northern pike, with some decent action seen during the mid-day hours.
There has been some action for perch and northern pike at the Oconto Harbor area. Along Door County many anglers were targeting whitefish, with the best catches have been in 10 to 15 feet of water. Perch fishing also improved somewhat this week with most angles caching perch in 20 to 30 feet of water.
All last week the Mississippi River dropped slowly, but it stabilized over the weekend and was a 7.4 feet at Prairie du Chien this week. The majority of the main channel is frozen over and all back waters of both the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers remain frozen. In general ice fishing was poor this week, though some sauger were been biting in open water below the Lynxville dam.
Conditions should be excellent this weekend for a series of free ice fishing clinics for kids 15-years-old and younger that are being held at five park ponds and lagoons in Milwaukee County this Saturday, Feb. 7. Participants receive instruction on the proper use of equipment and techniques, knot tying, safety and much more. The clinics last 45 minutes and begin every hour on the hour starting at 9 a.m., with the last one starting at 2 p.m.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) -
Ice depths are in the 18" to 22" range on most lakes across the Northwoods and travel conditions did worsen with the high winds of this past weekend. Many lakes had packed trails that most vehicles could readily access, but the blowing snow of Saturday and Sunday caused quite a bit of drifting. This has hampered travel on many lakes and there have been quite a few reports of anglers getting stuck out on the ice. Slush has not been the main problem but frozen ruts and heavy, grainy snow that has been bogging down even some 4WD vehicles. As such, anglers should be cautious and try to stick to the established, packed-down trails. The erratic and constantly changing weather of the past week has made for some tough fishing action. Most of the regular walleye ice anglers have reported inconsistent success, with some decent catches made about every third day. No one tactic or area has been better than the other, as rock bars, gravel drop-offs, weed bed edges, and muck/sand flats have all been experiencing various levels of action. Panfish success has continued it's mid-winter slow period, and most of these anglers have been moving around quite a bit -- from lake to lake, and from spot to spot on a lakes - searching for the active fish. Success has been low but a few fair catches of crappie and perch have been reported. The best action in the past week has been for northern pike, with some decent action seen during the mid-day hours. Large golden shiners fished over the top or along the edges of any old weed beds have produced the best success.
Door County -
Over the last week fishing action off Dyckesville has improved. Most anglers were targeting whitefish. The best catches have been in 10 to 15 feet of water. Most anglers were using pimps tipped with a wax worm. The perch fishing has also improved somewhat with most angles caching perch in 20 to 30 feet of water. The best bait has been a jigging spoon tipped with ether a wax worm or minnow. Anglers were also using tip-ups to try and finagle a perch in to biting. At Sturgeon Bay Perch fishing continues to be slow of Potawatomi State Park. The perch that were caught have been smaller in size. Most anglers have been fishing about 10 feet of water. A few anglers were finding some success off the stone quarry, but mot fish that were kept were small. Whitefish action was been good out of Little Sturgeon Bay, with a few limit catches being reported. The best depths have been in 30 to 40 feet of water. Anglers were also getting a few perch and walleyes mixed in.
Potawatomi State Park
Not many people have been ice fishing on Sawyer Harbor. Perch fishers report slow activity.
Crawford County -
As of Feb. 2, the Mississippi River stage was 7.4 feet. All last week the river slowly dropped and stabilized over the weekend. Only daily water level readings are available throughout the winter, so no forecast is available. The majority of the main channel is frozen over. All the back waters of both the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers are also frozen over. Generally speaking the ice conditions are in pretty good shape with a few exceptions. Most of the back water areas with no current flowing through them have around 24 or more inches of ice. Sloughs with current flowing under the ice vary in thickness and can change daily. Caution must we used while traveling on the ice and safety precautions should be taken. Another week of poor ice fishing. Fishing pressure on Sturgeon Slough declined because action slowed there. Ice conditions there are good. McGregor Lake (aka Sturgeon or Horseshoe) has been very quite too. A few more anglers have ventured out there and report slow action. Cold Spring’s ice conditions improved this week but caution is advised around the boat landing. Most anglers are still accessing Cold Spring from the southern lobe at the handicap access site. Some anglers are now starting to walk in from the boat landing and crossing the creek near the rail road bridge. Again, caution is advised in the area near the rail road bridge. Bluegill and crappie action at Cold Spring has been very slow and most anglers are targeting the south lobe’s east shore line and northern end. A reminder to all anglers fishing at Cold Spring. Cold Spring is considered inland water, not boundary waters. Different fishing regulations are in effect there and non-residents must possess a non-resident fishing license. The Ambro Slough was quiet again this week. Anglers are crossing over the Ambro Slough from the DNR boat landing. The USFWS boat landing on North Ambro Road is still very dangerous because Mill Coulee Creek enters there and open water or very thin ice exists. This area should be avoided. Mud Slough and Tilmont Lake have been very slow. Like last week, not many anglers fishing there right. Some anglers are fishing on the Ambro Slough and No-Name Slough across from Ambro Road but action was slow. Anglers have been avoiding Gremore Lake because it too has been very slow. Few anglers are even fishing there. The “bottom end” of Gremore Lake near the Ambro Slough/Big Lake area was slow this week too. Fish Lake and Little Missouri have been pretty slow this week, except Fish Lake has produced a few bluegills. Many anglers are venturing up to Big Missouri and the Upper Doubles but action has been very slow. Those using ATVs or other vehicles to travel on the ice are reminded that USFWS law prohibits operation on any shoreline, island, or upland area within the Refuge boundary. The Fennimore Cut and Spring Lake were spotty. Some decent crappie and bluegill have been taken there but few and far between. Sauger have been biting below the Lynxville dam. A variety of baits have produced fish to include jigging Rapalas, One-Eyes, and lead head jigs tipped with minnow. Some decent walleyes have been take there too. There isn’t much ice below the dam and that ice changes daily due to the heavy current. Fishing below the dam is extremely dangerous especially near the center of the channel where only an inch or so of ice exists.
Wausau, WI area fishing report 2.5.09
The walleye bite has picked back up in the past week or two and remains solid during the low-light and nighttime periods. Frabill tip-ups baited with large golden shiners or sucker minnows are a good bet - leave the "small" bait at the bait shop. Look for mid-lake humps, large points extending into deeper water, and channel irregularities in the lakes and reservoirs to be holding fish; begin by working the sharper breaks, especially those adjacent to the deepest water during the day.
As the evening progresses, move tip-ups up the breaks, with some right on the top of the structure. Locate and fish the greenest weed edges where available. Rocks as well as stumps/snags should we fished as well. Keep in mind that some very good-sized walleyes are yet coming from depths of water less than 6'. Anglers looking to score while jigging should consider using jigging spoons such as the Buckshot Rattle spoon or lures such as the Jigging Rapala - whichever you use, tip the lure with a minnow head.
Northern pike are greedily consuming large golden shiners along the deeper weed lines of back bays, as well as along the stump fields and irregular breaks of sections of main river channel; the bite has been best from mid-morning until late afternoon. As February progresses and the average temperature increases, large dead baits will begin producing some of the biggest pike of the ice fishing season.
The channel catfish population has been active for anglers looking to test their fish-fighting skills on a jigging rod. St. Croix and Frabill jigging rods used to work rattling-style jigging spoons tipped with minnow’s heads will produce action. Start by locating areas of river channel and then key in on the deeper holes within. Begin at the "head" of the hole as the most active fish have been holding there. Keep the bait less than a foot of the bottom and be ready and willing to move to locate sections holding willing cats.
www.wisconsinanglingadventures.comInformation compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
