Wisconsin Statewide fishing report 2.5.10Ice conditions continue to be very good on most lakes. The relatively stable and more moderate weather of the past few days has been a pleasant change for ice anglers, but fishing success continues to be very inconsistent. Most species still appear to be in a mid-winter period of inactivity, with northern pike providing the best action in the past week. Walleye anglers report generally slow action. Panfish action has also been very spotty and these anglers have been moving around quite a bit, with a few catches of crappie and perch reported.
On Green Bay, anglers continue to report some whitefish action, and perch fishing has been good. Permanent shacks are now seen south of Geano Beach fishing the flats for northern pike. Along Lake Michigan, open water anglers have been catching a few brown trout at Port Washington and some browns and rainbows in Milwaukee. Milwaukee and Racine harbors have ice cover, but both also have areas of open water. Both browns and rainbows have been taken through the ice but fishing has been relatively slow.
The Mississippi River is starting to slowly settle again. The river stage dropped a couple inches and was at 7.8 feet on Feb. 1. Ice conditions in most areas improved with most of the popular ice fishing spots having between 10 to 24 inches of ice. Ice is now very slippery on the frozen waters now that most of the snow melted. Ice fishing action slowed down late in the week.
The 19th Annual Kids? Ice Fishing Clinics are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6, at six park ponds and lagoons in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties: The clinics begin at 9 a.m. Anglers 15 years and younger will receive instruction on ice safety and the proper use of equipment and techniques such as knot tying. All equipment will be provided for these free events.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) -
Ice conditions continue to be very good. Most lakes have between 14 and 16 inches of solid ice, with about 4 to 5 inches of snow cover on top of that. Packed trails have developed on many waters and this has allowed anglers to access most of their favorite fishing spots. However, there are still quite a few rough areas with frozen ruts and ridges, so snowmobilers and anglers should be careful when traveling on the lakes. The relatively stable and more moderate weather of the past few days has been a pleasant change for ice anglers, but fishing success continues to be very inconsistent. Most species still appear to be in a mid-winter period of inactivity, with northern pike providing the best action in the past week. Some decent action has been occurring during the mid-day hours, with large golden shiners fished over the top or along the edges of any old weed beds. A few trophy pike have been reported, with nicest one being a 42-incher caught on a Price County lake this past Saturday. Most of the regular walleye anglers have reported generally slow action. No one tactic has been better than the other -- as shallow flats, gravel drop-offs, rock bars and weed edges have all been experiencing some activity. Panfish action has also been very spotty and these anglers have been moving around quite a bit. The most successful anglers have been moving from spot to spot on a lake, catching one here and one there while continually searching for the active fish. Success has been generally low but a few fair catches of crappie and perch have been reported.
Marinette County -
Fishing has slowed some for walleye at the Hatie Street Dam. Spoons and jigs tipped with minnows fished close to the dam has still been the main technique, with blue/silver being the hot color. Panfish anglers at the Hometown Marina were catching panfish, but there were a lot of smaller fish. The 6th Street Slip has grown into a small community with walleye and whitefish on the agenda, and anglers jigging in 15 to 25 feet of water.
Oconto County -
Permanent shacks can be seen south of Geano Beach fishing the flats for northern pike; large shiner minnows suspended a foot off the bottom have been producing some action. Four-wheelers have been traveling out the mouth of the Pensaukee River in search of perch and pike. Oconto Breakwater Park anglers have been concentrating on pike in the flats north of the break, whitefish and perch by the mouth of the Oconto River, and across the shove for perch in deeper water.
Sturgeon Bay
Fishing was good earlier in the week at Dykesville, with anglers fishing perch in 15 to 30 feet of water. Most anglers have been using minnows and waxworms for bait. The best bite seemed to be in the mornings for most anglers. The whitefish have also been targeted over the last week with some good catches of fish. A small jig or jigging spoon tipped with a waxworm produced the most fish. With the warm spell at the end of last week, the ice conditions have not been favorable at Little Sturgeon Bay. People have still been driving on the ice inside the bay. Many soft spots have opened up outside the bay and in and around Sand Bay as well. Anglers were getting good numbers of perch inside the bay. The best catches have come in 10 to 12 feet of water. Minnows were the bait of choice for most anglers. Whitefish action slowed a bit around Henderson point to Lime Kiln Road, but anglers that were willing to put in some time have found success. Sturgeon Bay anglers have been fishing northern pike out of the yacht club over the last week, with a few pike being caught. Large golden shiners have been the bait of choice. Bullhead Point has had some activity with walleyes and a few large perch being caught. Anglers that have been fishing around the state park have found some success on perch. The perch have been hanging in the deeper weeds due to very clear ice conditions. Also the pike fishing has been slow around the park. There was some open water around Stone Quarry and Cabot?s Point; use caution when fishing in these areas.
Milwaukee and Waukesha counties -
The 19th Annual Kids? Ice Fishing Clinics are scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6, beginning at 9 a.m. Anglers 15 years and younger will receive instruction on ice safety and the proper use of equipment and techniques such as knot tying. All equipment will be provided for these free events. Clinics will be held at the following park ponds and lagoons in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties:
Humboldt Park, 3000 S. Howell Avenue, hosted by Great Lakes Sport Fishermen and Milwaukee Casting Club.
McCarty Park, 8214 W. Cleveland Avenue, a wheelchair accessible site, with clinic hosted by Southside Sportsmen.
McGovern Park, 5400 N. 51st Street, a wheelchair accessible site, with clinic hosted by Okauchee Fishing Club.
Scout Lake, 5902 W. Loomis Road, a wheelchair accessible site, hosted by Walleyes Unlimited.
Wilson Park, 1601 W. Howard Avenue, hosted by Wisconsin Fishing Clubs
Menomonee Park/Lannon Quarry, Townline Road, hosted by Badger Fishermen?s League (One-half mile north or Good Hope Rd, Menomonee Falls)
Crawford County -
The Mississippi River is starting to slowly settle again. The river stage dropped a couple inches and was at 7.8 feet on Feb. 1. Ice conditions in most areas improved after the warm weather and rain. 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. 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 fishers must now make sure they wear ice cleats on their boots as very slippery conditions exist on the frozen waters now that most of the snow melted. Ice fishing action slowed down late in the week. Fishing activity and ice conditions are as follows: Prairie du Chien Area and Lower bottoms: Garnet Lake has decent ice but access is very dangerous. Fishing activity there has been spotty. Dilman?s pit was producing some very nice white bass (stripers) near the bottom of 40 feet of water, but that has slowed recently. Ice conditions are pretty good except for Rotten Slough, St. Feriole Slough and Hunter?s Slough which are located near the sewer treatment plant. Caution in these areas is advised. Anglers have been fishing between the Blackhawk and Washington Street bridges. Bluegill activity was slow. Prairie du Chien Ambro Slough Complex: The lower end of Gremore Lake really slowed down. Even so a few crappie, bluegill and perch were taken. Tilmont Lake was producing perch and bluegills, but that area really slowed. There is about 20 inches of ice on Tilmont Lake. Anglers are urged to use caution crossing over the Black Slough. Mud Slough, the Lower Doubles and Fish Lake have been very slow. Ice conditions there are good with around 20 inches of ice. Little Missouri was hot last week for a few days but really slowed by the end of the week. 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. 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. Largemouth bass have been active throughout the Ambro Slough complex. Panfish anglers report catching many undersized bass and few keeper size. 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 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 very slow. Reports of a few bluegill and crappie 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 with a few sauger and an occasional walleye being taken. Ice conditions have been reported as ranging from an inch or two to 6 or more inches.
Hayward Lakes Outdoor Report 2.3.10
http://wisconsinoutdoor.com/smf/index.php?topic=3321.0Minocqua Wi. area fishing report 2.2.10
http://wisconsinoutdoor.com/smf/index.php?topic=3301.0Chippewa Flowage fishing report 2.1.10
http://wisconsinoutdoor.com/smf/index.php?topic=3294.0Information compiled from the WDNR Outdoor report and private sources
