Northern Wisconsin Ice Fishing Report

Warmer weather is welcomed! Time for some Ice Fishing!

We’ve had a couple good cold snaps that have made the ice thick enough to safely venture out on most area lakes. Make sure to check the ice depth along your pathway to make sure it is thick enough. Some warmer weather would be nice to be able to do some hole hopping without freezing your hands so quickly. Remember that some of the area lakes are also marked with barrels for snowmobiles and to punch your holes away from the trail areas.

Northern Pike:

We are finding fish on the weed edges and in the deeper weeds. On the edges the set up should be tip ups set a foot or so off the bottom. When fishing the deep weeds, set your tip ups so that your bait is just above the tops of the weeds.

Walleye:

These fish are being caught in a couple of areas, in and around weeds. Setting tip ups on the weed edges baited with walleye suckers or medium golden shiners in low light conditions seem to be best. Also, jigging in the same areas with baits like the buckshot rattle spoon are producing fish. The other good option is on the tops of rock humps for good spots in the early evening.

Panfish:

Bluegills are being found in the weeds using small jigs tipped with waxies, spikes or tipped with plastic. Perch are being caught on the deep weed edge where the mud meets.

Happy fishing! Selective harvest is the way to go. Colin Crawford’s Guide Service, crawfordfishing@gmail.com (715)891-2715. Website is www.crawfordfishing.com or you can also find Phelps Outdoors on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

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