Wisconsin fishing reports 04/03/08

[Lee Borgersen]

Ashland Area    ( top )

Ashland Area

The area is losing ice in the islands steadily now. In closer, the South Channel is starting to break up a little, but around Bayfield and in the bay there is still plenty of ice. The lake trout bite has been OK, and whitefish have become a little more consistent, too. Try the 40- to 90-foot depths for them. Schools of herring and cohos have been spotted in the deeper waters of the bay. They're biting best right under the ice. River mouth fishing remains decent in the early mornings and late evenings. Use waxies and small shiners in 2 to 12 feet of water for steelies, cohos, browns, and splake. Right in front of town (Washburn and Ashland) there have been a few walleyes and northern pike starting to get active, as well.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

Eagle River Area    ( top )

Eagle River Area

Ice fishing continues - anglers are going out in droves, drilling lots of holes, moving about, and having excellent success with panfish. The bluegill bite has come on strong. Fish around weeds in 15 feet of water or less. Some nice bluegills are being caught. Crappies are in up to 35 feet of water and will suspend at different depths over and around structure. Use a minnow on a small jig under a slip bobber. Best jig colors are chartreuse and orange. Perch are hitting in two different areas - over mud flats in deeper water (35 feet or less), or in weeds in 15 feet of water or less. Use a waxie, spike, wiggler, or fathead.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

Green Bay Appleton Area     ( top )

Green Bay/Appleton Area

Walleye fishing on the Fox River is getting started. Last week, fishermen were concentrating on depths of 8 to 20 feet. Most of the fish were 18 to 24 inches, but one angler caught a 33-incher. The water clarity was pretty good last week, and the water temperature was 39 degrees. Most anglers are using jigs and minnows. Northern pike are starting to show up on the west shore of Green Bay, and that action should start getting better as water runs off the ice and into the holes. Whitefish action on the east side of Green Bay has been phenomenal from Dykesville up to Sturgeon Bay. Most of the whitefish are being caught on jigging spoons.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

La Crosse Area    ( top )

La Crosse Area

The main channel of the Mississippi River has opened and boat anglers have been congregating below Dresbach dam where they've been having moderate to good action on walleyes and sauger. Anglers have been using the Seventh Street landing in La Crosse to launch large crafts and have been pushing smaller boats across a short expanse of ice from the upper Dresbach dam landing to reach the Mississippi. Use caution when traveling on area backwaters as ice conditions are quickly deteriorating.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

Lake Michigan Metro Area Lakes    ( top )

Lake Michigan/Metro Area Lakes

In Sheboygan, the marina still has ice in most areas, and the boat launch is not usable. Ice on the Sheboygan River is breaking up, and faster-moving stretches of river are open. Fishing off the south pier has been slow.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

Lake Winnebago Area    ( top )

Lake Winnebago Area

Perch action has been hot along the west shore of Winnebago off of Oshkosh. There is still a fair amount of ice on the lake, but the launches and shorelines are opening up.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

Madison Area    ( top )

Madison Area

Anglers were still out fishing the Madison lakes as of March 25, but shore ice was getting poor. There was anywhere from 15 to 20 inches of ice on the south end of Lake Waubesa. The ice off of the north end of the lake near Lake Farm Park was getting rotten, and the river channel was opening up. Anglers have been getting a few bluegills and perch. Shoreline access has eroded in many areas.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

Manitowoc Two Rivers Area    ( top )

Manitowoc/Tow Rivers

Harbor areas are open. On the Manitowoc River, fishing was slow. One angler picked up a small rainbow trout off the north pier stub. On the south pier, one angler landed a nice brown. A few anglers caught browns and steelheads in Silver Creek late last week, but fishing was slow. In Two Rivers, fishing from the piers has been slow. Ice has broken up from the boat ramp, allowing a few boaters to launch. Most boaters have been trolling the shoreline with crankbaits.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

Minocqua Woodruff Area    ( top )

Minocqua/Woodruff Area

Winter just won't let go, with single-digit temps early last week. Ice thickness is holding at 30 to 34 inches on average. Travel is very good. Many anglers have two-wheel-drive cars on the lakes. Crappie action is good to very good. Deep water is still the best bet for large fish. Use tip-downs baited with minnows (rosies seem to be preferred). Fish mud in 18 to 26 feet along firm-bottomed transition zones. Fish 2 to 4 feet off bottom. Weed crappies are turning on, and bluegill action is good to very good. Use mousies, spikes, and Chena in 7 to 10 of water over weeds.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

Nekoosa Area    ( top )

Nekoosa Area

As of early last week, water levels were still very low. With warm weather coming, the dam gate may be opened to get levels rising and fish moving up to the dam. Boaters are having excellent catches of walleyes. Many slot fish in the 20- to 25-inch range are being reported in the deeper holes downriver, and limits of “harvest” walleyes also are being caught. Shore fisherman are having a slower bite due to water levels and the lack of flow. Some are having success downstream in few areas early and late in the day. Most fish are being taken on jigs and minnows, river rigs, and Lindy rigs. Fish slowly.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

Wausau Area    ( top )

Wausau Area

Walleye fishing is under way on the Wisconsin River. Work the deep pools and river bends with heavier jigs, tipped with fatheads. Anglers can still cash in on late-ice crappies and bluegills; they're taking rocker-style jigs tipped with waxies or spikes. There also are a fair number of crappies and a few jumbo perch hitting on tip-downs baited with small minnows.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

Wolf River System Lake Poygan Area    ( top )

Wolf River System/Lake Poygan Area

The Wolf River opened up on March 27 and three boats accounted for 12 fish while fighting ice. Water levels are a little low, but local fishermen are expecting a good run.

Thursday, April 3, 2008 11:04 AM CDT