Wisconsin fishing reports 01/10/08

[Lee Borgersen]

Ashland Area    ( top )

Ashland Area

The area still hasn't gained or lost any ice the past several weeks. Heavy snows have insulated what's there, and the thickness has not increased. Machine travel from Washburn, toward the lighthouse, and over to Second Landing has been OK. All ice north of the Washburn coal dock to Houghton Point is still 3 to 5 inches, and travel up this way is still not recommended. There are some bad pressure cracks with which to contend. All water north of Houghton Point, to Long Island and north, is open, with some cake ice and bergs drifting about, but another good cold snap is needed to get ice over some deeper water. People are fishing all over Chequamegon Bay, from Washburn south through Ashland, and east over to Second Landing. Fishing reports have been mixed - good one day, slow the next. As usual, a mixed bag of species has been reported - from walleyes, northerns, smallies, and perch by Ashland to splake, browns, perch, burbot, lakers, and whitefish over by Washburn. You never know what you'll catch on the bay. There have been a few anglers using their small boats to fish the open water north of Washburn, to Bayfield and in the islands. The boat anglers have been doing well.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:44 AM CST

Beaver Dam Area    ( top )

Beaver Dam Area

On Beaver Dam Lake, anglers are catching walleyes after dark on tip-ups. Walleyes also are hitting at night on Fox Lake.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:43 AM CST

Boulder Junction Area    ( top )

Boulder Junction Area

Fishermen must use caution when traveling on the ice. A truck and a snowmobile went through on Big Muskellunge Lake recently, so be careful out there. There's also a lot of slush on the lakes, so travel can be difficult even with snowmobiles and ATVs. Fishing has been good, though, with walleye and northern pike action holding up very well heading into January. Panfish action also has been good, with some decent crappie action coming after dark.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:44 AM CST

Eagle River Area Copy    ( top )

Eagle River Area

The ability to travel on the ice is deteriorating because of slush and snow. It can be a nightmare getting out and around, so use common sense. Snowmobiles and ATVs can useful if caution is used, but forget about trucks for now. Meanwhile, northern pike action remains terrific. Fish in 16 feet or less in and around the weeds. Use a tip-up with a big shiner. The walleye bite also is quite good. Fish weeds, edges, and hard bottom in depths from 7 to 25 feet. Crappies, bluegills, and perch are all hanging out in and around weeds, or off of structure, in 16 feet of water or less. Use an ultralight rig with a small jig, tipped with a crappie minnow or waxie.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:43 AM CST

Green Bay Appleton Area    ( top )

Green Bay/Appleton Area

Fishing has been a little slow, but bluegills have been active on Shawano Lake, with the west end of the lake producing some bigger bluegills. A few perch were being caught at Oconto, and Geano's Beach was giving up some northern pike. The Fox River has been slow. Duck Creek and the Suamico River have been showing some perch action. At Little Sturgeon, anglers were scratching out a few perch, pike, and walleyes.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:44 AM CST

Hayward Area    ( top )

Hayward Area

Anglers are dealing with a lot of snow and slush on the lakes, but if they can get around, they're finding good northern pike and walleye action. On the bigger lakes, like Grindstone and Lac Courte Oreilles, anglers are fishing in the 20-foot range for walleyes. They anglers who are getting out are doing pretty well. Bluegill and perch fishing has been pretty good, too, but crappie action has been light.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:44 AM CST

La Crosse Area    ( top )

La Crosse Area

Fishing has been decent, with better panfish action in the afternoon on Lake Onalaska near “the H.” Anglers also are doing OK on Lake Neshonac and the Trempealeau lakes. Anglers must be careful along the Mississippi River and the backwaters because of ice conditions.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:44 AM CST

Lake Holcombe Area    ( top )

Lake Holcombe Area

Fishing has been kind of spotty, mostly because fishermen are working to get around because of the slush. They're catching some northern pike and crappies. Panfish are providing the best action.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:43 AM CST

Lake Michigan Metro Area Lakes    ( top )

Lake Michigan/Metro Area Lakes

Many tributaries and harbors had ice cover as of late last week, but use caution. Forecasts at the time were calling for rain and temperatures into the 40s. At Sheboygan, anglers were ice fishing on the north side of the marina, and brown trout and steelhead should be in the area. The Milwaukee River was open near the harbor. Anglers fishing with shiners below the Hoan Bridge were catching browns. Riverfront Ramp was in good condition, and boaters launching at the ramp were catching browns in the harbor. At Racine, water levels on the Root River fell recently, and flows are now good for drift-fishing, with browns and steelhead holding in deep holes. Anglers ice fishing in the Racine harbor were catching a few northerns and browns.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:43 AM CST

Lake Winnebago Area    ( top )

Lake Winnebago Area

Perch and white bass are hitting on Lake Winnebago, with the best action being 2 to 3 miles out on the lake from Oshkosh. On Lake Butte des Morts, the action has been picking up, with perch, crappies, white bass, and even a few walleyes being caught. Anglers are driving out from Sand Pit Road, but that might not last long if warm weather moves into the area. Lake Poygan has been hotter than a pistol for white bass, and anglers also are catching a few walleyes on Poygan.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:44 AM CST

Madison Area    ( top )

Madison Area

A lot of ice fishing is going on locally. Crappies are hitting on Cherokee Marsh. Lake Mendota is mostly covered with ice, but the deep water closed only recently. A few anglers are catching northern pike on Lake Mendota bays, with a few bluegills being caught on University Bay. On Lake Monona, most of the action has been in Monona Bay, and anglers are tip-up fishing for walleyes and northern pike along John Nolan Drive. Anglers are catching bluegills on the north end and south end of Lake Waubesa. The walleyes are coming after dark. On Lake Kegonsa, anglers are catching a few bluegills over deep water.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:44 AM CST

Marinette Area    ( top )

Marinette Area

Fishing has been a little slow lately. Anglers are still catching a few walleyes on the Menominee River. A few walleyes and northern pike also have been caught on Lake Noquebay. There always are a few anglers fishing down at the dam on the Menominee River every night, and they're catching some fish. Northern pike are hitting on the sloughs along the river. Most anglers are waiting for Green Bay to freeze.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:43 AM CST

Minocqua Woodruff Area    ( top )

Minocqua/Woodruff Area

Heavy, wet snow has caused a big slush problem that probably will remain all winter. The light, powdery snow on top of the slush will insulate the slush and ice. It will take a very warm stretch to melt the snow and slush down, which is very unlikely, or some super-cold temps for a couple of weeks, which is also unlikely. The ice will not get any thicker under current conditions.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:44 AM CST

Nekoose Area    ( top )

Nekoose Area

Slush wasn't a big problem on the Petenwell Flowage as of late last week and the fishing action has been at least average on most days. The walleyes and crappies seem to be biting better on bright days than on cloudy days. Anglers have been making some good catches of very nice crappies, with some of the best action along the river channel. Some of the crappies have hit 15 inches.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:44 AM CST

Rice Lake Area    ( top )

Rice Lake Area

Ice conditions are OK. Some anglers are using snowmobiles and ATVs, but with caution. Crappies are putting on a good bite. Fish afternoon hours in 12 feet of water off of cribs. Use an ultralight rig, tipped with a crappie minnow. Crappies are maxing out between 12 and 14 inches. Northern pike and walleye action has slowed down somewhat. Expect the bite to come back strong after the fronts move through. Anglers are still getting fish, the fish just aren't jumping out of the holes. For walleyes, fish late afternoon into evening in depths from 4 to 20 feet. Look for weed edges, drop-offs, or gravel areas. Use a sucker under a tip-up. A local angler caught a nice bunch of perch on Red Cedar Lake, but the bite is not consistent. This angler fished in 20 feet of water. The perch were hanging with the walleyes and hit a Swedish Pimple tipped with a bunch of waxies.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:44 AM CST

Sauk City Area    ( top )

Sauk City Area

Local fishermen have been finding good action on Crystal Lake for bluegills, especially during the last two hours of the day. On Fish Lake, anglers are catching largemouth bass and northern pike on tip-ups. They're releasing the bass. Panfish also have been hitting on Fish Lake. Trout are hitting on Devils Lake, and there is plenty of ice out there. Use medium fatheads under slip bobbers, or try jigging spoons. Anglers are catching some nice crappies on Lake Wisconsin, but the action has been sporadic.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:44 AM CST

Siren Area    ( top )

Siren Area

There is a road on the south end of Big Clam now, and traveling has been pretty decent. Anglers were catching mostly bluegills and northern pike on Clam Lake, but a couple of walleyes have come through the ice, too. Fishermen have been catching bluegills on Bashaw Lake, walleyes and crappies on Yellow Lake, northern pike on Clear Lake, and bass on Crooked Lake. An 11-pound, 11-ounce northern came in off of Big Sand Lake last week.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:43 AM CST

Spooner Area    ( top )

Spooner Area

Bluegills have been providing the best action in the area lately, but anglers also are catching a few walleyes and northern pike. Everyone is keeping an eye on ice conditions, but anglers are driving on a good share of the area lakes. Big Couderay had 20 inches of ice last week.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:44 AM CST

Sturgeon Bay Area    ( top )

Sturgeon Area

Perch fishing has been very good, with most of the fish in 4 to 12 feet on the inner bay of Little Sturgeon. Use small goldens, lake shiners, spikes, and waxies. Northern pike are hitting golden shiners in 12 feet of water. Some pike up to 32 inches and 14 pounds have been reported. Some smaller walleyes have been caught and released. No. 2 jigging Rapalas are working on the walleyes, but also for some bigger perch. Call ahead for ice conditions. Green Bay is open off of Henderson's Point. Ship traffic has weakened ice in Sawyer Harbor.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:43 AM CST

Upper Peninsula Report    ( top )

Upper Peninsule Report

Lake Gogebic ice conditions are improving steadily with the colder temps. Traveled routes are freezing in, but still use caution when venturing off the traveled routes - a crust of snow may have slush below it. Fishing also has rebounded. The perch have received some angler attention during the past few days, with the best results in 20 to 25 feet on wigglers. Some nice jumbos have hit the ice, and walleye action has also come alive in weeds in 6 to 10 feet, but the largest fish are coming from 20-foot depths, or more. These open-water walleyes are responding to tip-ups with suckers and jigging lures. Don't expect as much action fishing deep, but the quality of fish has been good.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:43 AM CST

Wausau Area    ( top )

Wausau Area

Very heavy snow on the lakes is making for tough travel for ice anglers. Locals are fishing close to boat landings or other access points, or are trying to use snowmobiles and four-wheelers to get around. The best suggestion is to walk. Panfishing for crappies and bluegills is very good. Fish 8 to 12 feet of water on mud flats. For crappies, use rosie reds or crappie minnows, fishing with tip-downs a foot or two off the bottom. For bluegills, jig with a rocker jig and use a waxie, spike, or crappie minnow. Limits are common. Northern pike and walleyes are in the same general spots. Fish cover/weeds/timber in 2 to 4 feet of water.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:43 AM CST

Wolf River System Lake Poygan Area    ( top )

Wolf River System/Lake Poygan Area

There is plowed vehicle ice road access down to mouth of the Rat River from Kiesow's. Anglers are catching some perch, and a few bluegills and walleyes. On Lake Poygan, there is a 2-mile road out from the old Duck Inn. Be careful where you go on lake. Ice thickness changes very quickly. Anglers are catching white bass and a few walleyes.

Thursday, January 10, 2008 11:43 AM CST