Wisconsin fishing reports 12/13/07

[Lee Borgersen]

Fishing Reports
Ashland Area | Beaver Dam Area | Big Green Lake Area | Boulder Junction Area | Chetek Area | Chippewa Falls Area | Eagle River Area | Green Bay Appleton Area | Hayward Area | La Crosse Area | Lake Michigan Metro Area Lakes | Lake Winnebago Area Lakes | Little Green Lake Area | Madison Area | Marinette Area | Minocqua Woodruff Area | Nekoosa Area | Park Falls Area | Prairie Du Chein Area | Rice Lake Area | Sauk City Area | Siren Area | Spooner Area | Sturgeon Bay Area | Wausau Area | Wolf River System

 

Ashland Area

Cold temps are freezing up the smaller inland lakes, and there have been a few people venturing out on foot. Not all lakes are safe. Use a spud bar, and check as you go. Some lakes are still open in places, other lakes have from skim ice to up to 4 inches of ice in places. Reports have been good for shallow-water action on panfish, northern pike, and some walleyes. Bring creepers; it was glare ice in most places last week.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Beaver Dam Area    ( top )

Beaver Dam Area

Fishermen were out on Beaver Dam as of early last week and they're catching a lot of walleyes, including limits of legal fish (three fish 18 inches or longer). Most of the walleyes are being caught on golden shiners under tip-ups. Anglers are also catching bluegills and perch on Fox Lake and Lazy Lake in Fall River is giving up a lot of big bluegills.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Big Green Lake Area    ( top )

Big Green Lake Area

There is ice in the bays and canals of Big Green Lake, and anglers are fishing Beyer's Cove, the “T canal,” and in the bay in downtown Green Lake. Anglers were catching bluegills, perch, northern pike, and smallmouth bass last week.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Boulder Junction Area    ( top )

Boulder Junction Area

Most of the lakes are ice-covered and fishing had been pretty good, but a heavy snowfall started to produce some slush in spots as of late last week. A cold spell that was forecast should freeze down the slush. In the meantime, anglers found good walleye and northern pike action, along with a few bluegills and crappies.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Chetek Area    ( top )

Chetek Area

Most area lakes had 5 to 6 inches of ice in the bays and closer to shore. Anglers were catching northerns and walleyes on the Chetek chain. Some panfish are being caught, but most of them have been small.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Chippewa Falls Area    ( top )

Chippewa Falls Area

There was some ice on small lakes and bays in the area, but the big lakes were still open as of last week. In some places there is snow on an inch or two of ice, so anglers have to be very careful. Some guys were still fishing open water on the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers on warmer days. The fishing has been decent for the few places anglers can go.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Eagle River Area    ( top )

Eagle River Area

Some bays on smaller lakes had 2 to 3 inches of ice in spots last week and some life-long locals who know these spots were going out cautiously. The great early-ice fishing will still provide plenty of action for those who are cautious and wait for safer ice. Ice anglers are picking up northern pike and walleyes in and around weed edges in 4 to 12 feet. Fish northerns during the day, using a tip-up and a shiner, and go for the walleyes late in the day and into the evening hours, using a tip-up and a shiner or small sucker. Anglers can also get some good bluegill action in the shallow weeds, in depths from 4 to 6 feet. Use a waxie or minnow.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Green Bay Appleton Area    ( top )

Green Bay/Appleton Area

Panfishing has been pretty good on area lakes, including Shawano Lake for walleyes and bluegills and the Oconto breakwater for perch. At Oconto Falls, anglers are catching panfish and northern pike. The Machickanee Flowage is offering up some decent panfish action. Most of the lakes are ice covered and can be walked on, but use caution. It will be some time before Green Bay ices over.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Hayward Area    ( top )

Hayward Area

Most of the area lakes had 3 to 5 inches of ice last week, and the big lakes were starting to get ice around the shorelines. The fishing has been pretty good, with good reports on walleyes and northern pike. There's a little more snow on the ice than most anglers would like to see, but there have been no problems with slush at this point. Everyone is walking out at this point. There was a little bit of interest in the muzzleloader hunting, with some reports of rutting activity during the special season. Hunters who went out reported they had good success.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

La Crosse Area    ( top )

La Crosse Area

Ice formed at Stoddard, and anglers were catching nice bluegills as of last week. On Lake Onalaska, there was enough ice for fishing off of Fisherman's Road. Anglers were catching panfish, but they had to sort for size. On the west side of Lake Onalaska, trappers were walking across to Rosebud Island, and anglers were out on the ice, catching some perch. Over on the Black River near town, anglers found some ice and were catching crappies. The main river is icing over and it's impossible now to launch a boat, so boat fishing for walleyes is over for the winter.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Lake Michigan Metro Area Lakes    ( top )

Lake Michigan/Metro Area Lakes

In Milwaukee County, ice is forming on most tributaries, but the Milwaukee River remained open near the harbor last week. Shore anglers behind the Summerfest grounds have been catching a few browns on minnows or spawn sacs fished near the bottom.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Lake Winnebago Area Lakes    ( top )

Lake Winnebago Area

Ice conditions are improving for walking, especially in the bays, channels, and sloughs. Anglers are catching a lot of bluegills and a few perch, too. A few northern pike have turned up.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Little Green Lake Area    ( top )

Little Green Lake Area

Little Green Lake had ice depths varying from 3 to 6 inches as of last week. The lake was completely covered. Anglers were fishing at the island and the point for bluegills and crappies. Northern pike were being caught on tip-ups baited with shiners.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Madison Area    ( top )

Madison Area

Ice was starting to form in quite a few areas last week. Cherokee Marsh had 3 to 4 inches of ice as of last week, with fishermen catching quite a few panfish. Lake Waubesa had ice on the north end of the lake, with fishermen venturing out a short distance. Lake Kegonsa had ice at Viking Park, where anglers were catching bluegills. Lake Monona was starting to form some ice last week.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Marinette Area    ( top )

Marinette Area

Fishermen were heading out on 6 inches of ice at Cattenbach on the Menominee River where they were catching both bluegills and northern pike. Anglers were also fishing at Ma's on the Peshtigo River for bluegills. The river in Marinette is starting to freeze over, and anglers were catching trout during the day, and walleyes at night.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Minocqua Woodruff Area    ( top )

Minocqua/Woodruff Area

Cold weather late last week helped build ice quickly on the lakes that were already skimmed over. Even Lake Minocqua completely froze up on Nov. 30. Heavy snows early in the month could pose a problem with slush unless it gets very cold and dry again. Some lakes, flowages, and bays reported 5 to 7 inches of ice, so the early ice season is off and running. Walleye action has been excellent. Anglers reported hot action during the daylight hours on the flowages. Lakes were producing from dawn until 10 a.m., then again from 3 p.m. until dark and after. Nice fish to 7 pounds were reported. Northern pike action is also excellent. Wind has kept most panfishermen at bay. The focus has been on the hot, early-ice walleye. Most anglers used tip-ups, but early ice is a great time to jig.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Nekoosa Area    ( top )

Nekoose Area

Fishermen are still fishing around the edges of Petenwell Flowage. There were about 3 inches of ice in the bays as of last week. Angles were catching walleyes and even a few catfish. Some anglers are also fishing Devil's Elbow, and were doing well there.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Park Falls Area    ( top )

Park Falls Area

The cold weather has thickened the ice on local lakes, with most waters now having about 6 inches of ice. However, some of the open-water areas that were present on the larger lakes just recently froze over and may only have 1 or 2 inches of ice. Early-season anglers should be extremely cautious when traveling on any water body, and be especially wary around inlets, outlets, the centers of the larger lakes, and around any moving water. A few nice catches of walleyes have been reported from the edges of the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, but fish have been hard to come by on most other lakes in the area. Action should improve as the ice thickens. Walleye anglers should target the mud flats in 6 to 10 feet of water, use medium-sized suckers or golden shiners and fish them 6 to 8 inches off the bottom. Northern pike anglers should try to find old weed beds and then hang a large golden shiner near any green weeds that are found.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Prairie Du Chein Area    ( top )

Prairie Du Chien Area

There is ice in the area - about 3 to 4 inches on backwaters and small lakes. Anglers were fishing the Gremore, Mud Slough, Blackhawk Park, and the Lansing dike areas as of last week, catching mostly bluegills. Most of the landings are frozen up at the locks, so no one has been launching boats for walleyes.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Rice Lake Area    ( top )

Rice Lake Area

Hard-water anglers are getting northern and walleye action in depths ranging from 4 to 12 feet in whatever weeds can be found. During the day use a tip-up with a shiner for the northerns, and towards dusk and into the evening hours use a tip-up and a fathead or small sucker for the walleyes. It's too early to fish deep-water points, where the walleyes congregate. A perfect example is Red Cedar Lake, where the points of bays in deep water are primo for walleyes when the ice comes in. Right now the water is so open, goose hunters in boats are plying these areas, so be a little patient. We'll keep you posted. There's good bluegill action in the shallow weeds, running in 5 to 6 feet of water. Use a waxie or minnow. Some nice fish are being caught.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Sauk City Area    ( top )

Sauk City Area

Anglers are catching bluegills on Lake Wisconsin at Whalen's Grade and in the sloughs, and they're also catching bluegills on Crystal Lake. On Lake Wisconsin, anglers found about 5 inches of ice on Lake Wisconsin sloughs.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Siren Area    ( top )

Siren Area

Most of the area's lakes now are covered over with ice, and anglers are fishing on Doctors, Yellow, and Clam.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Spooner Area    ( top )

Spooner Area

All of the area lakes have frozen over and anglers are out looking for panfish, northern pike, and walleyes.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Sturgeon Bay Area    ( top )

Sturgeon Bay Area

Anglers were walking from the new boat launch at Little Sturgeon, but most local fishermen were waiting for better ice conditions.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Wausau Area    ( top )

Wausau Area

While limited open water remains and the ice in current areas is unsafe yet, the backwaters, bays, and shallow flats have 3 to 7 inches of good ice, but keep safety in mind. The bluegill and crappie fishing was pretty good, with some nice fish of both species biting aggressively. Depths of 3 to 7 feet with wood and/or green weeds were holding fish. Panfish-sized jigs tipped with live bait worked well, with brighter colors seeming to produce the most action. Walleye fishing has been a bit more spotty, making it necessary to move to locate areas of active fish. Tip-ups baited with sucker minnows are a good bet, with the early morning and evening hours producing the most action. The northern bite has been good, with some larger fish finding their way up and out of the ice holes. Tip-ups baited with live bait, either suckers or large golden shiners, have been productive. Several of the backwater areas and bays have produced consistent action for anglers seeking those toothy adversaries.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST

Wolf River System    ( top )

Wolf River System

Most spots had 4 to 6 inches of ice, with panfish hitting at most spots, including the Fremont area. Partridge and Partridge Crop lakes are frozen, and anglers are fishing. White Lake has covered over, as well.

Thursday, December 13, 2007 9:15 AM CST