Rhinelander, WI-Ice Fishing Report

[Realtree]

January 3rd, 2008

All eyes are on the weather as we head into the first weekend of the New Year. After a month of very good conditions for all outdoor enthusiasts we’re now looking at a forecast that calls for temperatures in the 30’s and possible rain. We can stand the 30’s but any rain would be a major issue. As it is now, mid week, snow cover is very good all across the north and ice on the lakes is mostly solid.

Ice fishing, especially for walleyes, has continued at a strong pace. Walleyes keep hitting! The past 30 days have seen ongoing success for walleye fishermen. The warm weather has helped; it’s easier to get enthused when temperatures are in the teens and 20’s rather than if it’s well below zero. So anglers have spent more time on the ice and that has often translated to more fish caught. But the simple fact remains that walleyes continue to feed actively in many lakes. Traditional hot spots, Lake Tomahawk, Crescent Lake and the Rainbow Flowage remain very good but we’ve had good reports from most walleye lakes in the area.

Panfish and northerns have been steady. We’ve not had a lot of reports, not enough certainly to see any clear patterns. Part of the reason is that with the walleyes hitting they’ve become the focus for most anglers. But there are perch and crappies being taken and northerns, while slower than in December, are still active.

There is a major issue right now with slush on lakes. The heavy snows of a few weeks ago started as a mix of rain and snow that gave way to wet snow and, finally, dry snow. The first hours of the storm left heavy wet snow that turned to slush on most lakes. The dry snow that followed has insulated the slush and it remains on most lakes. Where the slush has been exposed to the air through travel by snowmobiles and trucks, it’s frozen hard and is not a problem. But where snow covers the slush it’s there, thick and ugly. The fact is that it will probably remain until the upper layer of snow settles and we get some hard cold, the below zero cold that we can expect in January.

For now ice fishing is steady, ice conditions are mostly good (there are a few thin spots so double check any untraveled areas), and with the mild weather we expect good fishing conditions into the week.


Enjoy the Rhinelander Area Outdoors!

Report By:
Mel's Trading Post
105 South Brown Street
Rhinelander, WI 54501
715-362-5800