NORTHERN WISCONSIN – After a decent week with temps touching 50-plus degrees, we are dropping back down to highs in the 30s heading into the coming week.
This cold snap will help firm up surface ice that softened, giving anglers a more stable platform for the final weeks of the season. Mornings remain your best window for the easiest conditions out there, but with the cold this week things should hold well.
The ice base remains solid across the area, measuring 22 to 28 inches or more on most lakes. We haven’t heard of any big issues with access or mobility yet, but that’s coming. As always, use extra caution around south-facing shorelines and near-shore areas where ice degrades first, and areas with current, especially near channels.
Crappies continue to be found along the weed edges in six to 10 feet of water. In deeper water, look over mud flats in about 20 feet. The bite has been best during late afternoon and evening, with small vertical jigs tipped with waxies or crappie minnows producing solid numbers. If you can find a good school, you can have a very productive outing.
Bluegill action remains steady, with fish being caught a bit deeper over mud flats. A 32nd-oz. jig tipped with waxies or red spikes is a good go-to presentation. Lighter lines and subtle movements are key to triggering bites as fish can get a bit finicky this time of year.
The perch bite is improving as they continue to hang out deeper, favoring the deep mud flats. If you’re looking for larger perch, using crappie minnows or rosy reds will help weed out the smaller ones. The bite is a little inconsistent, but when they turn on, they’re hitting hard.
Ice fishing in the Northwoods is still going strong, but with spring approaching, it’s important to be mindful of changing conditions. This week, it looks like things will hold steady, as far as ice conditions go. The next couple of weeks should provide some great late-season panfish action. Now’s the time to enjoy the last stretch of quiet winter fishing before we start really dreaming of open water.
Good luck and good fishin’!
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