Fishing Report: It may be late, but the hard water is coming

NORTHERN WISCONSIN – We finally got some of the rain we were hoping for.

Last week’s slow-moving front delivered like it was supposed to, and the end of the week felt a lot more like November –frosty mornings, a raw north wind and even a few snowflakes in the mix.

This week looks to be warmer again, and hopefully we’ll get some more rain midweek. After that, the longer-range outlook keeps us on the mild side, with no real arctic air in sight. That’s good news if you still have the boat in the water – but not what the ice anglers want to hear. Ideally we’d have the start of that season in clear view, or even started by now!

Our lakes are done with turnover and water temps dropped some behind the front. Most lakes are now in the low to mid-40s. The shallower lakes are a little colder than that, and the big, deep lakes are holding on to more heat. With mild days ahead, expect water temps to hold steady or drop only slowly. The rain helped a bit, but many landings are still on the low side, so keep taking it easy around the ramps.

Walleye are in their late fall pattern. During the day, the bigger fish are deep on gravel and rock bars, hard-to-soft bottom transitions and the deeper holes in 20 to 35 feet. Smaller fish are still moving up shallow in the evening – sometimes shockingly shallow. Fish the holes, current areas and sharper breaks, which is where most of the action has been. A jig and a walleye sucker or a big fathead worked slowly along bottom is still the best choice. If the mild days slow the bite down, slow down your presentation even more and stay put on the spots that hold fish. Cloudy days and the last hour of light are your best bet.

Northern pike are on the weed edges that are still green, in six to 12 feet next to deep water. Spoons, spinnerbaits and swimbaits will all catch fish. A bigger walleye- or pike-sized sucker under a bobber on the weed edge is still a great way to catch a bigger one.

Panfish are a good option on the calm days. Perch are on the sand and mud flats in 12 to 20 feet, with the big guys still mixing with the walleye. Look for crappie schooled over basin edges and deep cribs in 18 to 28 feet.  Go deeper as the water cools, watch your electronics for suspended schools, and keep your bait just above them. Bluegill are holding on the deepest green weeds, and a small jig with a waxie will do the job if they’re in the eating mood.

Musky fishing continues to be the main event. Quick-set rigs on deep weed edges, steep breaks and rock humps in 14 to 30 feet are producing most of the fish. Soft swimbaits, glide baits and big rubber worked slowly are still the best casting options. Follows are coming deep and late in the retrieve, so finish every cast with a big figure-eight. The mild, stable days early in the week are good for big fish, especially in the afternoon, and so is the cloud cover midweek.

With gun deer season coming up in a couple of weeks, the landings will get even quieter for those that hit the water. If you’re going out alone, let someone know where you’re headed – and that water is cold now, so wear your life jacket! It seems the ice anglers will need their patience pants again this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get prepared. Get your gear out, checked and ready. It may be late, but the hard water is coming.

Good luck and good fishin’!