Fishing Report: Looks to stay very cold

NORTHERN WISCONSIN – After another stretch of very cold weather and more to come, ice conditions around the area are continuing to improve for hardwater anglers.

Continued small snowfalls and wind-driven snow redistribution have mostly stayed packed down on many lakes where there has been regular foot or machine travel, so getting around out there is getting much easier. We’re seeing ice in the 14- to 18-inch range or better throughout the area. It’s been a great season so far, despite some challenging weather to start.

Walleye action remains strong and is among the highlights of fishing right now. It was a good weekend, despite the cold, with fish caught on weed edges and transitions in the typical mid-winter depths. Concentrate efforts in eight- to 14-foot depths along structured breaks and weed edges, and if fish aren’t cooperating there, try deeper flats in the 15- to 25-foot range. Medium shiners and suckers continue to produce, and which are working, but seem to depend some on location and depth. That late afternoon timeframe through dark continues to be the best.

Northern pike anglers are reporting very good to good success with baited tip-ups, using larger shiners fished along weed edges in eight to 15 feet. We’ve seen some nice fish caught this last week, and the combo of Northern fishing in the early daytime hours with a switch to walleye in the late afternoon makes for a great day on the ice.

Panfish action is holding steady for those who put in the time. Perch have been found primarily in deeper water on flats, generally in the 14- to 20-foot range, with fast-dropping heavy spoons tipped with spikes and small plastics getting bites. Bluegills are in shallower structure near remaining weed edges under 10 feet, taking small jigs tipped with waxies or spikes. Crappie have been a challenge to some, but have been found using slow presentation around weed edges in the 10- to 15-feet-plus-zone.

The coming week looks to stay very cold, as we cross our fingers and hope that we make it back into the double digits – above zero – by the end of the week. Won’t that feel nice! In the meantime, keep presentations slow and target deeper and/or transition areas as the fish begin to settle in for winter.  

Good luck and good fishin’!