AMERY AREA
Ice depths vary from 4 to 10 inches and some big lakes still have pockets of open water. Crappies are suspended over 14 to 21 feet on North Twin Lake or 12 to 20 feet on Big Butternut Lake. The north end of Lake Wapogasset is kicking out a mixed bag of panfish in 12 feet. Balsam Lake is producing sunfish in 10 feet. Sunfish and crappies bit in 10 to 12 feet on Big Round Lake.
Country Store, (715) 268-7482.
ASHLAND AREA
There are a few anglers walking out on the ice on the Ashland side of Chequamegon Bay. However, spud your way. Not all ice is safe at this time. Bring your ice bar and safety equipment, including flotation equipment at all times. Hopefully, the weather will continue to make ice. There are people fishing the inland lakes in Ashland and Bayfield counties. There have been reports of nice crappies being caught using waxies, golden shiners and fathead minnows.
Angler’s All, (715) 682-5754.
River Rock, (715) 682-3232.
DOOR PENINSULA AND ALGOMA/KEWAUNEE AREA
The perch fishing can be good once we start seeing safe ice form in bays around Door County. Sawyer Harbor, Little Sturgeon and Riley’s Bay are generally the first bays to freeze up since they are the shallowest and are very good first ice areas to target perch.
The pike fishing is also going good for the very few fishermen who are targeting them. Casting and trolling crankbaits, spinnerbaits and large plastics are all good options, along with soaking some suckers from the docks in and around the harbors north of Sturgeon Bay. And as far as ice fishing, those same three shallow bays will produce pike once we get safe ice cover.
There is still some brown trout action going on from the docks around the harbors north of Sturgeon Bay. Folks have been casting spoons and plugs with some moderate success. With that said, the trolling bite can be really good too if you can take the frigid temperatures and battle the floating ice chunks. Once the ice forms, concentrate your efforts around all of those marinas from Sturgeon Bay north to Sister Bay
The walleye bite will require some time to start back up with ice condition needing to improve greatly to reach the areas where those fish live during the winter. Sherwood Point, Henderson’s Point, the Potawatomi State Park shoreline, along with the vast shoreline to the north and south of Sturgeon Bay, are all good walleye areas.
Howie’s Tackle, (920) 746-9916.
Algoma Chamber of Commerce, (920) 487-3090.
EAGLE RIVER AREA
We’ve had a lot of warmer weather, but ice conditions have actually gotten pretty good, with ice thickness from 6 to 7 inches to 9 to 10 inches in the area. You still have to be careful on the Eagle River Chain for current areas, and on lakes with springs, but all in all we have some nice ice. The key to fishing at this point is the same as it was all summer – find the weeds. This has not been easy this year, as the cold spring kept a lot of weeds from forming.
Walleye fishing has been good, with nice results mostly in the evenings on many area lakes. As always, intercepting the fish as they move from deeper water towards shorelines or weeds is the most effective technique for this type of fishing. Tip-ups set with shiners or suckers are the most effective. There has also been some action for walleyes in the deeper holes on the chain, as some crappie anglers report some action also.
On the deeper lakes, the same patterns are in effect, but you also have the chance to jig for fish in deeper water over rock bars. All you need for this is a flashy vertical jigs and a minnow head for good results
Northern action has been good with larger shiners under tip-ups in the weeds. You can also fish for perch or bluegills with one rod while setting tip-ups for northerns. One trick to attract more fish is to set tip-ups with two shiners going in opposite directions. These fish will attract more northerns as they struggle against each other.
Bluegill action has improved, and some anglers report nice action for on waxies or red spikes. Perch are usually in the same weeds, but deeper.
Eagle Sports Center, (715) 479-8804.
FLORENCE COUNTY AREA
The recent warm-up really brought the fishermen out. Anglers are now starting to get on the ice with their ATVs and snowmobiles on select lakes. Walleye action has been good. Decent numbers are being reported, but most of the fish caught so far have been lacking in size. Shiners and suckers under tip-ups were producing well. Set your tip-ups at varying depths to appeal to this species and set your minnow to swim 12 to 15 inches off the bottom.
Panfish action has been very good. Anglers were catching their limit of bluegills and reporting some nice-sized fish. Jigging with waxies is a tried and true approach. Crappies and perch have also been keeping anglers busy. A variety of jigs tipped with live baits or small plastics are being used.
Wisconsin Electric has announced another drawdown on the Pine River Flowage. The refill will happen sometime in January, but the ice will not be safe for the entire winter. The Wisconsin DNR is asking everyone to stay off the ice.
Whisler Outdoors, (715) 528-4411.
HAYWARD AREA
Anglers are taking advantage of the lack of snow and great fishing conditions to pull and drag ice shacks and gear onto the ice. The current ice depth is about 6 to 8 inches, with some reports of upwards to 10 inches, and some folks are taking out ATVs, UTVs, and sleds while ice fishing. Walleye anglers report most of the action is during the early morning and last light evening hours. The best baits and presentations include jigging spoons, Jigging Raps, Hyper-Glides, Moonshine lures, and rattle baits. Northern pike anglers are doing well with suckers and shiners under tip-ups. Look for pike around any old weed growth and set tip-ups just off the weeds and into deeper water, ideally 6 to 10 feet.
For crappie anglers, dead-sticking fatheads or rosy reds are a great bet for action. Panfish anglers should look to deeper lake basins in 24 to 30 feet and use tungsten jigs, ultra light Rippin’ Raps, and Acme spoons tipped with waxies and spikes.
Hayward Bait, (715) 634-2921.
Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau, (800) 724-2992.
IRON COUNTY AREA
Many ice fisherman continue to take advantage of 6 to 8 inches of ice on lakes in the area. The warmer weather hasn’t hurt ice depths at all, but it has melted some snow, making lake access and ice travel fairly easy. Panfish and pike are biting on many lakes in Iron County.
Turtle River Trading Co., Mercer, (715) 476-0123.
LAKE WINNEBAGO AREA
There is just enough ice in some of the bays and channels on Lake Winnebago to get out for some panfish. Yellow perch have been leading the way on that scene.
Critter’s, (920) 582-0471.
Fox River Bait, (920) 233-7409.
Dutch’s, (920) 922-0311.
MADISON AREA
Those warmer temperatures aren’t helping ice conditions one bit. There is some fishable ice on Cherokee Marsh, Monona Bay, and The Triangle but be careful. Guys are catching a lot of small bluegills on Monona Bay, but “big” fish are running 7.5 inches tops. Turville Bay and Squaw Bay has a little less ice than the other three spots, so be very careful there. Lake Waubesa is covered with ice and there were a few guys poking around near Lake Farm Park, but they found nothing more than 3 inches and often less. Lake Kegonsa had 3 inches of ice, as well as a lot of wet cracks. It had been a little but of struggle to catch any perch there. Anglers are catching walleyes from open water below the dam at Prairie du Sac. Beaver Dam Lake is showing a little bit of walleye action.
D&S Bait and Tackle, (608) 244-3474.
Dorn Hardware, (608) 244-5403.
MARATHON COUNTY AREA
Fishing reports from throughout the county have been great. Fish of all species are being caught everywhere. Lake Wausau crappie action has been fair to good near and around Radtke Point. The walleyes hitting on the flats south of country club are running smaller than most anglers would prefer, but anglers are reporting some improvement in size. Reports of bluegills running 7 to 10 inches have come in from the Eau Claire River above the dam. The Big Eau Pleine Flowage is seeing some heavy fishing pressure, but success is holding up nicely. Smaller lakes scattered around the county have been giving up good mixed bag catches. Ice reports vary; use caution.
Riverside Rentals & Bait Shop, (715) 574-1771.
MINOCQUA/WOODRUFF/LAKE TOMAHAWK AREA
A long, mild stretch of weather halted ice production for the time being. Night time lows firm things up for morning anglers, but afternoons have been a little sloppy. Access is pretty good overall for foot, ATV and snowmobile traffic. Travel over middle areas of larger lakes with any type of vehicle is not advisable, but overall averages of 8 to 10 inches seem to be the norm.
Walleyes: Good to very good. After last week’s tough weekend, things have turned around. Better reports are coming in as fish begin feeding again. Jigging Raps, Slender Spoons, Northland Glo Spoons and Clam Flutter Spoons have been effective. Try tip-ups baited with suckers over sand grass flats and mud transitions from hard drops in 14 to 18 feet. There has been a “run” from one hour before dark until one hour after, then another from about 8-9 p.m. Similar action is seen from hour before dawn until about 8 a.m. There have been good reports of plenty of eaters, plus several reports of 26- to 29-inch walleyes this past week caught by the after-work crowd that were all releases. Thanks guys!
Northern pike: Good to very good. The best action has been from dawn until late morning on cabbage flats and along the weed edges on suckers and shiners. Several 34- to 39-inch “gators” have been caught and released.
Yellow perch: Good to very good. Most reports are of numbers, but guys are sorting to get a meal or two. Try Venom glow spoons, Swedish Pimples and Kastmasters tipped with spikes or wigglers.
Crappies and bluegills: Good. Hold tighter to the base of tall cabbage in 8 to 12 feet for larger crappies.
Fishing has been good, and with friendly temps, and not a lot of ice to cut, it’s a great time to get out on the ice.
Island Sport Shop, (715) 356-4797.
J and J Sports, (715) 277-2616.
PRICE COUNTY AREA
The Flambeau River water level is high with ice chunks flowing. All area lakes are ice covered, but ice depths are not uniform. Always use caution when heading out onto the ice. There is a light layer of snow and tracks from rabbits, squirrels, weasels, deer and elk are just a few of the animals roaming the forest. The deer and elk are feeding heavily to fatten up in preparation for the deep of winter. Many are feeding in the active timber sales. There are cow/calf groups with some of the young bulls. The big bulls are forming bachelor groups.
Bridge Bait and Tackle, Park Falls, (715) 762-4108.
Ross’s Sport Shop, Phillips, (715) 339-3625.
The post Wisconsin Outdoor News Fishing and Hunting Report – Dec. 28, 2018 appeared first on Outdoornews.
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