Season's Prospects
Fish biologists assess the coming season's prospects and share their favorite fishing spots.
Northeastern Wisconsin
Green Bay
Abundant numbers of yellow perch after several consecutive years of good reproduction could mean a rewarding ice fishing season for anglers on Green Bay if weather conditions allow. Angler harvest of yellow perch during winter months has been increasing since 2004. Preliminary analyses suggest that ice anglers harvested twice as many yellow perch in 2007 than in 2006 even though the daily bag limit was 15 fish in both years. Most perch will likely range from 7-9 inches, with an occasional fish over 11 inches. On the east shore of Green Bay, Dykesville and Chaudoir's Dock, Sand Bay, and Riley's Bay are popular access points for perch fishing. On the west shore, Oconto Harbor, Geano Beach and Duck Creek are some of the busier perch fishing spots. Harvest of northern pike by ice anglers on Green Bay increased from an estimated 100 in 2006 to over 1,600 in 2007. On the west shore, Peshtigo Harbor and Longtail Point are fished heavily for northern pike. On the east shore, the Sturgeon Bay Canal and Little Sturgeon Bay have produced decent catches. Early and late ice is often best for fishing for northerns, although ice conditions are the most dangerous during these times. Ice on the bay can change daily depending on air temperature, wind direction and wind speed. This can create dangerous cracks. Be aware that the U.S. Coast Guard occasionally breaks ice for ships entering ports.
Winnebago System
Ice has formed on the upriver lakes on the Winnebago system, and some of the sheltered bays and shorelines on Winnebago proper are also ice covered. Anglers have begun to hit "first ice" for panfish near the Highway 41 bridge in Oshkosh by "Skipper Bud's" and in other sheltered bays with shallow water. Anglers are also setting tip-ups and jigging for northern pike on the southwest end of Lake Poygan near Captain's Cove Bar. There are still thin patches of ice in ALL areas so venture out with extreme caution and stay in shallow waters until it firms up more, likely by this coming weekend. We are looking forward to a good ice fishing season on the Winnebago System if the ice continues to hold through the winter. Good numbers of very nice bluegills and perch are already being caught in the bays of Lake Butte des Morts and the west shore of Lake Winnebago. The walleye population in the system is at a very high level and should provide some good action as soon as anglers can venture out on the main body of the lakes. The lakes also hold good numbers of trophy sized northern pike which provide good action early and late ice.
Northern Wisconsin
Lake Superior
As the ice first forms in Chequamegon Bay, shallow water fishing for splake and brown trout can be successful. Walleye, pike, and smallmouth bass can be caught through early ice along Ashland. Fishing action tends to follow the forming ice along the main shore of Chequamegon Bay from Ashland to Houghton Point. When ice conditions are safe, deep water ice bobbing for lake trout begins in the main channel towards Bayfield and around the Apostle Islands. Perch fishing can be productive east of Ashland as well as off the Washburn and Bayfield marinas. Before heading out, anglers should check with the local tackle shops for current ice conditions and the latest fishing tips.
Oneida County
Anglers venturing out on early ice reported a very good walleye bite in the Rhinelander area just after Thanksgiving. Ice as thick as 3 to 4 inches was reported by Nov. 24, 2007, but there were patches of open water on some of the same lakes and the larger, deeper lakes were still open. Little snow cover and daytime high temperatures in the 20s have provided good conditions to build more ice, but be careful: early ice is always variable in thickness and the glass-like surface makes for slick walking. Here are big waters with good walleye and/or panfish. In Oneida County, good December ice fishing can be found on Moen, Three Lakes and Sugar Camp chains, Willow and Rainbow flowages, and Pelican, George, Crescent, Katherine, Minocqua, Kawaguesaga, Squirrel and Squaw lakes.
Barron County
The Chetek Chain of Lakes, Red Cedar Chain of Lakes and Rice Lake in eastern Barron County are regional hotspots for panfish anglers. Bluegill and crappie populations are strong and a respectable population of northern pike, bass and walleye is present in each water. In Polk County, the "Big Five" waters of Balsam, Wapogassett, Big Round, Deer and Bone lakes, provide exceptional panfishing opportunities for anglers and have healthy populations of northern pike and largemouth bass. Walleye are also present in low numbers in Balsam, Wapogasset and Big Round Lakes however larger fish can be found.
Sawyer County
A number of trout-only or two-story lakes in Sawyer and Washburn counties offer good ice fishing opportunities for hold-over trout. Light line and bluegill tackle/tactics work well for trout. In Sawyer County, try Ashegon, Camp Smith, Perch and Silverthorn lakes. In Washburn County, try Stride and Glide, Ham, Alpine, Otter and Sawmill lakes. A reminder to anglers fishing for trout that an inland Trout Stamp is required and to consult the trout regulations pamphlet to see which (if any) trout lakes in your county actually have an extended season. Some lake trout seasons end in late September.
Russ Warwick and Franny Meyer-Briggs caught these three nice trout in Ashegon Lake, one of Sawyer County's better, two-story lakes.
Washburn County
Most Spooner area lakes had a skim of ice cover and ice fishing began on Nov. 26, 2007, on some sheltered bays. Early ice can provide some good fishing but it's no time for novices or people unfamiliar with a specific lake to venture out. Cold weather is forecast for the remainder of the month so conditions for walking out should be ok on small lakes and sheltered bays by early December. Popular first ice spots in Washburn county are Long Lake, Minong Flowage and South Bay of Shell Lake for walleye, with Spooner Lake popular for northern pike and panfish. Ice action will be boom or bust depending on which of the county's trout ponds you try this year. Check www.co.washburn.wi.us/departments/forestry/info/huntfishwild.htm for the latest. Bluegills are the top early ice target in Burnett County with Clam, Wood and Devils Lakes popular choices.
Price County
With most lakes in the Upper Chippewa Basin developing a thin layer of ice, the open water fishing season came to a grinding halt over this past weekend. Nearly all lakes have a covering of skim ice and most of the larger lakes still had large areas of open water. There have been some early sightings of some ice fishing activity on 2 to 3 inches of ice on some shallow bays, but no reports of any success yet. Most ice anglers wait for a solid 4 inches of ice before venturing out, and it will take several more nights of single-digit temperatures to reach that thickness. Here are a few of the Price County ice fishing "hotspots": Butternut Lake is a good action lake for 10- to 15-inch walleye, with a chance at a wall-mounter (24-inches plu" +). It's a fair lake for northern pike and crappie. The Phillips Chain of Lakes is a fair action lake for all size walleye, decent action for northern pike and crappie. Solberg Lake is a good action lake for small to medium size walleye, with a chance at a wall-mounter as well. Cranberry Lake - overall, a good lake for fishing. Walleye, panfish and pike are the highlighted species, both for numbers and size. And a couple Taylor County waters are Miller Dam Flowage (Chequamegon Waters) - which is an excellent lake for all panfish species and good northern pike action. Mondeaux Flowage is a good water for northern pike and panfish and Rib Lake is a good lake for walleye.
Iron County
Our best walleye fishing opportunities are the two flowages, Gile and Turtle-Flambeau. The Turtle-side of the Turtle Flambeau Flowage generally offers some good panfish action especially late in the season. Right now there is about 5 inches of ice but with the last snowfall of up to 18 inches, slush is becoming a problem for folks to move around.
South Central Wisconsin - Richland and Iowa counties
Lower Wisconsin River backwaters
Bluegills -- the numbers should be good as there were no significant die offs this past summer. The bluegills in these waters vary somewhat in size but tend to run a little smaller and thinner than lake fish. Nice fish early in the season before they have been graded down will run 7 to 7.5 inches. These waters are not connected to unfished waters so what they start out with for the winter is what they have. These waters tend to run smaller in size, have fairly heavy fishing pressure and are graded down fairy quickly. However, they will provide good action throughout the season. Crappie -- These fish are more limited in number and are harder to find and catch. The size structure doesn't change much throughout the winter. They will run 8- to 10-inches as a general rule. Northern Pike -- There are a fair number of these fish in some of the sloughs. While most of these fish aren't large there are a fair number of legal fish. Again they are harvested fairly quickly but there will be fish present throughout the winter.
Blackhawk Lake
There's a very good population of medium size (7 to 8 inch) bluegills. This fishery holds up throughout most all of the winter. As with most winter fisheries, the bite can become sporadic as the winter goes along but it's not because of a lack of fish. Perch -- There is a modest population of these fish with some pretty decent-sized fish. Some people targeting them have decent success but the fish are hard to find. They are generally a bonus fish caught incidental to bluegill fishing. Crappie - The lake offers a pretty decent population of medium size (9 to 10 inch) fish. This fishery holds up throughout the winter. It is generally a night bite. Largemouth bass-- A very good population of nice sized fish. In spite of the very good population, the bite from these fish seems to be fairly light. No size limit. Walleye -- A fairly decent population of fish with some legal fish and an 18-inch minimum size limit. Fishing pressure and catch rates are fairly low. Northern Pike -- A fairly decent population in the lake with a few large fish and a 26-inch minimum size limit. There is some pressure on these fish with an acceptable catch rate.
Cox Hollow Lake
Bluegills and crappie - This lake features a moderate population of medium and larger fish of both species. Because of limited numbers, this lake has a sporadic bite running from very good to poor. Fishing is generally best very early or very late in the day. Pumpkinseed sunfish - There's a pretty decent population of 6- to 7-inch fish that seems to bite a little more readily than bluegill. Perch -- a limited population of fish with some nice fish. A bonus for bluegill anglers. Largemouth bass -- A moderate population of medium to small fish that seem to bite readily most all season. No size limit. Walleye -- A pretty decent population of 12- to 14-inch fish with very few if any larger. There's an 18-inch size limit.
Twin Valley Lake
Bluegills -- You'll find a large number of 5- to 7-inch fish and very few larger. Crappie - A large number of 6- to 8-inch fish and very few larger; similar prospects for perch. Largemouth bass - There's a pretty decent population of medium and larger fish but it's catch and release only. Walleye - You'll find a fair number of 12- to 15-inch fish and a few larger fish. Northern Pike and Musky - While this is not the place to go northern pike fishing, it does boast a good population of medium and medium-large musky. The closed season is Dec. 1, 2007, to first Saturday in May for musky.
Southeastern Wisconsin
The recent cold weather may provide an earlier ice season than we've been used to the last few years. However, there's no guarantee. We've seen ice form as late as mid-January and open up as early as late-February. As always, use caution when going out on to the ice. Ask local bait shops and other anglers about local ice conditions. Always let someone know where you're going and when you'll return. Wear a personal flotation device (PFD) and take along some safety gear such as a rope, board or pole, and some picks to pull yourself out, should you fall through. Using the buddy system is always a good idea, too. Early ice is a good time to look for walleyes. The "kettle" on Nagawicka, off Rocky Point on Pewaukee, and Kingston Bay on Little Muskego are often good producers. Northern pike action continues to be good on Big Muskego Lake. Anglers who locate the deep holes or the deeper water toward the west end of the lake generally do best. Recent surveys on Upper and Lower Nemahbin revealed nice panfish populations. The weed flats or edge of weed beds are a good place to start. Please be aware of emergency VHS rules to prevent the spread of this new fish disease.
Walworth, Racine and Kenosha counties
A good bet for walleye is Delavan Lake. It has plenty of fish and some are 2 feet long. Other walleye lakes are Silver, Geneva, and Tichigan. There's good northern pike fishing on Lakes Delavan, Geneva, Lauderdales, Beulah and Camp. Browns Lake is good for lots of northern pike action, but fish tend to be smaller. Bass tend to slow down a bit in the winter but when they are biting good largemouth bass bets are Rockland, Browns, Silver, Camp, Whitewater, Geneva, Beulah, Pleasant, Rice and Hooker lakes. Bluegill or crappie are good on Delavan, Geneva, Beulah, Tichigan, Pleasant, Whitewater, Lauderdale, Tichigan, Wind, Rockland, Silver, Wind, and Camp lakes. Yellow perch are up on Geneva Lake. Silver and Delavan Lakes are both stocked with musky.
Lake Michigan harbors
Many anglers don't realize that the "run" of Lake Michigan trout and salmon can start weeks or even months before adult fish actually show up in our streams. In most cases, the mouths of our major rivers are located within the confines of a harbor. Therefore, trout and salmon staging to run our streams find themselves staging to run the stream through our harbors. Depending on ice conditions, our harbors can offer some very good rainbow and brown trout fishing under the ice. Be careful though, as ice formation is affected by both weather and stream current. Fish too close to flowing water and the ice can be dangerous. If you try this type of fishing, please always wear a personal floatation device (PFD), tell others when and where you are going fishing and when you will be back, and stay in areas where you know the ice is safe and other anglers are also fishing. Shiner minnows on tip-ups and jigging baits resembling minnows all work well; as well as the old favorite -- the spawn sac. Make sure you have plenty of line on your reel though, as a charging 10-pound brown trout can peel-off 50 yards of line in a second.
So far, ice has just formed on most inland southeastern Wisconsin lakes and harbors and little ice fishing is going on right now. Recent sleet has set-back good ice formation on most lakes. It will take a couple weeks of cold weather for enough ice cover to support any significant fishery.
Western Wisconsin
In 2007, ice fishing enthusiasts should have great success in the backwaters of the Mississippi River around Prairie du Chien area. Recent fisheries surveys showed good populations of bluegill, white and black crappie, and perch in the Gremore, Tilmont, Spring, Fish, and Big Missouri Lakes near Ambro Slough. In addition, Joyce's Lake near Harpers Slough should provide some excellent angling opportunities. However, remember to check local ice conditions because they can change rapidly in the Mississippi River.
RSS