Ice fishing has been very good this past week. We have had a great week catching lots of panfish, along with some nice walleyes and pike. Most lakes in the Central Wisconsin area have anywhere from 12 to 20 inches of good ice right now but the amount of snow and slush on some of the lakes is making it very difficult for travel and for ice fishing.
The best bite has been targeting suspended crappies over deep water in 16 to 25 feet of water. The most important piece of equipment that you can have right now is your electronics. Your electronics are a must when targeting these suspended fish as the crappies will come through at all kinds of different depths. Without knowing how deep to fish you are just blindly shooting in the dark. Tungsten jigs tipped with plastics worked very aggressively have been our go-to technique, but we have also had some luck on spoons tipped with a minnow head.
We are getting into some decent perch and bluegills on a few of our area lakes and the action will only continue to get better as the season progresses. Most of these fish have been weed related all winter but are now starting to roam out over the open flats as we move towards spring. Hole-hopping is going to be your best tactic for targeting these mobile fish as they are constantly on the move. Running and gunning as we call it will cover water faster and help you locate and catch fish more rapidly at this time of the year. Use heavier “search style” baits to get your bait down quickly and to help locate roaming fish. Larger jigs or primarily spoons with a high profile will make more “noise” in the water and draw in active fish better than your standard ice style jig.
Pike and walleye action has been very good this past week with some very nice fish being caught. We have been catching pike on tip-ups baited with large golden shiners set in 4 to 8 feet of water along shoreline breaks and at the tip of points and fingers that are leading into deeper water. Wood and
weeds have been a bonus but not necessary at this time of the year and a lot of the pike are now
roaming large sand flats and shorelines. The walleye bite has been consistent all winter long and we have been running tip-ups baited with golden shiners and medium suckers to catch a majority of the fish, but we have also been catching a few by jigging over deeper water.
On a last note you may have well seen the last of the old green tags for licensing in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin DNR has moved to make electronic licensing statewide for outdoorsmen with their new “GO WILD” licensing system. For more information, click here.
Phil Schweik
Licensed Wisconsin Hunting and Fishing Guide
Hooksetters Guide Service
Phone: 715-693-5843
