Ice Fishing in Wisconsin
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1/29/2014 11:10:00 AMLots of snow in Central Wisconsin is making for difficult travel on area lakes. But for the anglers still willing and able to get out the bite has been good for big walleyes, nice crappies, some dandy catfish, and a few nice perch and pike. The best action has been early and late in the day on all species except the pike which have b...
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1/22/2014 12:20:00 PMSteve Suman The Hayward area enjoyed another short-lived break from the extreme cold Sunday as temperatures neared 30 degrees. However, this week’s forecast predicts single digit highs and lows dropping to double-digit subzero some nights. Pat at Happy Hooker says high and low pressure systems are making ice fishing a little confusing. &ld...
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1/22/2014 12:15:00 PMA combination of moon phase and weather conditions made for some slow fishing again this week, Fish are still being caught but the bite is slow and light. Ice conditions are making it pretty tough to get around as well, with all the cold weather there is plenty of ice but there is also a lot of snow piled on it and the weight of the snow is...
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1/22/2014 12:00:00 PMWith the more seasonal and consistent weather this past week, ice thickness has been holding in the 15” to 17” range on most lakes across the Northwoods. However, there is about 8 to 12 inches of snow on top of the ice and this has made vehicle travel rather tough in undisturbed areas. Most ice traffic is sticki...
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1/22/2014 12:00:00 PMThe area lakes are covered in snow. Deep snow to say the least. If you are venturing out off the beaten path, make sure to have a buddy on speed dial with a tow strap. Even full sized trucks are getting stuck with the depth of snow covering ice on the lakes. It seems like the fish are in the mid winter lull right now. They are able to be caught bu...
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1/22/2014 11:50:00 AMThe Butternut and Schnurs lake association held their annual fisheree this past Saturday. The weather was great and so was the turn out. The walleye action was good in the early morning and then late in the afternoon. Pike activity was good throughout the day. Walleyes were taken off the gravel bars in 6- 14 feet of water. The pike were locating of...
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1/8/2014 6:35:00 PMBelieve it or not, winter fishing makes up nearly 1/4 of the annual catch in Wisconsin. People enjoy it for the solitude of being out on a frozen lake and the challenge of the sport. Fishing action can be fast and furious when winter seals the lakes under ice. Typically, the season in Price County lasts from December through March. Walleye, crappie...
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1/8/2014 6:15:00 PMFrequently Asked Questions - January 6, 2014 The Frequently Asked Questions features recent warden-related questions taken by wardens and the DNR Call Center. The Call Center is staffed daily, 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., and offers bilingual service in Spanish and Hmong. The number is 1-888-936-7463. Question 1: I recently complete...
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1/2/2014 6:15:00 PMPRAIRIE du CHIEN - To help ice anglers explore the fantastic fishing found on the 200-plus miles of the Mississippi River bordering Wisconsin, state fish biologists and conservation wardens stationed along Ol' Man River will host a live online chat Jan. 7. The live chat begins at noon on Tuesday, Jan. 7. To participate,...
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12/11/2013 7:50:00 PMDecember 10, 2013 Snowmobile season on deck: Please keep the sled parked until trails are ready!MADISON -- With winter storms powering through all parts of Wisconsin in recent days ushering in snow and cold, state recreational specialists are asking snowmobilers to prep their sleds for the season but to please hold off on hitting the trails until ...
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12/9/2013 4:00:00 PMThe snow and cold weather conditions kept some fishermen off the ice, but the fishermen that did venture out on the ice found some great Walleye, Pike, and Panfish action! Even with the heavy snow fall mid week the sub zero temps have pushed ice thickness from 7 to 10 inches in most areas and reports of ice thickness close to a foot have ...
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12/5/2013 6:10:00 PMDecember 3, 2013 Wisconsin wraps up 162nd nine day deer season with another batch of warm memories amongst cold temperaturesMADISON – Though temperatures plummeted and winds blew for the first half of the season, hunters rose to the occasion and headed out to enjoy the traditions of the nine-day deer hunt. - Read Full ...
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12/5/2013 6:00:00 PMWardens offer top 13 ice safety tips for 2013 DNR conservation wardens offer these top 13 safety tips for 2013 to the ice fishing enthusiasts and other outdoor fans anxious to get on the early season ice which may not be as thick as it looks. Recreation Safety Chief Todd Schaller reminds all that ice is never predictable – especially after t...
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12/2/2013 9:00:00 AMMankato, Minnesota When the temperature hits that magic mark, fishing seasons and fishing methods change in just days. Over the last several weeks a new season has begun with anglers chipping and drilling for Ice Fishing action across the Midwest. That is encouraging news not only for anglers and the ice fishing industry but also for Brad Hansen, ...
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11/27/2013 9:00:00 PMFishing Wisconsin - Angler & aquatic educationFree Fishing Weekend - January 18-19, 2014 Bundle up and get out there for Wisconsin's Winter Free Fishing Weekend, January 18 - 19, 2014.Residents and nonresidents are welcome! Fish anywhere in Wisconsin without a license or trout stamp on Free Fishing Weekend. This includes all inland waters a...
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11/14/2013 11:20:00 AMChanging The Way Wisconsin Looks at Winter This is one of the Ice Fishing Industry's largest events. This year's show will feature over 100 companies displaying some of the most innovative products and destinations available in the Ice Fishing and Outdoor Industry. Information on participating exhibitors and our seminar sche...
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4/26/2013 9:00:00 AMFishing Guide Scott Bretting from River Rock Inn and Bait Shop, (715)-682-3232, http://www.riverrockinn.net reports: The Chequamegon Bay Area still has a good sheet of ice right now. The snow that we received in the past two weeks has been a good insulation and the unseasonably cool evenings have kept the ice in place. So at this time the Smelt hav...
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4/25/2013 1:05:00 PMWinter just will not let go! Fresh snow on Monday night into Tuesday morning is delaying open water more and more. It is also making ice conditions tougher to get around for guys still out on the hard water taking advantage of the long, late season ice. Fishermen are catching all species right now in certain areas. Old weed beds from the past se...
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4/25/2013 12:30:00 PMGreat walleye bite on the Wisconsin River right now. Lots of nice eating sized fish being caught and a few very nice slot fish (20 to 28 inches) as well. Most of the action has been coming on lead head jigs tipped with fathead minnows working the deeper pools in the river but lately with the higher faster water a lot of the fish have sl...
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4/23/2013 11:40:00 AMBy Steve Suman The delayed spring weather is causing irritation to both people and animals. Sandhill cranes walking through nearly a foot of snow appear somewhat befuddled – and the Monday/Tuesday forecast predicts up to another 11 inches of snow. We are already more than a month into spring and have yet to enjoy any real spring weather! Pa...
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4/22/2013 2:30:00 PMWow, we're going into the end of April and I have to do an Ice fishing report. Most lakes still have 15 to 20 inches of ice in most places and the Crappie are hitting good, Tip Downs or Deadsticks and Crappie minnows are doing well. For the fishermen that like to jig, small spoons or jigs with plastics are doing good. The Crappie are suspended hig...
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4/22/2013 2:15:00 PMThis crazy April just won’t quit! Following low temps in the single digits Saturday (4/20), overnight temps into Monday morning were a full 30 degrees warmer. An afternoon of driving and drilling the lakes of this area (LDF, Minocqua, St. Germain) found that truck travel is done. It’s not the ice thickness that is the ...
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4/19/2013 1:30:00 PMAs you read this and think about all the great opportunities we have here in Wisconsin please remember all the people in Boston Massachusetts and West Texas as they have had to deal with great loss this past week. I have friends in Boston and after talking with them, personally understand just how hard this past week has been on them as well as oth...
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4/17/2013 1:40:00 PMBy Steve Suman It is mid-April, but last weekend’s weather was more akin to February, and this week the forecast again shows chances of snow nearly every day. There is not much more to say at this point, but with two feet of ice remaining on most lakes and gamefish opener only three weeks distant, we need some significant weather changes &nd...
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4/17/2013 10:40:00 AMLittle change since last week’s report – except maybe the odds we won’t see open water for the walleye opener! Ice thickness remains in the 27-31” range: Minocqua Lake at 29”, Indian Bay on the Willow at 36”. Sunday morning temp was 11 degrees, high that day in the upper 30’s. Actual...