Richland County Ice Fishing Report
By Wayne Morgenthaler
The ice on the backwaters of the Wisconsin River is about 4 to 6 inches thick. It is a little tricky getting on lakes that have not yet been fished. You need to watch out for springs along the shoreline. Another place to avoid is getting to close to Beaver Lodges. The best advice is to follow where other people have walked. Just look for the crowds and that will give you a good idea of where they are biting.
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| “Richland County hardwater fishing is heating up big time.” |
Also, stopping in at the local bait shops will get you some good tips. I was fishing on Lake Redstone and caught some very nice bluegills and crappies. The fish were found in 10 to 15 feet of water. Fish near the bottom with wax worms and green colored jigs. Minnows are effective if fished about a foot off the bottom. Try to locate the crowds as they are usually fishing the brush piles.
Ask the bait shops in LaValle for any fishing reports. It took us about 3 hours to get our limits. The crappies ran from 10 to 11 inches and the bluegills were around 8 inches. We have nice snow cover now for snowmobiling and snowshoeing.
A good place to get information for outdoor activities for Richland County is to stop in at the Visitor Center located in Richland Center at the railroad station which is currently open from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. They have some outstanding maps to help you navigate. They can also line you up with local guides. They are located on Hwy 14 in the middle of town and just look for the railroad car and station. There is a stop light at the intersection that you will need to turn on. Call 608-647-6205 or email chamber@richlandalliance.com.