Ashland Area Fishing Report
~ Fishing guides Roger LaPenter and Luke Kavajecz from Anglers All, 715/682-5754, report the following:
This report is about the Ashland side of Chequamegon Bay. Because of the continued warm weather, ice fishing is still on hold.
Many anglers are getting anxious and tired of playing the waiting game. Some folks have even wondered if the bay will freeze at all this winter.
“It will happen,” assured Carolyn Swartz, co-owner of Anglers All in Ashland. “We will get ice.”
“It’s not unheard of to have open water at this time of year,” she added. “I can remember years where people were out trolling on Christmas Day.”
In the meantime, adventurous anglers like Nate Baron, owner and operator of Ashland’s Up North Guide Service, have been trying to make the most out of the unusual weather pattern. “Lake Superior in December and one more day trolling on open water,” he remarked after a profitable outing on Dec. 11.
Nate said he caught two Cohos, a brown trout and a laker that day despite some big “rollers” knocking him off his feet twice. “Nothing big, but good eaters,” he said of his catch.
“So weather permitting, people are still trolling and doing quite well,” agreed Carolyn, “especially on browns and splake.”
There are also some great shore-fishing opportunities with decent walleye action reported along the Ashland shoreline. Carolyn said the Xcel Energy “hot pond” and the coal dock in Washburn are productive places to fish from shore.
And it’s definitely time to at least prepare for ice fishing season. By ensuring that your equipment is in good working order now, you will be able to head out onto the ice as soon as it forms!
These items should be among those on your readiness checklist: review ice safety information, inspect your portable ice shack, check your ice auger, and invest in a good pair of ice cleats. Anglers All has numerous items in stock for hard-water season with more gear on the way, so be sure to stop in.
For the most complete and up-to-date fishing report, just give them a call at Anglers All and they will gladly keep you informed!
~ The Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce, 1-800-284-9484, reports:
Fishing is always a thrilling adventure in the Ashland area! Chequamegon Bay is famous for its world-class smallmouth bass fishing. The 12-mile-long bay’s rock piles and breakwater structures make for perfect bass habitat.