1-30-14 Ashland Area Fishing Report
~ Fishing Guide Nate Baron from Up North Guide Service and Fishing Guide Scott Bretting from River Rock Inn and Bait Shop, 715-682-3232 (http://riverrockinn.net), report the following:
The trout and salmon fishing has been excellent this past week on Chequamegon Bay and Lake Superior as more anglers get further out in the Apostle Islands. Anglers have been able to get out to some areas that have been inaccessible for years due to the lack of good ice. This is setting up to be an epic year for bobbing lake trout.
Some nice walleyes are being caught on tip-ups and jig and minnow before dawn or right near dusk near the lighthouse and off of First and Second Landing. Anglers have been concentrating on 8-14 feet of water and once you find the walleyes, the action can be fast and furious for a short period of time. Good catches of coho, brown trout, whitefish and perch have also been coming in on the bay. While jigging, be sure to cover the entire water column to catch multiple species of fish that are roaming through at different depths.
Anglers have been doing excellent on the whitefish this past week. Limits of whitefish are being caught around the Apostle Islands in 30-70 FOW on jigging Spoons and jigging Rapalas tipped with a couple of Waxies. Orange and Gold or Firetiger colors seem to be doing the best. Whitefish are also being picked up on tip-ups with a live Lake Shiner. It's been a very hot bite.
Near-shore fishing for browns, coho, splake and lake trout has been excellent. Cover the depths from 8 FOW out to 40 FOW on steep breaks with tip-ups and Automatic Fisherman to increase your chances on the roaming trout and salmon. Fish shallow early in the day for the brown trout and move out deeper as the sun get higher in the sky.
Ice thickness varies from 12" to 16" off of the Bayfield Peninsula. Anglers are heading out of Bayfield and Red Cliff on snowmobiles with good traveling. Four-wheeler travel on the ice is extremely difficult now due to snow depth and drifts. The bobbers for lakers were able to get out as far as Manitou, Stockton and Cat islands with reports of good success in 170-190 FOW. Good numbers of lake trout have also been found in 40-60 feet of water this past week near shore on steep breaks jigging large Buck-shots and Swedish Pimples tipped with a Lake Shiner head. Jigging Beetles and Chequamegon Mackinaw Jigs dressed with herring strips have been working real well in the deeper water. Check with the local bait shops on the availability of bait herring.
There are currently ice roads on Chequamegon Bay leaving from Kreher Park, Anglers All and Second Landing. Due to recent high winds, some of the roads have experienced some heavy snow drifting, making some areas impassable. Check with an area bait shop for a current report on Ice Road conditions.
At the present time, ice surrounds nearly all the Apostle Islands from Eagle Island on the west all the way to Devils Island on the north and Madeline Island to the east. The Ice Road is now open for vehicular travel from Bayfield out to Madeline Island. As always, travel at your own risk!
Ice conditions can change rapidly on Lake Superior with currents and the high winds! Please have all the necessary safety equipment and check ice as you go along. If you are unfamiliar with the area you will be fishing, consult with a local guide or bait shop prior to venturing out on the ice.
Good luck on the ice and tight lines to all!
~ Fishing Guide Roger LaPenter from Anglers All, 715-682-5754 (http://www.anglersallwisconsin.com), reports the following:
This report is about the Ashland side of Chequamegon Bay. Anglers are doing well catching fish in the channel and off the coal dock. People are walking out from shore to ice fish and using snowmobiles. They are checking their way with a spud. If you are thinking of venturing out to ice fish in other areas, you should call ahead to ask what other anglers and guides are saying about the ice in those areas.
Fishing has been best in the 20 to 30 FOW in the channel or the major drop-offs to the channel out by the lighthouse and near the former ore dock. The wet spots have likely frozen over, but anglers should always be aware that there may be some near shore. Anglers are reporting every species of fish seem to be biting, including smelt, walleye, trout, salmon and perch. You never know what you will catch on any given day, but you will definitely catch fish!!! Most anglers are jigging with Lake Shiners and Waxies, and using larger minnows on tip-ups such as sucker minnows and Golden Shiners.
The roads are really getting blown in with more drifting snow out on the ice due to the recent high winds. Be aware of numerous snowdrifts and hard-packed drifts. ATVs are mostly getting stuck right now, so we strongly urge you to use snowmobiles or bring a snowmobile with you for easier access, or use an ATV with tracks on it.
The inland lakes in Ashland County have had decent crappie and pan fishing. Most of the slush is now frozen over on the inlands. For a safe and up-to-date ice fishing report, give us a call at Anglers All and we will keep you informed.
~ The Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce, www.visitashland.com, 1-800-284-9484, reports:
If you would like an updated ice fishing report or an updated snowmobile report, check out www.visitashland.com. Fishing is great in the Chequamegon Bay area!! February 8th is the King of the Bay Snow Drag Snowmobile Races in Ashland near Maslowski Beach. February 15th will be the Book Across the Bay Cross-Country Ski Race and Snowshoe Trek across the ice of Chequamegon Bay at night by the light of the stars and over 1,000 luminary lights.