2/17/15 Rice Lake Fishing Reports
Fishing has continued to stay somewhat slow overall. Fish are being caught, but you're working for each and every one of them. Once we start to get some steady warmer weather, that should start a steady bite again. Things will only go up from here.
When it comes to catching crappies and walleyes, one typically targets them in low light periods, or after dark. The crappies are being very finicky, and you must work to entice each and every bite. Wax worms have been working, even after dark. I always like to have a second rod next to me with a slip bobber set up about halfway down the water column to catch those crappies that are cruising and feeding hard. Use a small treble hook tipped with a bigger crappie minnow.
The bluegills are around and biting, but you have to work for them also. Hole hopping is a good idea as you are finding the few active fish in that area, then move to find new active fish. Search for the panfish in deeper water right now in the mid-lake soft basin areas. There will always be fish on the bottom that are willing to bite, but the farther you can find fish up and suspended your best chances are to get bit.
Good luck fishing and remember, introduce someone new into the outdoors. They will appreciate it for a lifetime.