4-9-14 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:
Fishing pressure on Chequamegon Bay has been very minimal this past week. Late ice can be some of the best fishing of the season. The fishing will improve as melting snow and runoff rejuvenates oxygen levels, but it also means deteriorating ice. Exercise extreme caution going forth as ice conditions can change rapidly.
Late ice is the most dangerous, as you can no longer judge ice strength by thickness. "I've seen an ice chisel go through 24 inches of ice in one hard thrust during late ice,” noted Ashland fishing guide Nate Baron. Always bring a fishing partner, ice picks, a flotation device or life jacket, rope and a throwable PFD (personal flotation device) while fishing late in the season. Driving vehicles on the ice at this time of year is an accident waiting to happen.
The recent steelhead opener was not ideal with the existing snow cover and ice packs. The best reports came from the Brule River with reports of some nice browns and some steelhead mixed in. Spawn sacs with orange/chartreuse yarn or a combination seem to be working the best. The streams were in good condition this week and very fishable if you could get to your favorite run with the deep snow cover. In the past couple of days, the streams have become muddy which should get some fish moving up.
Anglers have been fishing the hot pond at the Xcel Energy power plant in the early mornings for coho salmon and an occasional steelhead with very limited success. The shallow-water fishing for steelhead and coho salmon at the mouth of the creeks and rivers has also been spotty but should start picking up with the recent runoff.
Anglers have been having some success on steelhead in 4-10 FOW which should continue to improve in the days ahead. If the trout are there and are not actively feeding, try downsizing your presentation to looper bugs, panfish-sized jigs and hair jigs tipped with a waxie. Some success on walleyes and perch in the bay has been reported in shallow water during the first few hours in the morning and the last hour in the evening. Locating the mud line at this time of year can be essential to your success.
The lake trout fishing in the Apostle Islands remains good. Check with the local bait shops for the availability of bait herring and fresh smelt. If no herring or smelt are available, try plastics such as white tube jigs and twister tails tipped with lake shiners or cut-up golden shiners. Travel on the ice is limited to snowmobiles only.
The bluegill and crappie fishing is really picking up on the area’s inland lakes. Exercise extreme caution in the upcoming weeks as the shorelines will deteriorate quickly.
If you are unfamiliar with the area you will be fishing, hire a local guide, talk with local fishermen or check with a bait shop prior to venturing out on the ice.
Late ice can be some of the best ice fishing of the year. Use good judgment and common sense. And get out and enjoy a great day of fishing.
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. Fishing is good right now in the bay’s shallower waters, but not that many anglers are venturing out because everyone is tired of the ice fishing now and they are anxious for spring to arrive.
People are still walking out from shore to ice-fish and using snowmobiles. We strongly urge you to use snowmobiles or bring a snowmobile with you for easier access. We don’t recommend the use of four-wheelers because of the slush pockets out on the ice.
The ice on the big lake is still good. However, the snow cover has started to melt and turn slushy. Conditions are expected to become even sloppier out there soon as the temperature is supposed to climb into the mid to upper 50s this week. If you are thinking of venturing out to ice-fish in other areas, it is very important to call ahead to ask what other anglers and guides are saying about the ice in those areas.
Fishing has been good near the Xcel Energy hot pond and the C. Reiss coal dock, where people are catching coho salmon, steelhead and brown trout. Although the smelt run will not happen for at least two to three more weeks, some smelt are being caught in 20-30 FOW in the bay. Anglers are also having some luck in the 20 to 35 FOW in the channel or the major drop-offs to the channel out by the lighthouse, and near the former ore dock.
Walleye are being caught in the weed beds a couple hundred yards off Second Landing. Northerns are also being caught in the shallows in the same area as the walleye and are reported to be moving into even shallower waters. The walleye fishing is best either very early in the morning or right at dusk, during those low-light hours, a couple miles off Second Landing or over by the hot pond or the coal dock, in the shallower waters.
The deeper waters are currently seeing some excellent fishing for whitefish and lake trout. Although there was way too much snow and cold for the recent opener, the steelhead trout fishing should be good now that temperatures are in the 40s. Concentrated at the mouths of the rivers flowing into Lake Superior, the steelhead action will be great at the following creeks and rivers: Pikes, Onion, Sioux and Whittlesey.
The fishing pressure has been very low this winter, which means the fish are really well-fed and rested. This should make for a great spring and summer as we can expect to see larger fish out there. Another good thing coming out of this severe winter is the fact that the inland lakes have hardly been touched, which should also make for some great catches once the warmer weather arrives.
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 right now in the Chequamegon Bay area!!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Now that the ice shanty removal date has passed, anglers may continue to use portable ice-fishing shelters (as long as they feel the ice is safe for travel), but they must remove their shelters daily and when not actively being used.