Ashland Area Fishing Report for Feb. 5, 2016
~ Fishing guides from Anglers All, 715/682-5754, report the following:
This report is about the Ashland side of Chequamegon Bay. Although the ice on the bay is definitely not as thick as most years, the majority of ice fishermen are just glad to have the chance to get out and drop a line.
Strong winds have broken up and blown away the ice out by Bodin’s, according to Carolyn Swartz, co-owner of Anglers All in Ashland. It has also “put lots of cracks” in the ice and eaten away at it in general, she said.
“Personally, I would recommend traveling on snowmobile vs. four-wheeler right now,” Carolyn said, “because with this new snow, drifting is going to cause some slush spots, especially along the shoreline and anywhere there is structure.”
A wide variety of fish species is still being caught in the area. “Out at Second Landing, east of town, they’re bringing in perch, walleye and northerns,” noted Anglers All employee John Radloff. “In town here, by the docks, they’re finding brown trout and a couple of Cohos were reported.”
Over in Washburn, anglers have been catching fish off the coal dock, including browns, whitefish and smallmouth bass, mostly using shiners.
Out on the S-curve John said Anglers All has been hearing reports of good trout activity. “Folks have been getting brown trout and splake out that way.”
Those targeting trout are fishing mainly off of Washburn, Carolyn agreed. “Some have backed up to Memorial Park though because there are so many cracks on the ice.”
On the inland lakes, people have been finding some good crappies and bluegills over in the Iron River and Delta areas. “Lake Namakagon has been seeing some nice walleye and crappie activity,” John added.
“Ice fishing has been fun,” observed fishing guide Luke Kavajecz, “and it's a good way to beat those winter blues, but it's been hard to ignore thoughts of days spent in the boat and fishing open water. Oh well, soon enough, right?
“Anyway, there's some real nice brown trout out there this year and they've been a blast,” Luke continued. “Concentrate on areas north of Washburn in 25-30 foot of water early in the day,” he advised, “and slide out over deeper water as the day progresses to have a shot at one of these fish.
“I've found some great fish out over 50-60 foot of water, but jigging only 10-15 feet below the ice. Good numbers of whitefish are being caught, too, in those deeper areas,” Luke added.
Carolyn urged anglers to be very mindful of ice safety now that so much ice has receded again. “The biggest issue this side of the bay is the slush piled into the shoreline,” she said. “There could be slush holes to watch out for.
“People are going to have to be prepared for some conditions they don’t normally face here at this time of the year,” Carolyn noted. “They really need to go back to checking their way as they go and using extreme caution.
Located at 2803 E. Lake Shore Drive (U.S. Highway 2) in Ashland, Anglers All is a full-service tackle and fly shop with a professional guide service for Lake Superior and area inland lakes and rivers, offering the largest selection of baits and tackle in the Chequamegon Bay area. 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!
~ Fishing Guide Scott Bretting from River Rock Inn and Bait Shop, 715/682-3232, reports the following:
“Beautiful weather and ice fishing don’t mix well,” joked Scott Bretting, guide and owner/operator of River Rock Inn & Bait Shop, commenting on the relatively mild winter the northland is having.
Scott said there are anglers walking off of the coal dock in Washburn and taking some machines out, but he cautions people heading toward Houghton Point.
“High winds have broken up a lot of the ice,” he said. “It’s too early to tell what it did to the ice off of Houghton Point, but there is open water by the mouths of local rivers like the Onion and Sioux.”
“There are still guys venturing out near shore in Ashland,” Scott said, “but I would highly recommend checking that ice as you go, especially since the heavy, fresh snow we just got can camouflage slush pockets.”
Ice anglers are doing very well, he said. “That perch bite down by Second Landing is coming on. So guys have been reporting some nice perch along with a few walleyes there toward the evening.”
On the east end of Chequamegon Bay, they’re getting whitefish, browns and splake/lakers.
“Whitefish from the (Ashland Breakwater) lighthouse to Washburn over toward Houghton Point has been phenomenal,” Scott noted, adding that anglers were getting splake out there, too.
“There are lots of smelt near the end of the lighthouse,” he added, “but the ice is not good near the top or point of the lighthouse.” Scott advises people stay to the west of the lighthouse for safety’s sake.
He said using “a jig with a waxie topped on there or a minnow head” works best for smelt right now. “There are guys who go out and catch 50-100 of them a day. It’s fun, plus they’re good eating.”
Scott noted that people heading out by Bono Creek are doing very well. “The ice is OK there at the S-curve, but travel much further away from there is not recommended. People should stay in the mouth of the creek area.”
As for the inland lakes, a few people are getting panfish, some crappies and bluegills. “It’s spotty, but they’re going out on Lake Namakagon and the Pike Chain,” Scott said, adding that there is “lots of slush” on those lakes now.
He said the ice is open in Superior and Duluth, commercial tugs are still going out from Bayfield and the Madeline Island Ferry is still running, all of which make this an unusual year.
Stop in and see their wide variety of live bait, fishing tackle, gear, accessories, smoked fish, local cheeses, meats, and microbrews, and much more at River Rock Inn & Bait Shop, 1200 W. Lake Shore Drive (U.S. Highway 2), in Ashland. Call River Rock for the most current ice fishing report and they’ll give you the 411 on the bay area!
~ 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.
- The 15th Annual ABC Sportsmen Kids’ Ice Fishing Contest is set for Saturday, Feb. 20, at Kreher Park in Ashland from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This contest is FREE to all children ages 5-15. There will be two age classes, 5-9 years and 10-15 years. The first 300 kids will receive prizes, plus there will be trophies awarded for the top three largest fish in each category, including perch, trout, northern pike or other. Refreshments will be served. Bring your own poles and tackle. Live bait will be provided. Register at the pavilion in Kreher Park before going on the ice of Chequamegon Bay. Call 715/373-2088 to learn more.
- The 12th Annual Jonny Angel Foundation Fisheree will be Saturday, Feb. 20, at Dick and Joan’s Butternut Resort, 11633 Lakeview Rd. (County Rd. B), Butternut, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cash prizes will be awarded in multiple categories. Raffles and prize drawings throughout the day. For more information, call 715/769-3333 or check out www.butternutresort.com.
- The Neighborly Bar 2016 Ice Fishing Tourney and Ice Raffle will be held Saturday, Feb. 27, and will feature cash prizes in seven categories of fish, including walleye, lake trout, perch, crappie and more. And whoever catches the biggest fish overall will be crowned the 2016 King of the Lake! Tickets must be purchased by bar close on Feb. 26. Entry fee includes food and prizes. Fish any lake. All fish must be registered by 5 p.m. on Feb. 27. Ice Raffle drawing at 6 p.m. Need not be present to win. Call 715/682-9908 for more information.
- The Annual Claus Kraetke Memorial Ice Fishing Jamboree at Donner’s Bay Resort, 2974 Hiawatha Rd., Butternut, on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, will take place Saturday, Feb. 27, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cash prizes will be given for the largest fish caught in several categories. There will be hot food, warm & cold beverages and tickets for many raffles for sale inside the resort's lodge. For more information, call 715/476-2555.
- The Mellen Rod & Gun Club Annual Ice Fishing Contest on Lake Galilee is planned for Sunday, Feb. 28, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drawings will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Call 715/274-2080 or 715/274-2330 for more information.
Luke Kavajecz, fishing guide with Anglers All of Ashland, shows off the handsome brown trout he caught last week out on Chequamegon Bay. (Photo courtesy of Luke Kavajecz)
Ashland native Nate Baron, owner/operator of Up North Guide Service, met with success on his recent quest for panfish. He caught this bluegill earlier this week using pink and white tungsten ice flies from Jeff’s Jigs and Flies tipped with a waxie. (Photo courtesy of Nate Baron)
Josh Teigen, owner and operator of Josh Teigen’s Guide Service in Iron River, and his friend Acorn Armagost from Iron River caught a real mixed bag of fish last week, including whitefish, splake, a brown trout and a northern pike. The two friends will be featured on “John Gillespie’s Waters & Woods,” airing at 9 a.m. this Saturday, Feb. 6, on Fox Sports Net North. Josh said there were aerial views of the whole bay taken by drone, so the show “should be pretty cool.” (Photo courtesy of Josh Teigen and John Gillespie)