Central Wisconsin Outdoor Report

This past week we have seen ice conditions deteriorate drastically. With the warm temperatures and recent rain shoreline areas are now breaking apart and mid lake areas, especially lakes with current are starting to open up. Recent reports have a truck or two going through the ice on the Willow Reservoir.

Despite the diminishing ice conditions (use caution first) fishing for panfish has been very good with limit catches of bluegills, crappies and perch.  The crappies and bluegills have been holding in shallow weeds in anywhere from 3 to 8 feet of water, and are hitting a Northland fireball jig tipped with either spikes or waxies. 

The perch bite has continued to be outstanding and we are catching some real jumbos.  The fish have been holding on mid depth flats that we found using the GPS on our Humminbird electronics.  By using our pre-loading lake maps we were able to detect precise locations and target fish that are in their pre-spawn transition areas.  Most of these perch have been in anywhere from 8 to 15 feet of water. The most productive method we have found so far for catching the perch is jigging the Northland buckshot rattle spoons that have been tipped with a minnow head or a few waxies.

A few guys are also trying their luck on the open water already this year. Areas below dams have been good as well as downstream areas with decent access.  Most anglers are targeting walleyes in 8 to 14 feet of water in non-current areas with jig and minnow combinations.

As most of you know I have been working with Kwik Trip the past year and I have received a lot of great support from them and wonderful comments.  I am now adding a new section to the weekly reports for special offers from Kwik Trip.  They offer great discounts and specials “usually free stuff” that you will receive on your phone on a regular basis.  Please "Text KWIK to 75309 for special offers on your phone"

Have a great week,