Happy New Year…CW Fishing Report
Ice fishing this season has gotten off to a rocky start but anglers are putting in their time and they are finding a few nice fish. Ice conditions around the state vary drastically and it has impeded accessibility on many of the northern lakes. But with some caution and careful planning determined anglers are getting out on the ice.
The walleye bite has been very good with nice fish being caught both during the daytime hours and well after dark. Most guys are running tip-ups baited up with golden shiners set about 1 to 3 feet off the bottom depending on the depth of the water they are fishing. In addition to the guys running tip-ups a few savvy anglers are jigging with Buckshot spoons and jiggin raps for the walleyes. There is a technique to jiggin for walleyes and the best advice I can give you is to keep your bait moving. When a walleye appears on your flasher unit try to pull the bait away from him. If you stop moving your bait to allow the walleye to strike it the fish will more than likely leave. You have to keep it moving!
Guys targeting panfish have been having good luck targeting shallow weed in 3 to 6 FOW. Tiny gill pills in Firetiger have been working the best when tipped with a small plastic or live waxworm. We are having luck with both crappies and bluegills as well as some nice perch.
One fun trip I had last week was where we got into a nice mess of catfish. We were working 18 to 24 FOW and we were bouncing ¼ ounce jigging spoons that were tipped with just a minnow head right off the bottom. Once a fish would show up on the flasher unit we would slowly pull the bait away and wham they would strike. Let me tell you it is a lot of fun catching 3 to 10 pound catfish on light line and an ultra-lite ice fishing pole in 20+ FOW.
This past week has also been good for pike fishing as we were able to get out and catch some nice fish. All of the pike came on tip-ups baited up with large golden shiners set right under the ice in 3 to 8 FOW.
Have a great week,
Phil Schweik
Hooksetters Guide Service
Web: www.hooksetters.biz
Phone: 715-693-5843