3-27-14 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:

Unseasonably cold temperatures and 8”-12" of fresh snow have put a damper on the ice fishing this past week. Old Man Winter will not let go this spring! There has been minimal fishing pressure on Chequamegon Bay this past week due to consecutive mornings of below-zero temps and the lack of spring runoff. 

Anglers have been fishing the hot pond at the Xcel Energy Bayfront Power Plant in the early mornings for coho salmon and an occasional steelhead with limited success. Look forward to the warm weather in the forecast which should produce some runoff from our local rivers and streams that will start bringing more fish into the bay and shallow water. The shallow-water fishing for steelhead and coho salmon at the mouth of the rivers is just starting and should last for at least a couple of weeks, depending on Mother Nature.

Anglers have been having some success on steelhead in 4-10 foot of water, which should continually improve in the days ahead. If the trout are there and are not actively feeding, try downsizing your presentation to panfish-sized jigs and hair jigs tipped with a waxie. Some success on walleyes in the bay has been reported in shallow water during the first few hours in the morning and the last hour in the evening. 

Travel on the ice is still limited to snowmobiles only. With the recent snow, the travel has been excellent with the occasional slush pocket. Travel conditions change daily at this time of year due to the freezing rain and snow accumulation.

The lake trout fishing in the Apostle Islands remains excellent and the travel conditions are some of the best we have had this season. Check with the local bait shops for the availability of bait herring and fresh smelt.

Steelhead fishing opens this Saturday, March 29, on Lake Superior streams and rivers. It is going to be tough going with the excessive snow cover, ice and lack of runoff. Expect only the true die-hards to be on the rivers this weekend!

Ice conditions can change rapidly on Lake Superior with currents and high winds! Please have all the necessary safety equipment with you. If you are unfamiliar with the area you will be fishing, hire a local guide or check with a bait shop prior to venturing out on the ice.

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 great 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.

Anglers are checking their way with a spud or ice bar. The ice on the big lake is still good. In fact, we are making ice, not losing it as we should be this time of year.

While the ice on the lake is still 3-4 feet thick, the snow cover has started to melt and turn slushy. 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 three to four 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. This weekend’s opener should offer some good steelhead trout fishing at the mouths of the rivers flowing into Lake Superior. The steelhead action should be great at the following creeks and rivers: Pikes, Onion, Sioux and Whittlesey.

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.

Katie Schneeburger of Ashland caught and released this beautiful 25-inch steelhead in 10 foot of water on Chequamegon Bay with fishing guide Bryant Burns on March 25.

Jeff Wenger of Jeff's Jigs and Flies, Two Harbors, Minn., joined Ashland’s Up North Guide Service recently for a day out in the Apostle Islands. Jeff caught this lake trout in 195 foot of water on a gold PK Spoon tipped with smelt.

Nate Baron of Ashland’s Up North Guide Service holds a laker taken in 190 foot of water using a white beetle and smelt.