Schweik-Panfish Still on Main Stage
Panfish are still the main attraction but walleye and pike are not to be taken of the hit list.
With plenty of ice on area lakes anglers are getting out and having good action on all species of fish. Panfish have been biting well on small tear drop ice jigs in 4 to 8 feet of water around weed beds. Work all the levels of the water column as panfish will suspend at different stages when searching for food.
Walleyes have been feeding regularly at low light times and after dark with the best bite being right as the sun goes below the tree-tops. Tip-ups baited up with golden shiners or small sucker minnows has been the best bait for us when suspended about one foot off the bottom. We are targeting water depths of up to 20 feet during the daytime period but as the sun starts to go down move your tip-ups in to less than 10 feet of water. And don't be afraid to go as shallow as two feet as the walleyes will regularly move up extremely shallow to tap minnows along shoreline areas.
The northern pike bite has been very good all winter long and some really nice fish are being caught. We are running tip-ups baited up with large golden shiners and suspending them directly below the ice in 3 to 6 feet of water. Good areas to target are along weed lines an shallow backwater bays off the main river channel of the Wisconsin River.
This past week also saw us starting to get into the first regular perch bite of the year. We are working small rocker style jigs in purple and green tipped with wigglers right on the bottom in deep water from 16 to 25 feet.
Good luck and have a great week.,
Phil Schweik
Licensed Wisconsin Hunting & Fishing Guide
Hooksetters Guide Service www.hooksetters.biz
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