Vilas County Fishing Report
Despite not seeing air temps above 0 degrees for a week or more, fishing has been surprisingly good for those willing to brave the conditions! Now it hasn’t been the same for everyone, rarely is.
The cold has probably kept anglers from moving around some if things aren’t going well were they are set up. But for those poised over the right spot, fishing has been good.
Walleye: Good- Very Good. Evening bites is on just before dusk. Anglers need to be set up by 3pm to see flags popping about 4 – 4:30. Suckers, chubs and shiners on tip-ups. Jigging raps, slab raps as well as hyper glides and chubby darters working well despite cold. Several 25 – 29” fish reported over the weekend.
Crappies: Good- Very Good. Surprisingly good considering cold limiting anglers movement. Deeper water (15-22’) best overall for nicer fish (11-13”) But some weed fish in 8–12”, though sorting necessary as mixed until smaller year classes (7-8” fish).
Northern Pike: Good-Very Good. By getting away from crowds anglers catching some nice pike in 30-35’ range using the largest shiners and suckers possible. In other areas of less quality but more quantity late morning through midday best.
Yellow Perch: Good. Anglers already probing deeper mud flats to find perch feeding on mayfly Larvie in 18-26’. Hali Jigs, VMC Champs #2 pimples tipped with wigglers on red spikes.
Bluegill: Good-Fine. Warmer temps would help.
Anglers using mousses on #10 moonglo jigs or #3 fish finding gills moving out a little deeper into 6-9’ of water as ice thickens.
If there has been any plus to the extreme cold it’s that ice is thickening nicely. Averages of 12” over most areas mean truck travel (16” for us cautious people) likely soon. There have been reports of slush on some local lakes, mostly northern Vilas County and in areas of protected western bays where snow hasn’t blown off.