When Fishing Turns Hot as Ice
When On Wisconsin Outdoors’ fishing expert Wayne Morgenthaler finds fish of any species on the Wisconsin River backwaters in Richland County, they are usually big, and surrender in mobs.
When I hear good things about On Wisconsin Outdoors, almost inevitably the fact that we are a publication that truly focuses on Wisconsin comes up. You guys want to read about the places that you recognize, and places where you personally hunt and fish. That’s what you get.
Yes, we print the occasional columns that spotlight destinations out-of-state, like the self-guided Colorado trip I took with my brothers last fall to target mulies and elk now published in the January-February issue. But even that is designed to show you Packer-Backers how to do the trip yourselves. 99 percent of our OWO stories, though, are born right here in the Badger state.
(Let’s wander a bit from the subject at hand and answer two pressing questions. Wasn’t that Packer win enough to make you thank God with all your hearts that He put us here and not in Illinois or Minnesota? And what would sell better in Wisconsin today; the leg lamp with fishnet stockings that sends Ralphie and his dad gaga in “A Christmas Story”, or a Mason Crosby leg lamp? Okay, Mason you lose that one but you sure can kick. And we thank you.)
Our writers make OWO. Wayne Morgenthaler is one perfect example of probably 40 angling experts keeping tabs on their own backyards for our paper. Wayne concentrates on the local area he knows best. For decades, in open water and on the hardwater, the retired educator has fished the backwaters of the Wisconsin River in Richland County. He finds fish and then he catches lots of fish and big fish.
I’m going to share his most recent report, in the hope that you can adopt the tactics in your own backyards, or take a road trip to Richland Center and try your luck in Wayne’s back yard. The baitshop Wayne recommends for equipment and advice concludes his report below. Here’s Wayne:
“The cold weather has subsided for a while and ice fishing is getting into full swing. Reports are that there is about 4 to 8 inches of ice on most of the Wisconsin backwaters. The panfish have been biting with early morning or late afternoon being the prime time.”
“The fish have been at all depths, so use two rods rigged for a foot below the ice and the other about 6 inches off the bottom. Another good method to use is starting your jig at the bottom and slowly work it up to about a foot below the ice. Waxworms have been working the best fished on white or gold ice fishing jigs. The Northern pike is slow. Set your tip-ups away from the other fishermen. Try to locate pike on points or along weed lines. I usually like to put my minnow about two feet below the ice.”
“For all your outdoor needs stop in at River Bottom Outdoors located in Avoca at 204 Front St. They will have the bait and minnows you will need. I am sure they can give you some good locations to go for your next ice fishing trip.”
For southeast Wisconsin hardwater enthusiasts wishing to stay closer to home, the Milwaukee Casting Club is holding its annual Ice Fishing Jamboree on Saturday, January 28th. Start at AJs Bar & Grill, S90 W13970 Boxhorn Drive, Muskego. Fish for cash prizes from $25 to $500, meat raffles, door prizes and more.
Thanks for connecting with On Wisconsin Outdoors. Shoot straight. Go Pack Go.
Dick Ellis