Winter is here, but it’s hard to tell on some of those warmer days! Thankfully, the nighttime temps are still getting cold enough to hold the line and we’re seeing generally good conditions. That said, it’s still early ice, and while progress has been fairly steady, it remains uneven. Most areas are improving daily, but caution and patience are still essential for anyone heading out, especially in areas where snow as drifted or there are visible heaves.
Ice thickness continues to vary widely from lake to lake. Some larger lakes that stayed open longer earlier this month are now holding surprisingly good ice aside from some heaving and shorelines, while smaller or snow-covered areas can be far less consistent. Anglers getting out are generally reporting around 4 to 9+ inches, …
Let the ice fishing begin! We’ve started seeing folks come through for bait and out ice fishing on the really small lakes that locked up early. These are the desperate and brave anglers who are willing to go out on as little as an inch and a half, which we can’t recommend.
Ice thickness throughout the area varies greatly, and a drive around to check out some lakes will show you that. As always, use extreme caution in the beginning of the season. Spud as you go and keep your eyes and ears open. Things will be much safer soon given the weather we’re expecting and as long as we can avoid a big dump of snow, we go a pretty perfect set-up for a great season! …
As we head into Thanksgiving, the rhythm of late fall continues to define conditions. Over the past week, fishing felt very “winter-waiting-room”: silent woods, low sun, and lake water cooling into the upper 30’s especially on cold mornings. The cold has brought skim ice on smaller and medium sized lakes and the clear water and settled structure made for very deliberate fishing for those going out. Truthfully, right now 98% of those who want to be outside are either hunting or waiting for ice. In light of that, let’s talk about early-season ice fishing.
The first ice of the season provides good enough fishing for walleye and panfish anglers to be worth the risk for many. As always, …
We’re now firmly settled into winter’s waiting room. The woods are quiet, skim ice is showing up, and lake temperatures have dropped solidly into the low 40s. With the cold nights holding on, turnover is behind us and what little vegetation that remained has mostly laid down. Fish are operating in clear late-fall patterns, and the action reflects that.
Walleye anglers continue to do fairly well, though the bite has definitely become more precision-based. Most fish are holding deep and staying put during daylight, with short but productive feeding windows at dawn and dusk. Days, few and far between, with lighter winds have helped with boat control – and those who stayed mobile found good pockets of fish. Tuffies and small suckers on light jigs or suspended just above bottom are still the best bet, …