Fishing Report

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, we got a few inches of snow last night and it continues to come down.  This snow combined with the snow we got during the middle of the week should lay down a decent base for snowmobiling and skiing.  Still have plenty of safe ice, and that should continue as this week looks to bring some overnight lows down to -17 Tuesday night.  We have highs in the teens all week with another chance of snow Friday night into Saturday morning.  Fishing has been okay, I am hearing from some anglers we are getting into the winter doldrums.  

Walleye–The walleye bite has slowed down a bit, however anglers should still find ‘eyes along break lines to deep water basins.  Fish may be negative or neutral so deadsticks and tip-ups will still be great options.  Targeting fish during specific times (moon phases, dusk, daylight, etc.) will help catch more fish.  Jigging presentations may bring fish in, but have a dead stick close by if fish are finicky.

Pike–Pike action has been slow also, and mostly have come on tip-ups.  Look for pike in shallower weedy bays or big weed beds in shallow ish water.  

Crappie/Bluegill/Perch–I have not heard much on a panfish bite, except for the fact that the Chippewa Flowage has been the hot bite for crappie this winter so far.  Most panfish should be schooling up out in the basins of lakes right now.  Look for fish anywhere from 15-25 FOW depending on the lake.  Small jigs or spoons tipped with waxies or minnows are the go to baits to use.

That is all I have for this week’s report.  I know its not much but its been pretty slow from everything I am hearing.  Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg

Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, we surely closed out the week on a high note as far as weather is concerned! Low 40s on Thursday and right around 32 yesterday made for a nice change. We may see Sunday get into the 30s after some snow today/tonight, but then we get back to winter with high temps all next week in the teens and twenties, and lows mostly in the single digits. Shovels or snowblowers might be necessary after tonight, originally I was seeing 2-5″ although now I am only seeing about an inch of accumulation today and 1-3″ overnight. Lets hope they are wrong and its more for a change!? The whole area could use snow as many winter outdoor enthusiasts are less than pleased with winter so far this year. Ice anglers are not in that group however, as we have some of the best ice we have seen in years–20″+ on most lakes, and just enough snow cover to get around everywhere easily. The fishing has been pretty good too.

Walleye–The walleye bite has been mostly predictable lately with most anglers catching them on tip-ups rigged with suckers or shiners right around dusk. Look for fish in 12-18 FOW along breaks from shallow to deep water. Jigging with spoons or minnow style baits should work as well, but I have not heard of many anglers in this area fishing that style with much luck.

Pike–Pike action has been solid all winter long, and these fish are mostly all being caught on tip-ups rigged with suckers and shiners as well. I was on an area lake Wednesday and we caught a handful of pike in a shallow weedy bay. Look for green shallow weeds and fish just above the weeds for pike. One thing to note is pike are active almost all day vs walleye which we have seen more activity only during short windows of time, mainly the last couple of hours before dark.

Crappie/Perch–Anglers have had good luck catching numbers of crappie suspended or near bottom on basins in 15-20 FOW. Smaller jigs or spoons tipped with waxies or crappie minnows seem to be the best options for bait.

Bluegill–I honestly don’t have much on a bluegill bite, although I did hear of one being caught mixed in with crappie and perch in a deeper hole. Maybe that’s an anomaly or maybe some gills are schooling up in deeper water adjacent to weeds. Anglers just have to get out there and find them!

Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.

Greg