Fishing Report

Ice reports are still good with 18″ +/- on the main lakes.  Accessing the lakes should still be good, but be mindful of areas where there is flowing water and snow melt on the South shorelines.  Overall fishing is still going strong with a good crappie bite. Last ice is generally some of the best ice fishing of the year for panfish as all species of panfish will be amped up for the spawn and the changing conditions under the ice.  Make sure you have your 2022/2023 fishing license if you are heading out!!!!!!!

Bluegill/Crappie/Perch– Focus on weedbeds as all of these fish will be moving shallow to start getting ready for spawning.  Fish should be aggressive with new oxygen coming into the lake from melting snow and open creek/river inlets.  Up sizing jigs a little bit tipped with minnows/minnow heads and bigger plastics or multiple waxies will ice the bigger fish in the school. Making noise with bigger jigging spoons or jigging raps with rattles will call fish in. There will be more noise under the water this time of year so dont be afraid to be a bit louder.  Try to find weeds that are starting to develop where there is good light penetration.  Look for sandy bottom areas with some weed cover and fish the whole water column, anywhere in 5-15 feet of water.  Longer days mean longer feeding windows so the action should stay more consistent throughout the day.

Greg

Ice travel seems to be better as we are pretty much down to just the hard pack snow.  Still plenty of safe ice out there, but be cautious around creek inlets and the shorelines as the ice will get thin there first.  If you are planning on going out this week, remember licenses expire on Thursday the 31st and the big chip is lowering the daily limit on panfish to 10 fish combined species.  The crappie bite has been pretty good.  Not much is changing in the way of tactics as most of the panfish are relating to shallow weed beds that are starting to see some longer light conditions.  Some guys are already moving on to open water down south so the fishing should be good with less pressure!

Crappie–Shallow bays  that have good light penetration and weeds will be holding fish.  Find fish in 7-10 feet of water and use small jigs tipped with waxies or plastics and in some cases crappie minnows.

Bluegill–Bluegills and pumpkin seeds should be relating to the same areas as the crappie, and using the same tactics should catch fish.  Small jigs with plastics or waxies are a great bait choice.

Perch–Jigging spoons fished aggressivley around the deep weed edges should find perch.  Tip them with multiple waxies or minnow heads to entice bigger fish.

Greg