Good morning from the Quiet Lakes, gloom and doom are what the current forecast is showing starting around 10 p.m. tonight and ending sometime Monday morning. The winter storm warning on my phone is showing anywhere from 20-32″ of snow and wind gusts up to 45mph. Add that to the around 8″ we got Thursday night into Friday and it’s looking more like winter around here than it should for March!! It looks like mid week starts to warm up and stay above freezing so most of this snow should start melting and create quite the slop on unpaved surfaces. It sounds like ice conditions are still fair, although shorelines from what I have seen and heard can be sketchy. Areas where snowmobile trails go on and off the lakes may still be safe, but anglers should check ice conditions anywhere they head to. The snow we have received and what is coming is going to create a lot of slush and problems getting around.
I honestly have not heard much of anything as far as a fishing report goes, as I think everyone was taking those 40 and 50 degree days and thinking spring, not ice fishing! If anglers do wish to get out for what likely is some late ice panfish, they may start to find them pushing shallower. Look for Bluegill, Crappie, and Perch on edges of weeds, and transitions from the basin to structure. Jigs tipped with waxies or plastics, or jigging spoons for more aggressive fish would be good options still. Fish anywhere from 8-15 FOW where you can find safe ice and start there!
That is all I have for this week’s report. Not much to go on, but I’m thinking the season is just about over. Gather all you need today as travel tomorrow and Monday is going to be rough. Have a great weekend and we will talk soon.
Greg