Midwest Fishing Report: Coho starting and getting ice fishing in while you can

The sturgeon spearing season length is usually dictated in part by water clarity of the Upriver Lakes and Lake Winnebago. Warmer temperatures this winter prevented biologists from safely conducting water clarity assessments until this week. There is an average of 13.0 feet of water clarity around Lake Winnebago with generally clearer water on the eastern shores as well as farther from shores along the west side of the lake.

With better water clarity this year, we should see a good harvest, though the warm weather could deteriorate ice conditions which may reduce spearing success. Recorded low chironomid densities (lake fly larvae/red worms) this year may also impact sturgeon distribution around Lake Winnebago.

Spearers can find the full water clarity report, season forecast and daily harvest updates on the Winnebago System sturgeon spearing webpage and by signing up for email updates.

Perch still steady most days at the slips even when you had to bust a hole thru the ice.

The average size in the perch has definitely went up some good perch being caught the last few days.

One of Dave’s Bait and Tackle employees on the ice Monday afternoon 2/6/238-12 of ice yesterday. I’m going out today after work for panfish and the early morning and afternoon bite continues to be good. Back channels and local lakes all reported 7 inches of ice or more.

Nothing that’s taking away 8-12 inches of ice.

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap if this weeks fishing.

The second first ice season is upon us. Lakes south of I-80 have 5-6 inches of clear ice. Get out and fish as much as you can. Unfortunately it may not last very long based on this weeks forecast.

Bass have been decent on tip ups setup along the deep weed edges. A few can be taken by jigging a pinhead mino as well.

Bluegill and crappie have been excellent on a variety of plastics worked in the main basin. The new lil chubby by IJO plastics was hands down the best. Staying mobile and drilling as many holes as possible in order to move with the fish was key. The sunny high skies we had over the weekend called for a flip over shelter for added cover made all the difference in the bite as we lost the little snow cover the ice had.

. . .

TTYL

—

Ken Husker O’Malley

Husker Outdoors Waterwerks fishing team

Dupage gold

Greetings from so. Florida! Got this 24 [inch] 8-pound plus on a yum craw in a local pond. No ice down here! G. Peters

Fishing Report – 2/6/2023

Mike Norris

Big Green – Lasts week’s frigid weather started to freeze over the main section of the lake, but warmer weather this week may put an end to that. The only safe areas to walk out on now are Dartmouth Bay, Beyers Cove and the very wet end of Quimby Bay. Each location has approximately five inches of ice. The bluegill bite is good in Dartmouth Bay, but it’s an early morning or dusk bite. Beyer’s Cove is full of small perch, but the bluegills have disappeared. Quimby Bay is good for northern pike and an occasional walleye.

Lake Puckaway – Northern pike and walleye continue to be the main attraction for ice anglers, several whom are now driving vehicles out on the ice which is ten inches thick. The most action is in the western basin of the lake, not too far off Good Old Days or the DNR boat launch. One angler caught a thirty-eight inch northern pike with a shiner on a tip-up last weekend.

Fox Lake – Fox Lake had thirteen inches of ice as of last weekend, and with fishing derbies taking place on the lake anglers were driving vehicles everywhere. Crappies up to thirteen inches, walleyes up to twenty-one inches, and northern pike to thirty-three inches where registered the in the derby.

Decent ice reports, but I’m sure you’ve heard that. I’ve talked to some friends, some trout off the pier.

The arctic blast from last week and crazy winds of last Thursday were actually a blessing to ice anglers. The wind took a lot of top snow off ice and slush dried up very well on most lakes and ice thickness has increased!

Checking ice and travel conditions throughout parts of the Lakeland area saw much improved travel conditions. ATV/UTV travel, untracked, was good. Measurements of 17-19 of ice must be taken with a grain of sale. Some lakes showed good ice while others were layered with some having two layers of gray crumbly ice over 12-14 of good solid ice.

Yellow Perch: Good – Lots of activity over mud in 22-35’. #’s high, but size need sorting. Fast dropping Hali jigs tipped with wigglers or spikes. Larger Perch found cruising weed flats of 6-10’. Hungry for meat, these Perch more likely to take medium fatheads or rattle spoons with waxies.

Bluegill: Good – Responding well to warm up. Gills being caught using #3 Fiskas tipped with waxies or plastic tails in white, red, purple and motor oil. Fishing weeds and edges of 8-12’.

Crappie: Good – Two locations. Mixed in with Gills in 10-12’ taking small minnows below tip-downs or slow dropping Lethal Cecils or Shrimpos tipped with waxies. Also being caught suspended 4-8’ off the bottom over deep basins of 24-38’. Small glow rattle spoons tipped with waxies or tip-downs baited with small crappie minnows or rosies!

Northern Pike: Fair-Good – Some pick-ups along weed edges of 6-14’. Bite slower than it had been. Check tip-ups often, lifting then dropping bait to get shiners and suckers to move around and help entice strikes.

Walleye: Poor-Fair – Windows of activity seem small. First light and dusk. Smaller baits better as Walleyes in negative feeding moods not as likely to go big. Subtle and smaller. Weed edges at dawn as Walleyes moving out of shallows from night hunts taking smaller suckers.

Largemouth Bass: Poor-Fair – Though usually good at responding to warm ups like the past couple days, not a lot of reports. Small shiners meant for Walleyes scored a few over the weekend.

I’d really like to say the lakes are safe for truck travel, yet I’m still cautious (and haven’t paid off my truck yet). The gray ice (frozen slush) on top is what bothers me. While it seems like plenty of ice, caution still advised. Some bays with heavy traffic are seeing truck travel as these areas have had the snow and slush packed down and ice thickness is better than on untraveled lakes. Use caution. Forecast for highs in the 30’s with a chance of snow Thursday afternoon will add 1-2 on top, but should still be good for travel.

Upcoming Ice Fishing Tournaments

Feb 11th – Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament

Feb 18th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree

Feb 18th – Mercer Lions Club Jamboree

Feb 25th – Northwoods Chapter of Muskies Inc. – Kids Ice Fishing Day

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sport Shop - Like us on Facebook

Perch still steady most days at the slips even when you had to bust a hole thru the ice.

The average size in the perch has definitely went up some good perch being caught the last few days.

Coho action started on Sunday at Portage Riverwalk and in Michigan city from the casino boat back to behind fish camp restaurant.

Boat action at Gary light for coho and browns from groups casting and some trolling.

Slez’s Bait has all the skein and squid strips in stock and ready for coho action.

Hi. Dale! I hope you & your loved ones are doing well & enjoying the beautiful current & upcoming weather. It looks like it’s gonna be an early season for fishing. To all you guys enjoying unexpectedly early fishing with the nicer temperatures, don’t forget to remember the special ladies in your life on Valentine’s Day this Tuesday. Here’s what’s been going on in our area:

River fishing for Steelhead has continued steadily with the warm weather; anglers have been out on the piers catching Coho & Whitefish. Skein for the Coho has been working well; single salmon eggs have been the baits of choice for the Whitefish.

Perch fishing in the slips along Lake Michigan & also in local lakes has been fairly steady, with smaller minnows, red worms, & spikes working rather nicely.

The ice marginal, 8-14 on area lakes. With the opening of sturgeon spearing this weekend, ATV or UTV travel on Winnebago. There are a few trucks on Poygan and Partridge. Perch bite has been good on area lakes, along with some walleye and northern action.