West Central WI early ice

[Junkie4Ice]

Long shot here, but wondering if anyone has any tips on lakes or bays of lakes that freeze up early in the season. Been in Eau Claire area for 4 years now and every winter I struggle to find anywhere nearby (other than halfmoon, and I really don't like halfmoon) that tend to freeze up earlier than other lakes. I find myself traveling up to Sawyer county or towards Wausau but I know there has to be something closer. The lakes I usually fish are the typical deep, spring fed lakes that take forever to freeze.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for an early ice "honey hole", heck I don't even care if there are any fish! Just looking for somewhere to get out as early as possible to satisfy the itch and make sure everything is in working order.

[dsupercat]

butch's bay and cutoff menomonee. glen loch chippewa falls,  back waters of the mississippi.

[BH2]

We have made it out on some of cheteks lakes like mud lake early ice. Ive fished there with descent results. Also prairie can be good early.

[Junkie4Ice]

Thanks guys! Chetek chain is probably one of the most popular fishing spots in the area that I've never actually been on. Mississippi backwaters make me nervous but every year I tell myself i'm going to try it out. With the temps coming up it's just a matter of time now!

[eriksat1]

Once you get north of hyw. 8 lots of small lakes that freeze early.

[Junkie4Ice]

Last year I headed up towards Cumberland area early ice but struck out on finding any lakes with people fishing or ice that I felt safe on without having been on the lake before. And I'm pretty ballsy when it comes to first ice lol. I'm sure I just didn't check out the right lakes for the area since I don't typically fish out that way. Ended up going to Hayward to fish a body I was at least familiar with. I heard over towards Balsam lake there is usually some good early ice fishing so I'll probably give that a try as well.

[eriksat1]

I honestly wouldn't waste my time looking for safe ice until maybe Thanksgiving. It's only 2 weeks away.

[Junkie4Ice]

I honestly wouldn't waste my time looking for safe ice until maybe Thanksgiving. It's only 2 weeks away.

I'm not planning on it, but last year we had that cold snap around this time and I took off work the Wednesday before thanksgiving to get on the ice expecting to see a lot more ice than I did. Unless I have another good opening weekend of gun hunting, I won't be on the ice at least until the 24th. Hopefully won't need to worry about finding ice by that point...

2 weeks feels like an eternity after all summer though, ya know? lol

[eriksat1]

I'm pretty good at finding any good ice around here. I will post as soon as I find any. I need 2" - 3" of clear ice to feel safe along with safety equipment lots of rope, spud bar, and flotation devise.  Prepare for the worst hope for the best.

[smokey1508]

i have been seeing ppl out on upper turtle lake since around thanksgiving