Willoghby ice conditions

[keithm87]

I am looking to go up to willoghby this afternoon and try burbot fishing. Reports early in the week looked promising but this warm weather and snow has me nervous. Did anyone go out yesterday or is anyone out today? How's the ice? Thanks

[camo ninja]

12"+ of black ice out a couple hundred yards in front of the boat launch...3 or 4 rigs parked next to each other yesterday when we were there and no one went thru so plenty good

[johndeere540]

i was driving all over the north end about anywhere that i wanted to go yesterday and this morning chasing the perch. eight inches of snow with some drifting here and there. nothing at all to be nervous about!

[camo ninja]

anyone know how the smelt fishing is going ?
I caught one 20" cusk last night around 10:30 that had 18 smelt in its stomach !
It seems this year the bit has been alot slower and didnt know if there was an increase in smelt 
The smelt were pretty small so maybe their not biting that good
another cusk we caught had a 5" perch in its stomch , no wonder they arent biting that great !

[johndeere540]

the smelt are hit or miss this year and never know where you will find them. the bite for all fish has been extremely slow for the last couple weeks but ussually picks up again around the first of march.

[camo ninja]

I don't want to catch any smelt ( I know where I could) I was just wondering how the smelt guys were doing ....as in if they thought it was a normal or slow yr , the smelt in all the cusks stomach seemed to small to jig up so didn't know if the bite was slow for smelt and all other fish for that reason...

[TRT]

Willoughby has a smelt population that is multi year. I am not sure of the life span but thinks
its 3-4 years. Every year a year class dies off and feeds the lakers and trout.