IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Wisconsin => Ice Fishing Wisconsin => Topic started by: upnortfishing on Nov 29, 2015, 10:16 PM
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Fished today on 2.5-3 inches busted through about 60 feet of 1" ice in 4-6 inches of water to get onto the solid ice. Caught an 18" walleye jigging with a slender spoon. Few fish on tip-ups as well felt really good to be walking on (hard)water though and the fish were really just a bonus. More pre-cip coming tomorrow night and warm weather this week I can see ice conditions degrading.
If you decide to go on the hunt for ice please be careful. Make sure you go with a friend first ice is no place for loners. Spud hard, make sure you know the lake, plan for the worst bring throw rope, pfd, change of clothes leave cellphone / things you don't want to get wet on land. Even taking precautions it is still very dangerous please be safe.
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Fished today on 2.5-3 inches busted through about 60 feet of 1" ice in 4-6 inches of water to get onto the solid ice. Caught an 18" walleye jigging with a slender spoon. Few fish on tip-ups as well felt really good to be walking on (hard)water though and the fish were really just a bonus. More pre-cip coming tomorrow night and warm weather this week I can see ice conditions degrading.
If you decide to go on the hunt for ice please be careful. Make sure you go with a friend first ice is no place for loners. Spud hard, make sure you know the lake, plan for the worst bring throw rope, pfd, change of clothes leave cellphone / things you don't want to get wet on land. Even taking precautions it is still very dangerous please be safe.
Where are you up there?
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Was just south-southeast of minocqua on a pretty small lake I'd rather not name.
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Was just south-southeast of minocqua on a pretty small lake I'd rather not name.
No worries. I'm NE of Minocqua about 45 minutes on a 650 acre, we're just froze over on Friday.
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We got some small lakes frozen over here around Hayward as well, but due to deer hunting and work I have not checked ice thickness yet. One small shallow lake I drive by has been frozen over now for almost a week.
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at least someone has ice the squirrels are still water skiing on the lakes down here
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I really feel for you guys down south it was 2 weeks later than I was out last year and I was going as far north as it took to find ice luckily we found it at the 2nd lake we checked.
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By the looks of the forecast, I'm guessing it isn't gonna last long. The post in general chit chat section of the extended forecast didn't look good either. Someone posted this link. http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/an-early-look-at-the-winter-forecast/vi-BBnf8pj?ocid=U147DHP
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Lake Mason in Briggsville was iced over Sunday morning. So the water temps are good now we just need some cold nights to thicken it up.
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I've been watching the forecast for Phillips, WI like a hawk. I had plans on coming up this weekend but I'm not sure if it's worth the drive anymore. We had some people fishing in the shallow stump bays of the lake the my families cabin is on Sunday on 2-3 inches of good clear ice. Anybody up in that neck of the woods have a report for what this winter storm dumped? I heard there wasn't much snow but quite a bit of rain. Any info would be excellent!
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I'm about a hour west of phillips we only got about 2-3 inches of snow and snow rain it pretty much melted on top of the ice on the lakes that were frozen over, kind of like a slush layer on top of the clear ice. It has frozen now so it doesn't look pretty but it did add a couple of inches of ice. I am going to check ice thickness on a couple of lakes tomorrow at lunch time. Hoping to ice fish this Saturday and Sunday.
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eriksat1,
Thanks for the news! My old man and I planned on heading up to fish Friday and, conditions allowing, Saturday. I'd love to hear what you find when you check the ice depths in your neck of the woods.
I feel like if I don't get out this weekend it's going to be a LONG wait before I get the chance again.
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The snow could have been the end for what little ice we have I am so happy that it didn't dump on us up here. I am pretty sure I will be able to fish this weekend.
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Upnort, where are you located? I'm not asking for a honey hole or anything of the sorts, just curious in case the lake I have in mind doesn't work out I have a back-up plan!
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I am located in Wausau but as I mentioned had to go up near Minocqua to find ice. No idea on current ice conditions it's been pretty warm but I'm hoping there's been some ice made this week.
Where were you planning to go?
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Sorry guys, this warm weather is all my fault.
I bought a new Auger and Shanty so now we won't get decent ice.
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There is ice you just have to find it, I am lucky to be 1-2 hours from it. I really feel bad for the guys down south though.
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There is ice you just have to find it, I am lucky to be 1-2 hours from it. I really feel bad for the guys down south though.
I won't go on less than 4 inches. I'm way too big to risk it.
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Everyone has their own comfort level as far as safe ice goes, and that is part of the reason I do not like to tell people what lake I was on. At this time of year everyone needs to be using a spud and deciding for themselves if it is safe. First ice isn't for everyone.
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I just went and checked 3 small lakes, NOT GOOD!, one lake 3/4" no good, another maybe 3" but already honeycombed and does not look good at all. I'm not going to risk it this weekend. I just might take my boat out though the big lakes are still wide open. We need cold weather like 0° cold. It would be ok with me if the lakes just completely opened again and start over making good clear ice. I guess that wet snow and rain mix along with mild temps killed it.
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Thanks for all the responses on this and sorry for hijacking the thread.
upnort we have a family cabin on Solberg in Phillips. We usually do pretty well on gills/crappies in a big shallow stump bay at first ice. Looking more and more like it's not going to happen though.
I really want to catch some fish through the ice...but I don't want anybody to have to come fishing for me through the ice.
This weather is killing me!
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I am really hoping to fish Carroll lake near Minocqua the 19th/20th. Have to drive almost 5 hours to get there so not going if things are iffy. This really sucks. Just don't have it in me to dig the boat back out and fish open water. Dangit!!
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I am just hoping the snow stays away and the overnight temps trend a bit colder. Pretty confident I will be fishing this weekend and fishing the lake I want to the weekend after.
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Thanks for all the responses on this and sorry for hijacking the thread.
upnort we have a family cabin on Solberg in Phillips. We usually do pretty well on gills/crappies in a big shallow stump bay at first ice. Looking more and more like it's not going to happen though.
I really want to catch some fish through the ice...but I don't want anybody to have to come fishing for me through the ice.
This weather is killing me!
I'm just north of Phillips in Park Falls. There's a little ice around. Enough to get on the edge of the lake, but the next few days are supposed to be in the 40's so probably won't last long. 😢
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I'm just north of Phillips in Park Falls. There's a little ice around. Enough to get on the edge of the lake, but the next few days are supposed to be in the 40's so probably won't last long. 😢
How often do you wonder over to St. Croix? I'd be there every day at lunch.
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Looking like highs in the 40s for the next week. Only good thing about it is it should melt all the crappy ice of the lakes then we can only hope for a cold snap to but some good solid clear ice on the lakes.
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Looking like highs in the 40s for the next week. Only good thing about it is it should melt all the crappy ice of the lakes then we can only hope for a cold snap to but some good solid clear ice on the lakes.
and melt off any slush so when it's freezing at night, it freezes up clean. I can't wait really.
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Well some of the small lakes that were frozen over are wide open again. So here we go again for first ice. Looks like starting Wednesday we will have below freezing temps for the highs and lows around 12°. The lakes are ready just need some darn cold weather. Hopefully we have ice to fish by next weekend.
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Hello ice-folks,
A bay froze to 3 inches on a small lake near Hayward so I tip-upped several times. Only caught one 17" walleye and was getting a bit discouraged. On Dec 5th had a flag and a long, long fight (6 lb leader) which resulted in a 41" muskie! On a walleye sucker. Back she went, but what fun. Now I'm psyched again, but have to wait for the ice to come back.
Also went shopping for the first time ever on Black Friday. to L and M Fleet in Hayward. My wife drew a 25% off coupon and they had the Clam Nanook Thermal on sale for 419, so with discount it was only $315. Good start to the season!
Good luck and safe fishing to all.
-Sturboy
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How are the lakes around Minocqua doing? Any ice yet?
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I am 35 miles south of Minocqua. We had a lot of wind overnight so ice production was spotty. The one 400+ acre view of a lake I looked at this morning was 90% covered with ice, where it was wide open yesterday.
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I live just north of wausau. All the ponds that were open yesterday froze overnight. A few more days like today and we should have some walkable ice at least. Long range forecast isn't going to make much ice, but we shouldn't lose much either.
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Smaller lakes in St Germain and in Manitowish Waters are frozen up.
(http://i.imgur.com/Wk4DHNT.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/jxTcfxS.jpg)
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Thinking Sunday I'll be able to fish a smaller backwater.
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I just got back from checking some ponds and lakes. Small ponds are iced over with mabey 3/4 of a inch on them lakes are still open i check clear lake and magnor by clayton wi. Anyone have a report by Lake Tomahawk on how this ice is?
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Anyone have a report by Lake Tomahawk on how this ice is?
It was non existent this morning in the bay my coworker lives.
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Stopped by two boat landings on the lower end of Lake Alice near Tomahawk this afternoon. Zero ice in both locations, too much wave action. However, the lower end of the Spirit flowage was froze over.
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Any new updates about the Minocqua area? Planning on making a trip up there a over New Years.
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Just talked to Jeff at JJ in Lake Tomahawk he sad no walkable ice yet :'(
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Cherokee in Madison has people out now
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Did a bit of a ride about this morning after Church. There were two guys on Harrisville pond. They said about two inches. Fox Tail bay on Big Silver is covered but no one had been on it yet.
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Logged into my security cam and right in front of house was 2 ice fisherman this morning. I'm located on Nokomis in Tomahawk. I have no clue how much ice, but I was super jealous. Guess I'll be going the day after Christmas :tipup:
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Checked a 70 acre lake near my house this afternoon had about 1-1/2 inch clear ice, might set tip ups off shore tomorrow after work high of 30 tomorrow should be making ice tonight.
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Logged into my security cam and right in front of house was 2 ice fisherman this morning. I'm located on Nokomis in Tomahawk. I have no clue how much ice, but I was super jealous. Guess I'll be going the day after Christmas
Where abouts on Nokomis. My parents are in the bay by the Thirsty Giraffe (formerly Gators) Ill be up there Sunday trying it out.
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Unbelievable! I drove to 4 different lakes after work today and did not find any fishable ice. One bay had 1-1.5" and that was the thickest ice I found. Typically we are driving on most of the lakes in my area by the week of Christmas.
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I found a good 3 inches of ice today on a big lake bay, it's on!
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Anyone checked out Big Arbor Vitae recently?
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Logged into my security cam and right in front of house was 2 ice fisherman this morning. I'm located on Nokomis in Tomahawk. I have no clue how much ice, but I was super jealous. Guess I'll be going the day after Christmas :tipup:
The Nokomis boat landing and bay I drove by had open water. The far back bays like those behind the Thirsty Giraffe may be solid because they were out of the strong winds we had during the cold snap.
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Anyone checked out Big Arbor Vitae recently?
I spoke with a guide out of St Germain yesterday, he fishes Big A, Little A and St Germains a ton come winter...he said that he wouldn't consider any of those safe for fishing yet.
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The Nokomis boat landing and bay I drove by had open water. The far back bays like those behind the Thirsty Giraffe may be solid because they were out of the strong winds we had during the cold snap.
I'll let you know Monday. We will be up there this weekend and next for Christmas crap
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Guy at work shared a pic from yesterday from his folks place somewhere in Iron County. His brother had the ATV parked by a shack. Said there was 8", I wanna pack by bags now........
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I've heard that there is 3" in the Phillips area and I'm beyond excited. I know there is rain in the forecast tomorrow, but it looks like cold weather on the way after that. I'm planning on heading up Saturday after Christmas and plan on spending as much time up there as possible. Heavens knows when we will get ice down in the southern part of the state!
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Where abouts on Nokomis. My parents are in the bay by the Thirsty Giraffe (formerly Gators) Ill be up there Sunday trying it out.
I'm under the bridge and around the point to the left. My average water depth is 8feet off my shore. I agree the ice looks a hair sketchy. I'm going to give it till next Wednesday....then game on for a week or so.
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I'm hoping to go out for the first time this afternoon where I found 3" bad news is we are expecting 5" to 8" of snow today not good on top of 3 inches of ice. At least the big main lakes are still open water. If the ice we have now goes to hell I'm taking the boat back out this weekend. The walleyes have been unmolested now for a long time.
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That's the spirit eriksat1. Boats work well in winter too.
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Cherokee in Madison now completely stating over no more ice
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Called up this am, my 650 acre is wide open. Heading up Sunday for a week. Hopefully we ger safe ice by mid-week, but we're expecting some possibly heavy snows.
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Maybe a half inch in the heart of the ice belt (Central Nebraska) hopefully when i head back to NY next week there will be some hard water to stand on, el nino's still takin its toll
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I've heard that there is 3" in the Phillips area and I'm beyond excited. I know there is rain in the forecast tomorrow, but it looks like cold weather on the way after that. I'm planning on heading up Saturday after Christmas and plan on spending as much time up there as possible. Heavens knows when we will get ice down in the southern part of the state!
. There were a couple guys out on Duroy lake today.
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Thanks for the heads up. Dad and I are packed up and ready to hit the road in the morning. If we can't get on the lake with our cabin I'm sure we'll be hopping around in the area.
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Guys out fishing by me yesterday. Getting everything all tuned up should be out during the week sometime.
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Heading to Devils Lake (ND) on Thursday for 2.5 days of fishing, hoping to be able to get on ice in southern WI on the weekend of 1/9/16 (at least some shallow bays or something)
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Guys out fishing by me yesterday. Getting everything all tuned up should be out during the week sometime.
Even with the 5-8" of snow coming your way?
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Walked out on Nokomis from shore 2-3 inches in the bay i was in. Not enough for me to fish. Hopefully by friday i will be able to. If the snow doesnt mess it up.
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Guys out fishing by me yesterday. Getting everything all tuned up should be out during the week sometime.
I'd like to where the hell they're fishing. I live by Lake Wissota 90% of the lake is still open and the other 10% is UNSAFE. We had 2 people killed today in Chippewa going out on too thin of ice, so us the brain that God gave you and think before going out.
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Walked out on Nokomis from shore 2-3 inches in the bay i was in. Not enough for me to fish. Hopefully by friday i will be able to. If the snow doesnt mess it up.
Thanks for the update. I'm coming up Thursday morning early and staying for 5 or 6 days. If I could just fish my bay on Nokomis I'll be a happy man.
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Fished the north end of Solberg in Price County Sunday and Monday and had a good 4 to 5 inches. It was great to finally get out on the hard water!
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Fished Butches bay in Menomonie on Sunday. 2 inches of ice
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My buddy told me there is a few lakes in vilas and oneida that have good ice. 5" is average hes seen and consistent. Im heading up saturday to meet up with him, ill be sure to post when i get back on what i saw. The only specific name he mentioned was lost lake. :tipup:
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Found a lake with 4-5 inches of ice. We caught about 30 bluegills and 3 perch. Biggest gill we caught was 9 1/2 inches. Very good bite.
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Yes there is safe ice on some lakes up north. There are also open or mostly open lakes in the same vicinity. If you aren't familiar with the lake at early ice or early ice at all please don't go out. With the recent snow dump a few of the iffy spots are going to be sunken it could be another week before they firm up again.
Spud hard go with a buddy and stay safe.
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Has anyone been out to Big Arbor Vitae? Squirrel lake has 5 inches of ice.
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Thanks for the update. I'm coming up Thursday morning early and staying for 5 or 6 days. If I could just fish my bay on Nokomis I'll be a happy man.
Drilled around 25 holes in my bay on Nokomis. Average ice was 5-6". My water depth ranged from 8-12 feet. By 5pm lastnight I started seeing other ice fisherman going on the lake.
Bite was slow. I caught one 17" walleye and lost a very large musky at the hole.
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is anyone familiar with west horsehead just east of rhinelander? its one of my favorite small lakes up north. Im curious if it has any ice yet.
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Drilled around 25 holes in my bay on Nokomis. Average ice was 5-6". My water depth ranged from 8-12 feet. By 5pm lastnight I started seeing other ice fisherman going on the lake.
Bite was slow. I caught one 17" walleye and lost a very large musky at the hole.
How was the slush? The snow made me worried.
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How was the slush? The snow made me worried.
No slush. Snow is light and fluffy. Nice ice, but the fishing SUCKED. 4 northern between 5 guys - all day long fishing. 1 walleye yesterday
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Yesterday on Lower Lake, Merrillan, Wi., a young guy and his girl friend tried to cross the lake on their snowmobile. I was driving around checking different lakes for ice, and when I got to Lower they were breaking ice toward the shore to get the sled out. Both kids got out of the water ok and made it to their cottage just down the road. Didn't stick around to see if they got the sled out or not. I only found about 2-2 1/2 inches on the other side. Don't know what the kid was thinking. From Chicago, imagine that.
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Cherokee has people out in Madison and 1 person was on Monona bay
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I was out last night on a 700 acre lake near Hayward 4" of crystal clear hard ice almost zero snow on top, and I was not in a bay. Caught my first walleye of the season 19-1/2". The low was 10°f last night probably close to 5" ice now. Another week like this and I wouldn't be surprised to see trucks driving out. No snow in the forecast to speak of should be making good ice the next 5-6 days.
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Was out on Magnor in clayton on Friday 4-5 inches of good ice. People were out with atvs i would be out yet there were some spots with less around 3 inches. i was on foot and the bite was slow. Went over to clear lake on 2-3 inches and the gill bite was good.
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Monona Bay off Park st. now good and people in the triangle too.
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No slush. Snow is light and fluffy. Nice ice, but the fishing SUCKED. 4 northern between 5 guys - all day long fishing. 1 walleye yesterday
Had 5 inches in the areas I fished in our bay. Caught 10 northerns and a largemouth, had 10 tip ups out. Caught tiny perch jigging.
Ice was good but a snowmobile went through close to the bog Saturday night, it was open there last week so that doesn't surprise me.
(http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s89/smbrickner/Largie.jpg) (http://s150.photobucket.com/user/smbrickner/media/Largie.jpg.html)
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That's the scariest thing about this winter. Lakes up north have been skimming over with ice, then light snow will cover them..you'd think that you're on 6" of ice when in fact you're on 1/2". One guy went through and got killed in Rhinelander last Friday.
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Been hearing guys are out on Cemetery bay on Menomin. also out of Butches bay 4-5" no one going to the middle, it was open water a couple days ago I guess some are going out of Elk Point on Tainter, haven't checked ice myself just hear say. Going to some backwaters on Wednesday I'll report back. Forecast still looks good for making decent ice.
SPUD EVERYWHERE for the next week or so, that's what I'll be doing.
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That's the scariest thing about this winter. Lakes up north have been skimming over with ice, then light snow will cover them..you'd think that you're on 6" of ice when in fact you're on 1/2". One guy went through and got killed in Rhinelander last Friday.
Oneida county sheriff deputy pulled into the landing as we were getting off the ice Friday night, told us about the guy who died and the 3 guys who went through on Thursday. He said they were on snowmobiles and hit open water.
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Had 5 inches in the areas I fished in our bay. Caught 10 northerns and a largemouth, had 10 tip ups out. Caught tiny perch jigging.
Ice was good but a snowmobile went through close to the bog Saturday night, it was open there last week so that doesn't surprise me.
(http://imgur.com/437il6N)
We finished our 5 day long weekend with 16 Pike, 1 walleye, & 1 perch.
I'm coming back up Thursday night and plan to move around a little more this weekend.
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I've been out fishing for a few weeks now. Every lake has varied from 3-7'' around Barron/Polk/Dunn Counties in the last week. Only have heard of a few people doing well on select lakes and it seems to be the lakes I'm not fishing!
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Going to be in Hayward next weekend. Wondering if Ill be able to drive my trailblazer on the lake. How much snow is on the lakes over there?
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Not much snow maybe 4 inches to zero on the lakes. Snow was blown off most of the lakes or blown to the east side. Nobody driving on the lakes yet. I was out yesterday morning on Grindstone maybe 5 inches of ice, the smaller lakes might have 8". With this below zero cold snap we have now it could make another 5 inches by next weekend? I will drive on 12" inches. I had minus -17f at my house early this morning.