Looking for a good spot.

[tip-down]

  I not asking for you best spots, or you honey holes.  Taking a group  of guys ice fishing in a couple of weeks.  The guys are new to ice fishing and I'm try to get them hooked, so what I'm looking for is a spot where we can set flags and chase northerners, bass,walleye, or perch and still be able to set a shack up.  I live in the eau claire chippewa county area but i an willing to drive to fish.  Has anyone been on the Mississippi back waters around Alma i know they use to get nice panfish and northerners to boot.  I would just like to keep them entertained for a full days fishing i know the year has been slow for most of us.

Thanks for your help,
                    TIP-DOWN.

[dcso3009]

There has been a lot of talk about the Winona area backwaters with good gills, and northern being caught.  Also if you want to drive a bit, I do quite well near Iron River on Muskellunge Lake for northern.  There are also some Crappie and Gills there too, but most days the tipups will not stay down!  Northers are mostly small, but I have caught 3 (released 2)  42"+ out of there.

[addicted to ice fishing]

[quote authorf=dnythingcso3009 link=topic=209717.msg2074493#msg2074493 date=1326199320]
There has been a lot of talk about the Winona area backwaters with good gills, and northern being caught.  Also if you want to drive a bit, I do quite well near Iron River on Muskellunge Lake for northern.  There are also some Crappie and Gills there too, but most days the tipups will not stay down!  Northers are mostly small, but I have caught 3 (released 2)  42"+ out of there.
[/quote]

There are alot of different backwater areas on both sides of the river there. Depending on what definition is being used, but I have seen Winona area mean anything between Fountain City and Trempealeau on the Wisconsin side..

[dcso3009]

There are alot of different backwater areas on both sides of the river there. Depending on what definition is being used, but I have seen Winona area mean anything between Fountain City and Trempealeau on the Wisconsin side..

More specifically Pritchards, West Newton, the Tubes, and almost anywhere else off the Dyke road.  I see a lot where the river info can be very obscure.  Lots of people don't want to give up info on "their spot" . 

[addicted to ice fishing]

More specifically Pritchards, West Newton, the Tubes, and almost anywhere else off the Dyke road.  I see a lot where the river info can be very obscure.  Lots of people don't want to give up info on "their spot" .

Yes people are pretty tight lipped when it comes to fishing spots. There are so many backwater sloughs to fish that alot of people just drive by the fishing spots to see how many vehicles were parked there. If only one or two vehicles were at a spot,  alot of people would keep driving in search of more vehicles and possibly better fishing.  I used to fish that area alot when I lived down there. There were a number of times that I was told that you were here yesterday, and are back today so you must be catching fish.

Pritcharts is usually a good spot, and the Minnesota City boat harbor used to be good too.  I caught alot of fish at Sammy Gordys, Besses, Sikorskis, the Stone House, as well as other spots farther up and down the river.