Need some ideas for a weekend ice camping trip

[Rwolff]

I'm looking for a new place to try out this year, and want to plan a weekend on the ice, camping. I'm in Tomah so anyplace within a hour or two would be great. Not trying to get anyone's secrete spot or anything, just some ideas for a place with some decent pan fishing and pike action. Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks

[NorthWoods Harry]

I could put you on a great body of water for what you are looking for....bit it's about 3 hours from your location! Are you planning on using a wheelhouse?

[Rwolff]

Nope,
I'm hopefully picking up a new to me snowmobile in the next couple weeks. That will be my transportation on the ice. And I'm going to use my quick fish for a base camp

[RapShack]

Within an hour of Tomah you have Petenwell/Castle Rock, Potters, Arbutus, the Mississippi/Lake Onalaska, and a bunch of other smaller stuff.  If you bump it up to a two hour drive that should put Wissota, Holcombe, and Bago within range.  I'm gonna go for Petenwell sometime this winter because it supposedly has good crappie and walleye populations which are both a fish you can actually have a shot at catching after dark.  Which is a big part of the consideration for an overnight when you consider the ratio of light hours to dark hours in the winter.  Somewhere without a night bite equals about 14 hours of cold dark boredom. 

[dab65]

Petenwell is not much good after dark. Best bite is usually during the day especially on sunny days.

[Rwolff]

Dab65
I've heared the same about pettenwell, that bright sunny days are the best, I've even talked to a couple guys that guide there and have said the same.

Rapshack
I guess I should have worded my post differently, I know all the area lakes and ponds pretty well. Most of the ones you listed I've fished a time or two in the past. Some on ice and some in the summer, had some luck on some and not so great on others. I guess I'm lookin for a general area on some lakes or ponds. Some of those are pretty good sized. But I do appreciate the list! There is a couple on there that I've never been to I'm going to have to do a lot home work between now and first ice.

[RapShack]

Petenwell is not much good after dark. Best bite is usually during the day especially on sunny days.

Bummer, it's the same way here on the river.  Is the water in Pete stained?  Anyone know a decent lake that has clearer than average water?

[Rwolff]

Yep it's pretty stained, most are in this area

[addicted to ice fishing]

Wissota has some nice crappies, and a good walleye population, but it can be a tough bite.  I know some anglers have good success, but I believe you really need to put some time in on the lake to be successful.  I fish it a couple of times each seaso, just because I live so close, but I always struggle when I fish it..

[da man cave shack]

Fox Lake in Fox Lake is a good spot to try out and Beaver dam lake is just south of that and that is another good spot to try as well.

[Rwolff]

Thanks for the info'