Even though a lot of anglers took advantage of the weekend to fish, the fish didn’t exactly seem as eager to cooperate. A lot of mixed reports from this past weekend, with more poor reports than good. Ice has thickened up nicely following the big chill. Most lakes reporting 14-16”+. Snowfall this past week put a fresh 6” on the ice, but travel is still excellent.
Crappies: Fair. Most days very negative. Anglers were picking up very few on minnow with tip-downs. Best to finesse them using $8 or #10 rockers tipped with plastic (red, purple best) or #8 – #10 moon glos tipped with Chena. Still good numbers of fish in weeds (according to cameras) just weren’t biting real well. Deep water anglers along breaks of 18-26’ doing best with rosies.
Perch: Fair-Good. Some limited deep water action over mud of 18-24’. These fish feeding on bloodworms by rooting through mud, but willing on good days to rise 5-6’ off bottom to hit #2 pimples, flickers, hali and#5 Fiska jigs tipped with either red spikes, wigglers or red Impulse plastics. Don’t be surprised when the “hot” bite suddenly shuts off! Happened a lot last week.
Northern: Fair. While a few good reports came in from anglers working for pike in the morning, most agreed fishing was slow. Some nice fish of 26-32”, but not many.
Walleye: Poor-Fair. Actually improved by Sunday evening. Deeper water of 17-25’, but bite sporadic. Suckers outdoing shiners lately – typical of deep bites.
Bluegill: Poor – Fair. Improved by Sunday. This fish buried in deeper, thicker weeds. Finesse with small tungsten jig and single spike or waxie in 7-10’.
It was a surprisingly tough bite this past weekend. Anglers watched fish on locators rise to the bait, but refuse to bite. A few windows of opportunity for gamefish, then nothing. Fish have to eat, so fishing can only improve from here.
January 29, 2013 at 3:39 pm
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