NW Wisconsin

Heading to see the grandkids on Christmas Day and wondering if anyone has any information on ice conditions on smaller lakes around Rice Lake, WI like Lake Thirty, Rice, Turtle, etc. Looking to take them out at least a couple times while we are visiting and mom and dad are working.
Thanks Todd

My cabin is in Cumberland. The bigger lakes (Beaver Dam) were still not froze last weekend. I suspect most of them will be by this weekend but not sure how much ice. The smaller/shallower lakes were fine last weekend. Our lake is deep and only 350 acres. We had 2.5 inches in front of cabin last weekend. Less next to shore. It has been cold so far this week.

I’ll let you know after this weekend. Planning on hitting several lakes around Spooner.

Thanks for the response and look forward to hearing what it is like this weekend. My granddaughter is supper exited to go fishing with papa! Can’t wait. She is a real trooper.

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There is 4 to 6 inches on upper and lower turtle lake. Just talked to a friend who lives on the lake and saw a 4 wheeler out today

Was out on a small lake last night south of Spooner and had 4-5″ of good hard ice.

Ill be fishing around Spooner tomorrow. Will report but I already know the smaller lakes are fishable. I saw fishermen last weekend. Just be careful. If there’s any doubt use your spud.

5″ of good clear ice just south of Falun. Our lake is usually late to freeze due to depth and springs. This week should continue to make good ice.

Approximately 5″ on the lake I fished today. Morning bite was non existent. You would have thought my bait was soaked in gas
Evening bite was ridiculous, turning into c&r after an hour. Didn’t even seem like the same lake. I can’t wait to feast on gills a craps.

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Geerdes wrote:

Thanks for the response and look forward to hearing what it is like this weekend. My granddaughter is supper exited to go fishing with papa! Can’t wait. She is a real trooper.

I am expecting my first grandchild in June. He/she should be ready to start ice fishing next winter, right?

Fished a large clear lake last night, solid 6″ of ice and a few atvs out. Fishing was very very slow. Buddies and I are wondering what the heck is going on, early ice is supposed to be great but we’re trying a bunch of different lakes and finding the same sort of thing.

Been fishing the Rice Lake area for a week. 5-7 inches on most lakes, though haven’t been on the super big lakes. Bite has been hot for nice gills and bass and giant crappie. Caught my pb crappie two days ago. Good luck!!

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Thanks to all for letting me know that there is fishable ice. The grandkids will be excited to go spend some time fishing.

I’m more NE than NW, but that’s been the experience here too. Lack of snow cover and super clear ice seem to limit the daytime bite, even for northern the activity windows have been hotter in the am/pm lower light situations. In my experience, with “normal”(more snow cover, more “milkiness” in the ice cover) years I often have hotter pike action on brighter sunnier days.
I swear James and PJ Vick are the only ones who can catch WI walleye during the day…