Hells, bells, I use 10# floro and it doesn’t seem to affect anything I’m doing. If fact, if even use 20# and it doesn’t seem to affect the panfish at all. If I’m getting outfished by peeps in the same boat, I downsize to the 10#. I only use that light of line basin fishing during the winter, otherwise I can fish in all kinds of weeds/wood and dont have to worry about breaking off or having a snot rocket cut me off!!!
Mark
WTG Dad and Boys!!!
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 04-29-24:
On the cusp of the 2024 opener! First opener in three seasons we haven’t been concerned with ice out. For the most part Walleye spawning is done. Water temps are averaging 43-46 degrees. Cool nights (in the 30’s) has kept the warmer days from heating up too quickly. We have received some rain, not as much as we need but enough to bring lake and Flowage levels up.
Walleye anglers for the opener should for the most part be targeting post spawn Walleyes. This is a time where your temperature gauge on your electronics becomes very important. Differences in 1-2 degrees surface temp, from one side of a lake to another, can make all the difference in fish activity. Wind will push the warmest water (at the surface) across lakes lowering the temperature or the lee side while raising the temperature on the windward side and having a distinct effect on fish activity at this time of year.
Look for any newly emerging green weeds in 2-8’ of water. This is where insects and minnows will be that draws these hungry post spawn Walleyes in to feed. A light weight 1/32-1/16 oz jig tipped with a lively fathead minnow, dace, chub or even leech as the water warms into the low 50’s will work great. Slip-bobbers rig with the same live baits as well as shallow running stick baits in the 3-4” length such as floating Rapalas, Storm Jr Thundersticks and Smithwick Rattlin Rouges are also a great choice. Just Work these shallow running baits just over the new weed tops.
Northern Pike should also be actively feeding as it’s also the post spawn period for them. The earlier mentioned stick baits as well as 3-4” swimbaits or a good ol’ jig and chub on a wire leader is always a good choice.
Yellow Perch will also be post spawn. Typically, the larger Perch will be scattered throughout green weeds. They really love dragonfly larvae, but will eat minnows, leeches and crawlers just as well.
Crappies have mostly been holding out in 6-8’ of water unless warm sunny days pull them into the 1-2’ shallows. Tiny tubes, hair jigs or small minnows have been working best. Any wood in the water will help collect some heat and draw them in a little better.
Bluegills have been seen sunning themselves on warm days in the shallows.
Largemouth Bass are working dark mud bottomed areas for the most part, though I did get a report of big LMB holding up on shallow rocks, fish to 20”, where water was warmer.
Smallmouth Bass anglers finding Smallies on rock/gravel breaks using Ned rigs and hair jigs.
Overall, water temp will be key. Forecast for rain/clouds should extend the bite on opening day. Warmer weather on Sunday should bode well for all species as waters start to warm up again.
Walleye Fishing on the Minocqua Chain
As of Friday, April 26th, the Lac Du Flambeau band of Chippewa’s exercised their right to spear the Lake Tomahawk/Minocqua Chain.
So all hook and line anglers understand, there is a process to go through for the DNR to be able to open the catch and keep season for non-tribal harvest. The chain WILL NOT BE OPEN at the start of Walleye opener May 4th.
The DNR is working on getting a special meeting with the Natural Resource Board (NRB) to work out details to open the season. Once this meeting is scheduled, make sure to have your comments heard as to what you’d like to see done (i.e. open season, remain catch & release etc)
Please respect the rules and refrain from keeping Walleyes from the chain until the season opens!
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 04-22-24:
We’re back…
Per usual, April showed us what April can be. Cold and wind this past week disrupted the nice warm up that seemed to be occurring. With limited options to the fishing here in the Northwoods (panfish and catch & release Bass) what was a slowly improving bite came to a crashing halt.
No worries, not a lot of anglers take advantage of the super early open water opportunities for panfish at times like these. But it can be productive under the right conditions.
On warming day, with air temps in the 50’s and 60’s, Crappies and Gills will congregate in the shallows to warm themselves and feed on invertebrates (Perch have or will be spawning further out away from these areas). These Gills and Crappies are not spawning, as some think, just collecting heat to help with the development of their eggs. These fish can be in as little as one foot of water and very spooky. Stay as far back as a long cast will allow to offer up waxies, leaf worms, small minnows or tiny tube jigs. Heavy, weighted floats, such as Rocket Bobbers, will help with these casts.
Forecast of highs in the 50’s, maybe low 60’s with bright sun will be best.
We are extending our line sale through April 28th, so take advantage and get freshly spooled.
As a reminder, the Lake Tomahawk/Lake Minocqua Chain will NOT be open to hook and line angling for Walleye at the time of the opener. In fact, if the LDF tribe does not spear Walleyes (they have not as of this writing) then the chain will remain closed until the 2025 opener.
As Walleyes For Tomorrow has asked in the past, please refrain from targeting Walleyes on the chain as we continue to work to rehabilitate the population.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 03-11-24:
We can put a fork in the ice season (or a chisel, spike, cleat, whatever your favorite euphemism would be).
While spots out on certain lakes still had fishable ice by Friday (3/8), even the weekend’s cold weather couldn’t hold up against the wind. Shorelines are pulling away. Ice (even when 6-8” was found) is not strong, crumbling under just a couple chisel strokes. The next 40+ hours will be above freezing with some temps in the 50’s even possible 60’s with cooler weather the following week, things look to be just enough for neither ice nor boat anglers to be able to get out and fish panfish.
Without abilities to fish locally, this fishing report will suspend until there is something to write about.
Keep the evening of April 8th open to attend your local Conservation Congress Spring Hearings. This is your chance to voice your opinion on subjects that affect you, the outdoors people! Your support (or non-support) helps the Natural Resource Board to direct the Department of Natural Resources as to upcoming rules and regulations that affect us. Remember, a non-vote is like a ½ vote for the opinion you have, so share.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
PS > There is lots of open water all the way up to the MI border from the last two to three days. Even Tomahawk Lake is mostly open at this time. Whether your favorite lake is open currently, I don’t really know, but more of it is probably open than what you can get your boat to depending on the landing’s location.
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 03-08-24:
ICE UPDATE: Despite some cold nights and the sounds of ice firming up through the night into the early mornings our ice season is coming to a close.
Still, I measured 9 1/2″ on Wednesday evening on one lake with a southern access but other reports of lakes without a base of clear black ice are coming in. Some lakes with 7-8″ of ice have no black ice and are crumbling easily with a couple pokes of a spud bar or just the weight of anglers.
Two men broke through (and were successfully rescued) on the Willow Flowage yesterday (3/7) walking out from the sand landing. Shorelines on the North shores of lakes pulling away. Some anglers using planks to access but on warm afternoons. These areas can get wider so it’s not advisable.
This weekend we will have mostly sub-freezing weather, 53 hours of below freezing versus 19 above but by Monday /Tuesday next week (3/11-3/12) with forecast into the low ’60s that will end all if not almost all access. It’s been a different season to say the least but best to stay safe and leave things until the ice is out at this point.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 03-05-24:
The inland gamefish season is over! The warm winter of 23/24 continues to confound anglers with unseasonably warm weather and ice thickness far less than we’ve ever seen at this time of year. Temps in the 50’s and even 60’s followed by lows in the Sub-Zero range this past week made ice safety a real concern. As of this writing March 5th, ice is still good on most lakes averaging 8 to 10 in thick but access to the good ice is deteriorating.
Use caution anywhere you are ice fishing from here on out. Access with Southern or Southeastern exposures are the first to pull away. Northern exposures, those with South shores that get the least sun hold ice the longest. It was better than usual during the last weekend of the game fish season. Nice catches of walleye to 26″ and Northern Pike 36 to 37″ reported and largemouth bass several of the 18 to 20 inch kind were caught and released.
Thanks to the teams for Winneconne, Neenah, Slinger, Kettle Moraine and Rosholt for helping gather such great reports during our 6th annual K.I.S.S. High School ice fishing tournament this past Saturday, great anglers and great sports people!!!
Crappies. Very good > Best bite very early morning from dawn till 8:30 a.m. then again in the late afternoons. Basin fishing shined on tip downs using small fathead minnows or rosies. Flashy jigs or spoons such as pinheads and Tika flashes produced best tipped with wax worms. For shallower anglers, 8 to 13 ft weeds while slow dropping lightweight spoons tipped with waxes or plastics plenty of nice 10 to 12 inch fish with lots of slabs of 13 to 14 in being caught.
Bluegills. Very good > Early morning through mid-morning and again mid-afternoon till dusk. Nice girls in the seven to nine and a half inch range with averages of 7″ to 8″, 3 mm tungsten jigs tipped with waxies or mousies or plastics to invest. Jigs with hair on seem to also convince the hesitant biters. While weeds and 6 to 10 ft seem to best reports of larger gills 8 and 1/2 to 10 in coming from over deeper water of 14 to 18 ft.
Yellow perch. Good to very good > Mud bite just outside weeds in 14 to 18 ft using spoons such as pimples, Kastmasters to deliver wigglers or red spikes best. Nice eaters in that 8-10 range just a few reports of larger fish.
Having checked ice this morning March 5th my guess is there will be opportunities throughout portions of the Northwoods to ice fish through the upcoming weekend. Walking only, use creepers, take safety spikes wear flotation and take a friend. Be very careful, travel light. We will continue to monitor the ice this week, so check our Facebook page and website for updates.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
Congrats BearCat!!! She’s looks to be a Keeper!!!
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 02-26-24:
Just one week left to the inland gamefish season here in the Northwoods. Lines out of the water at 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 3rd!
Thanks to a couple more single digit mornings last week, we may have some of the best ice we’ve had all season, reports and personal measurements are ranging from 10-15” with 11-13” the most common. Even had a report of 11” on South Trout! Last week at bat for gamefish so we will start there…
Walleye: Fair-Good – Tough with high pressure, but evenings picked up by Sunday night (2/25). Jigging Raps, Tikka Minnows and Slab Raps produced fish in the upper teen to mid-20” range. Tip-ups with suckers seemed best after dark. Most reports from off shore humps and sand bars, though weed edges in 9-14’ also picking up evening traffic.
Northern Pike: Fair-Good – Following a slow down of action, Pike activity also improved as of 2/25. Big baits to deter smaller Bass and Pike preferred. Pike suckers and large shiners. Mornings still slower (could be single digit temps) but improve as things warm.
Largemouth Bass: Fair – Action best on warmer days. Medium shiners on tip-ups, but a #3 pimple loaded with waxies will also work. Anglers using tip-downs with small minnows also reporting catching Bass – try small golden shiners if Bass are your target on tip-downs.
Bluegill: Fair-Good – Like everything else, action came late in the weekend. Anglers reported hardest part keeping lines in the water. Nice Gills (7 ½+”) in weeds of 5-9’. Others finding Gills over basins of smaller lakes (less than 500 acres) using tungsten to get (and keep) waxies, spikes or mousses down to the fish.
Yellow Perch: Fair – Most reports from anglers fishing weeds of 5-12’ for other panfish scoring on nice “eaters” of
8– 9 ½” on jigs with waxies or deadsticks and minnows. Get just outside of the weeds into mud and lots of little ones. Deeper mud flats (20-30’) providing some nice fish on spoons with wigglers.
Crappie: Fair – Best over basins of 22-34’. Be patient as schools seem to be on the move. Small, flashy lures to attract – Tikka Flash, Jointed Pin Heads and small Kastmasters, then a more subtle approach at times to trigger shy fish.
A few Burbot being caught by night time Walleye anglers. Not much on Whitefish. Nothing on Bullheads.
Forecast: I had down 58 hours of temps above freezing and 72 hours below through Saturday. Aboves in 50’s at times, lows in single digits (one 17-hour stretch) bracketed by temps in teens mid-week to firm things up. Dare I say ice should hold through the weekend, but if we don’t get more cold snaps in March, it may not last long.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
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Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 02-19-24:
Unfortunately, a cold and windy holiday (President’s Day) weekend greeted anglers who had the time off. Lows in the single digits with winds in the upper teens to upper 20’s made things feel worse. Lots of anglers still gave it their best (considering we are not accustomed to such “brutally” cold weather this winter). Action overall dipped, still some fish being caught, just a bit slower and harder to do over the past week.
Crappie: Good-Fair – Weed bite (8-13’) tougher as ability to move about in wind and detect light bites a chore. Crappies held tight to bottom, use tungsten jigs to get bait to hold – plastics in pink, yellow, silver or waxies best. Deadstick inside shacks with Crappie minnows picking up some fish. Basin Crappies over 22-32’ responding to Kastmasters, Tikka Flashes and #5 or #6 mm tungsten in glow tipped with waxies. Fish on the move, with wind it was reported to sit and wait for them to return rather than chase. Use a flashy spoon to draw attention, then have second rod ready with a subtle offering if fish seem spooky.
Northern Pike: Good-Fair – A noticeable slow down from the past few weeks. Mornings not as good as afternoons (watch for moonrise times, thanks Shelly)! Not much for signs of heavy feeding but that will come. Some nice fish of 31-34” this weekend with most on large shiners and suckers on tip-ups.
Bluegill: Good-Fair – Surprisingly better Gills in deep water (28-34’) with a number of fish in the 9-10+” range (measured w/ photos). Heavy tungsten jigs (4,5 & 6 mm) to get down baited with red spikes or red, motor oil or black plastic. Weed Bluegills tougher to pin point. Should improve with warm up, but over the weekend tighter lipped. Taking jigs tipped with waxies, the smallest you could fish with in the wind.
Yellow Perch: Good-Fair – Mud, deeper sandgrass Perch in 18-30’. Wigglers on #2 Pimples, Halis or Z-Rips. Best very early AM or late afternoon. Some reports of Perch relating to sandgrass flats in 16-22’ being caught on jigs tipped with small minnows. Still some nicer Perch in weeds taking waxies on small sunfish shaped jigs (T-Rips, Tikka Flash). Anglers haunted by “ghost” flags reporting bigger Perch (10-12”) on smaller shiners on their tip-ups.
Walleye: Fair – Despite some nicer fish reported (up to 27”) this weekend, bite for the most part (some exceptions) from 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM. Suckers along the deepest weed edges (8-12’) and over humps supporting sandgrass or rock. Little jigging action (cold?).
Largemouth Bass: Fair-Poor – Cold likely culprit for reduced reports. Watch for spike mid-week as temps climb into 40’s. Medium golden shiners best.
Bullheads: Poor – Second weekend without a Bullhead report – step it up people!
With cold and little snow on ice, conditions getting better as most reports have 8-15” of ice on most lakes. Caution still advised especially on spots on the Rainbow and Willow Flowages as well as North Trout and an incident that raises some concern on White Sand Lake on the Lac Du Flambeau Reservation.
Now to the guessing portion of our report…If we can believe the forecast (pause for laughter to subside) we will only have one night in the next 15 above freezing (good for making or not losing ice). Fourteen of the next 15 days our highs will be above freezing (2/21 to 48 degrees), not great, but not enough to get worried. But seven of those 15 days will be above 40 degrees. With that said, we should still have safe, fishable ice as the last two weeks of the Inland gamefish season ends at Midnight, March 3rd. Shanty’s (North of Hwy 64) off by March 17th.
Upcoming Events
Feb 24th – 3rd Annual Newbold Fire Dept Ice Fishing Tournament – Muskellunge Lake
Feb 24th – Kids Ice Fishing Day – Lake Minocqua – Sponsored by Northwoods Chapter of Muskies, Inc
Mar 2nd – KISS Annual High School Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Minocqua
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 02-13-24:
Once again there was much concern in regards to the Northwoods ice conditions following last weeks temps that cracked the 50 degree mark on Thursday (2/8). It definitely is correct to be worried as pressure cracks (Willow, Rainbow Flowages) and open water areas (North Trout, Squirrel) and areas of thin ice (South Trout – 4-5”). On the other hand, we’ve had below freezing temps since Friday (2/9) and the sounds of “making” ice can be heard at night and mornings.
Ice thickness has been measured on many area lakes at 6-10” with 7 ½ – 8 ½ being the most common. No matter where you go, always check, especially along shorelines by walking out and drilling first. Usually (but not always) the shoreline ice has been thinner than ice out towards the middle.
Northern Pike: Very Good – Lots of action on tip-ups baited with large shiners and suckers in depths from as little as 4’ out to 14’ where weeds are found. Good numbers and some very nice fish in the 30-36” range this past week. Let some of those big girls (30”+) go to grow and pass on those good genetics!
Crappie: Very Good-Good – The bite slowed on Sunday (2/11) and Monday (2/12) a bit. Action could still be found in 11-13” weeds but Crappies held tight to bottom those mornings. Coaxing bites with tungsten jigs (5’s & 6’s due to wind) tipped with plastics (pink, yellow, white) best. Basin fish (20-34’) moving rather quickly, most being caught 4-6’ off bottom using “blingy” type jigs and spoons to lure fish up to bite, followed up by a more subdued tungsten jig to deliver a subtle piece of plastic or grub to seal the deal. Lots of reports of good action with some 14-15” slabs to brag about.
Bluegill: Good-Very Good (size) – As with Crappies, anglers finding weed relating fish in 6-10’ using tungsten jigs to deliver waxies, spikes and plastics (red, motor oil, black and purple) to hold their lines down in the wind. Nice catches with enough 7 ½ – 8 ½“ ers for a meal or two. Others plying open water Gills in 20-34’ finding large Gills (8-11”, yes, I saw the pics) suspending 4-8’ off bottom taking large size 6mm tungsten jigs to offer spikes and dark plastics!
Yellow Perch: Good – Lots of action Perch, seemingly all over weed flats (4-10’) adjoining mud flats (12-18’) but you really need to sort through for the keepers (8-11”). Off shore over sandgrass humps (18-22’) or mud bottoms (20-30’) using Halis, Pimples and Kastmasters to get wigglers down has been most effective for better average eaters.
Walleye: Good-Fair – Conditions over the weekend slowed from what was a good week during the warm spell. Jigging with Raps, Tikka Minnows and Slender spoons in 9-12’ along weed edges at dusk. Tip-ups with suckers best from 4:30 PM through 6:30 PM, then another bite about 10:00 PM.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Lots of reports earlier in the week, quieted down by windy weekend. Medium shiners in cabbage of 8-12’. Jigging with Bluegill shaped lures (Forage Minnows, Chubby Darters, K-Rips) also picking up fish for the rod & reel gang
Bullheads: Poor – What happened to our Bullhead reports? Someone isn’t trying hard enough to score…or they are staying tight lipped so as not to see a rush on these tasty mid-winter treats!
Forecast, forecast, forecast…
What do they know? If we can believe it, we may see at least 15 straight nights of sub-freezing temps (some in teens to single digits). Only a few afternoons above freezing in that span. We hear the lakes making ice, as I wrote at the start of this report. If you had asked at the beginning of February, I would have said I doubt we will have ice by the end of the month, but now it looks like things will improve on into March. Still not enough for trucks or large UTV’s as of now, but easy access and good travel by foot (bring creepers), ATV and snowdogs.
Just three weekends left to Wisconsin inland lakes gamefish, so get yourself and your tip-ups out on the ice.
Upcoming Events
Feb 17th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree – Lake Tomahawk
Feb 24th – 3rd Annual Newbold Fire Dept Ice Fishing Tournament – Muskellunge Lake
Feb 24th – Winter free fishing contest – Any Lake – Sponsored by County Line Station
Feb 24th – Kids Ice Fishing Day – Lake Minocqua – Sponsored by Northwoods Chapter of Muskies, Inc
Mar 2nd – KISS Annual High School Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Minocqua
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 01-30-24:
What a month for mid-winter. Typically, by the end of January, we would see 30-34” of ice and at least a foot or more of snow. This year, as January winds down to its end, we are looking at 7-12” of ice (as little as 4-5” on Trout) and no real snow, just slush (1-4”). Fishing, though typically tougher in mid-winter, seems to be holding its own. Sure we’re seeing a drop-off in action, as is the norm, but the lack of snow cover and lack of ice thickness, allowing more light for remaining aquatic plants to produce oxygen, is helping some with activity.
Northern Pike: Fair-Good – Pike action picked up as the week went on. Nothing special here, big shiners and suckers attracting the biggest fish.
Crappie: Fair-Good – May be due to the lack of ice, but there seems to continue to be a two “story” fishery. Anglers fishing green, tall narrow leaf cabbage in 10-12’ slow dropping Lethal Cecils, Shrimpos and rockers tipped with waxies. At the same time, a large portion of the Crappie population suspending over deeper basins in 22-30’ of water. Clam Pinheads, Tikka Flash as well as #4 glow tungsten jigs tipped with waxies. In both areas, tip-downs with small rosies or regular Crappie minnows doing well.
Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Perch seem to be concentrating together in deeper water. Gold or glow Kastmasters, Pimples and Halis tipped with wigglers (when available) best over mud of 20-30’. Shallower flats (12-18) seem to have smaller fish in most cases. Anglers finding some Perch in broad leaf cabbage flats of 7-10’ using Bluegill shaped jigs tipped with waxies.
Largemouth Bass: Fair-Good – Liking the warm weather, LMB showing up on tip-ups and jigging spoons in and along weed flats.
Bluegill: Fair-Good – Gill catches vary. Several days last week, Gills (and other species) were “present” but not biting except for small windows of time, usually just an hour before dusk. Things improving as we seem to be moving away from full moon phase.
Walleye: Poor-Good – With green weeds still present in depths of 8-12’ – good places to set up tip-ups with medium shiners just before dusk. Humps sporting sandgrass or rock bringing fish in the evenings as well.
Overall fishing picking up from the lows of the previous week. Not first ice good, but probably better than most end of January.
Forecast have 14 straight days of temps above freezing (34-45 degrees) with all but two nights with temps below (23-27 degrees). We won’t make ice during this time, but shouldn’t lose either. The tops of most lakes have slush ranging from 1-4”. On some lakes the water has drained off. Either way, water proof (rubber) boots, cleats, picks and floatation gear should be part of your “attire”. With some luck and a little cold we can have a full February of ice fishing in the Northwoods.
Only five weekends remain of the inland gamefish season, so make the most of it!
Upcoming Tournaments
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake
Feb 17th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree – Lake Tomahawk
Feb 24th – 3rd Annual Newbold Fire Dept Ice Fishing Tournament – Muskellunge Lake
Mar 2nd – KISS Annual High School Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Minocqua
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
Many years ago I read a story written in the “Muskie Hunter” regarding the sexing of them by the anal pore. I don’t remember exactly all the details, but one sex was the normal pear-shaped opening and the other sex was in the shape of a keyhole. So I went to the local WDNR biologist here in the Minocqua area asking if this sexing could be done with walleyes… He told me that it was impossible to sex walleyes and that during spring fyke net surveys, the only evidence to sex was either via egg loss or milt excretion. However, they have noted that most walleyes here in northern WI over 17″ are egg producers and anything smaller most likely will be males. Noting that, I pretty much have utilized that for most all of my selective harvest. Now as mentioned on ML above, size limits don’t allow for very many alternatives to not keep anything other than females.
Walleyes for Tomorrow run their egg collection wagons up here at various lakes and on one such lake, they had collected all the eggs they needed and were unable to catch a male to get the milt to fertilize the eggs. Short story to this was they were unable to collect any milt from wither the WDNR or GLIFWC to be able to fertilize because of the VHS scare where they were not allowing any cross contamination from any other waters.
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 01-23-24:
What a month for mid-winter. Typically, by the end of January, we would see 30-34” of ice and at least a foot or more of snow. This year, as January winds down to its end, we are looking at 7-12” of ice (as little as 4-5” on Trout) and no real snow, just slush (1-4”). Fishing, though typically tougher in mid-winter, seems to be holding its own. Sure we’re seeing a drop-off in action, as is the norm, but the lack of snow cover and lack of ice thickness, allowing more light for remaining aquatic plants to produce oxygen, is helping some with activity.
Northern Pike: Fair-Good – Pike action picked up as the week went on. Nothing special here, big shiners and suckers attracting the biggest fish.
Crappie: Fair-Good – May be due to the lack of ice, but there seems to continue to be a two “story” fishery. Anglers fishing green, tall narrow leaf cabbage in 10-12’ slow dropping Lethal Cecils, Shrimpos and rockers tipped with waxies. At the same time, a large portion of the Crappie population suspending over deeper basins in 22-30’ of water. Clam Pinheads, Tikka Flash as well as #4 glow tungsten jigs tipped with waxies. In both areas, tip-downs with small rosies or regular Crappie minnows doing well.
Yellow Perch: Fair-Good – Perch seem to be concentrating together in deeper water. Gold or glow Kastmasters, Pimples and Halis tipped with wigglers (when available) best over mud of 20-30’. Shallower flats (12-18) seem to have smaller fish in most cases. Anglers finding some Perch in broad leaf cabbage flats of 7-10’ using Bluegill shaped jigs tipped with waxies.
Largemouth Bass: Fair-Good – Liking the warm weather, LMB showing up on tip-ups and jigging spoons in and along weed flats.
Bluegill: Fair-Good – Gill catches vary. Several days last week, Gills (and other species) were “present” but not biting except for small windows of time, usually just an hour before dusk. Things improving as we seem to be moving away from full moon phase.
Walleye: Poor-Good – With green weeds still present in depths of 8-12’ – good places to set up tip-ups with medium shiners just before dusk. Humps sporting sandgrass or rock bringing fish in the evenings as well.
Overall fishing picking up from the lows of the previous week. Not first ice good, but probably better than most end of January.
Forecast have 14 straight days of temps above freezing (34-45 degrees) with all but two nights with temps below (23-27 degrees). We won’t make ice during this time, but shouldn’t lose either. The tops of most lakes have slush ranging from 1-4”. On some lakes the water has drained off. Either way, water proof (rubber) boots, cleats, picks and floatation gear should be part of your “attire”. With some luck and a little cold we can have a full February of ice fishing in the Northwoods.
Only five weekends remain of the inland gamefish season, so make the most of it!
Upcoming Tournaments
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake
Feb 17th – Lake Tomahawk Family Fisheree – Lake Tomahawk
Feb 24th – 3rd Annual Newbold Fire Dept Ice Fishing Tournament – Muskellunge Lake
Mar 2nd – KISS Annual High School Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Minocqua
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sports Shop – Like us on Facebook
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 01-23-24:
With the number of sub-zero nights we had last week, several in negative teens, we disappointedly did not get all the ice I thought for sure we would have by now. Seems what snow we did get from the previous “storm” (3-4”) was enough to insulate the lakes and slow ice production.
I conservatively predicted 10-12” by last Fri/Sat. Unfortunately, most reports were of 7-10” (I found 9” on two separate lakes) with a few well-trodden lakes supporting up to 12-12 ½”. There were even reports of open water last week on Trout, Tomahawk, Fence, Big Crawling Stone and an open rift from Rock Island to North Bay on the Willow Flowage. Some of these areas froze over during last Thursday’s cold, windless morning (1/18), but should still be traveled with extreme caution.
Northern Pike: Poor-Good – A few nice fish reported over the weekend following days of very few anglers out due to cold. Tip-ups with large shiners or suckers, no real secrets here, work weed beds of 6-12’ with green weeds.
Crappie: Fair-Good – Very small windows of activity. Best over basins of 22-30’ of water. Small Kastmasters, Pinhead jigs, Tikka Flash and T-Rips tipped with waxies. Fish spotted suspended 4-8’ off bottom, selective bite. If not interested in above spoons, drop small (#3) tungsten jigs w/hair and single spike to coax bites. With warm up on the way, tip-downs with small minnows should do better.
Bluegill: Poor-Fair – Lots of “lookers”. Barometer must have fish “spooky” as lots of reports of fish on the screen, but not biting. Tiny jigs (#2.5 Fiskas, #12 Rockers) in dull finishes tipped with single red or colored spike teased some bites. As the week moves on and temps warm, expect better action in weeds of 6-10’ but also look for suspended Gill over sandgrass or mud in 18-26’.
Yellow Perch: Poor-Fair – Like Gills, two places to find. Weed fish in 6-10’ taking Northland Forage Minnows and Z-Vibes loaded with waxies. Also, the mud flat bite is slowly, but surely, picking up as a few anglers are reporting some action over mud basins of 20-30’ using Halis tipped with wigglers or red spikes. Bang the mud to create a disturbance and watch closely on your flasher for Perch to move in.
Largemouth Bass: Poor-Fair – A few reports over the weekend as temps got into mid-teens. Watch as this species will get active as weather warms. Medium shiners on tip-ups, Jiggin Raps and Rippin Raps in the cabbage of 6-10’.
Walleye: Poor-Fair – Bite fell off during week, started to slowly pick up by weekend. Most bites at dusk over sandgrass or along deep weed edges as Walleyes move up for the night. Walleye suckers, medium river shiners on tip-ups. A few reports of Walleye taking #3 Jiggin Raps fished over sandgrass of 16-18’ on 1/21, two hours before dusk.
Super cold, super high pressure, super low pressure and the dreaded east-southeast wind all seemed to put a damper on this past week’s bite. Things looking up as the forecast shows milder temps and more westerly winds. No major cold to help with what has to be the least amount of ice we’ve seen in the Northwoods this late in the season.
As stated, expect to find 7-10” averages (some as little as 4” others to 12”) with 1-2” of slush between the ice and 3” of snow. Snowmobiles and ATV use has been fine so far, some UTV where ice 8”+, but definitely no trucks, don’t risk your life or anyone else’s! Wise to keep a float suit or life preserver on if venturing out to unknown or big water.
Upcoming Tournaments
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 01-16-24:
Don’t look now, but winter is here! Halfway through January and the cold and snow has finally arrived. Here, up North, the snow wasn’t too much, 3-4” of light stuff. The cold and windchill on the other hand is substantial. Temps in the double digits below zero at night and wind chills of 20-30 below kept a lot of anglers off the ice by Saturday (1/13). Prior to that, fishing was very good, especially Friday before the front hit. Ice conditions are improving fairly rapidly with the sub-zero temps. As much as this weekend hurt, it will only make things better for the remainder of January into February.
Crappie: Very Good-Poor – Reports on Thurs/Fri (1/11-12) were hot! Anglers could do no wrong working basin Crappies in 22-30’ of water 3-5’ off the bottom. Small flashy spoons (Kastmasters, Flash Champs, Bull Spoons) as well as #3 Ultralight Rippin Raps, T-Rips and Tikka Flash lures, even not “scented up” with bait were being inhaled. Once the storm hit, that bite, along with angler participation shut down. There is still a portion of the Crappie population holding in 9-14’ weeds that are taking slow dropped plastics or grubs.
Northern Pike: Very Good-Poor – As with the other fish, Pike had been active. Weeds in 5-10’ were holding Pike, but even this bite shut down with the front. As always, big shiners and suckers on tip-ups.
Walleye: Very Good-Poor – Bite here started to slip mid-week, only to get a bump Friday morn (1/12) before really closing down. Expect more fish to move out deeper as ice thickens and rely on typical off shore humps and even some down in mud basins to feed. Suckers usually do better in these instances as well as jigging Raps.
Yellow Perch: Good-Poor – Starting to show up more in catches as more anglers moving out over mud in 15-25’. Wigglers on pimples, Kastmasters, Hallis and bull spoons. Still some nice weed fish in 5-12’ taking tiny Bluegill shaped lures, K-Rips, T-Rips and Tikka Flash. The bite also died, but should pick up this coming weekend.
Bluegill: Good-Poor – Just like everything else on report, was good, then slammed shut. Weed fish in 5-12’ on tear drop style jigs baited with waxies and mousses. Some nice Gills being found over mud basins of 15-25’ on heavier tungsten jigs tipped with spikes or mousses.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Poor – Once temps get much below 20 degrees LMB seem to bite less. Very few anglers target anyways, but they are a fun mix to anyone jigging and tip-up fishing weeds.
Getting reports of anglers finding 8-9” of ice as of early yesterday morning (1/15). Not only that, but the bite was surprisingly good (Wife filled the bird feeders twice!) So even though I doubted the mental capacity of those going out in that cold and wind, I don’t doubt that the fish bit as the barometer rose. With more lows in single below zero temps and not cracking teens for high until Saturday, we should see plenty of 10-13” of ice (to be on the conservative side) by the weekend.
Upcoming Tournaments
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
Karry:
Thanks for the update!!! Saving jpegs to look closer isn’t necessarily what I’m looking for. Really looking for more pics each day to assess clear vs. cloudy conditions. And this time of year for any of the Great Lakes is always going to be an issue because of the vast amount of water the air above can turn into clouds.
tswoboda:
Do you have a link to that site or what are you looking at to get that kind of resolution???
I’m going to send an email to the limnology department at the UW/Seagrant folks to see if they might have any answers…
Mark
Karry, Thanks for helping out… couple questions, once ya are zoomed into the 250m pic, is there any way to zoom in closer??? And in the past they took pics several hours each day. I went back to Dec. 14th to get a decent pic of Lake Superior, just to see one!!! It’s amazing that our weather has been so cloudy for basically a month now. Any other insights to the new Modis would be wonderful, if not I’ll dig in at the UW and see if I can’t get any other of these answers…
Mark
Hello Everyone:
Now that they’ve changed the website at modis, does anyone know how to get at the old ice maps??? Thank You In Advance!!!
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 01-09-24:
Ice continues to build here in the Northwoods. We have been fortunate to be just north of the heavy snow falling on the lower ¾’s of the state, this will keep the insulation off the lakes up here and allow more ice to build.
Walleye: Very Good-Good – Low light level times best using shiners amongst cabbage flats of 8-12’ in the mornings. Switch to outside weed edges (12-16’), off-shore humps of gravel/rock using suckers on tip-ups or jigging Raps, Rippin Raps, Z-Darters or Tikka Minnows towards and right after dusk.
Crappie: Very Good-Good – Better reports from anglers fishing basins of 22-27’ using tip-downs baited with rosies or crappie minnows or jigging Kenders T-Rips, Kastmaster spoons or Clam Tikka Flash tipped with waxies. For Crappies still holding in weeds (10-14’ Narrow leaf cabbage), Little Cecil spoons, Euro Tackle Z-Vibers, Kenders K-Rips and tip-down/minnow set ups all working well.
Northern Pike: Very Good-Good – Lots of good action and some nice Pike in the 8-12’ of weeds. Big shiners and suckers as per usual with fish to 34” reported this weekend. A pair of anglers jigging Raps and Chubby Darters on thin wire leaders reported fun action working baits at weed tops in 8-10’.
Bluegill: Good – While most reports were of good numbers, but lots of sorting for size, a few anglers did better by leaving the crowds behind. Most action in 8-12’ weeds using #3 and #4 tungsten jigs tipped with waxies, spikes and the rare moussee. Others finding BIG Gills (10-11”) over mud basins in 20-25’ of water using small tungsten jigs with hair, tipped with moussees. Anglers targeting these big Gills using select harvest (and sneaky approaches) to maintain these populations of such special fish.
Yellow Perch: Good – While not the numbers (or the effort), nice Perch (9-11”) in shallow weed flats of 6-9’ on jigs shaped like small Gills (Z-Vibes, K-Rips, T-Rips) tipped with waxies. Also a few reports of Perch starting to show over mud (14-18’) on wigglers presented on Hali style spoons.
Largemouth Bass: Good – Temps above 20 degrees seem to be best for Largemouth. Some very nice fish to 20” caught this past week, mostly by anglers targeting Pike or panfish in 6-12’ weeds.
Smallmouth Bass: Good – Rarely seen in the winter, but providing some added fun for anglers, especially those jigging for Walleyes over gravel/rock humps. Fun on a jig rod.
With light snow and cold temps ice thickness is coming along nicely. Most anglers reporting 6-8”+. We are seeing more ATV, UTV and snowmobile use on the lakes. Still use caution on the big lakes (Fence, Trout, Big Crawling Stone, Tomahawk) as these were still open just two weeks ago and are just now getting 2-4”’s of ice reports.
While snow is still a concern at this stage, forecast show temperature lows below zero and highs in the single digits for Sunday (1/14) thru Wed (1/12) that should put some nice finishing touches on our lakes and get us into the 12” plus range by the following weekend.
Upcoming Tournaments
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
Thanks Bucky!!! We’re old Stout students who wanted to do something back in the old area to celebrate a b-day. Several of us worked at Jakes, so we’re staying on Tainter… I’m actually thinking about bringing my trout stuff and fishing the streams if they’ve opened up. We spent almost 4 years there, so finding areas to play aren’t so difficult and my wife and I leave for FL after being there, so open water equipment is certainly a possibility and a lot of cards at the VRBO.
We also used to sneak up towards Amery and Turtle Lake and have WIFA associates in the area…
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 12-26-23:
Tough report to write, but we are on thin ice here Anglers!
Fishing on many of the common spots are finding 4 to 5 inches of ice (December 26) but some areas as little as 2 inches and with forecast holding from mid 40s to low 30s by tomorrow morning, I can’t foresee fishable ice lasting much past today. With no sign of freezing temps till Thursday night (December 28), for just a couple hours and no extended freeze till midnight Friday, (December 29). Ice Fishing looks to be on hold till the better part of the weekend.
It’s a shame, people have time off, no snow for skiing and snowmobiling and fishing has been very good.
So, as not to rub salt in the wounds, nor look like I’m trying to encourage reckless behavior. I’ll just report that fishing overall had been very good for just about all species prior to this Christmas thaw!
My suggestion is to take this time to go over your ice equipment. Safety pics, creepers, float suits. Get new line on those jig poles and tip-ups if needed. Sort through your jig box and get ready for the “second” early ice season!
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
Here in N. WI, I’ve always considered early ice up to and not very often past New Year’s Day. By then we’d get that first brutally cold blast that seemed to signal that early ice was finished. We also always have had really pretty good fishing in early ice locations until then as well and it always seemed like walleyes and panfish make a solid push into their basin and offshore structural patterns after the first.
Mark
KVZ:
I did get your message. When are ya thinking about trying to go the first time??? I’m guessing that you might still be able to get on at Saxon right now, I have a contact up that way, I’ll check with him and let ya know… I threw your number in my phone, are ya able to text from your phone number???
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 12-18-23:
The continued mild December has stretched out this “early” ice bite. By now we would expect 10-12+” of ice that would push much of the bite deeper, instead we seem to be holding in the 4-7” range. The five days of below freezing prior to Thursday (12/14) firmed and maybe added an inch to the ice. The weekend’s warmth and wind took back whatever we gained plus opened lakes such as Trout, Fence and Tomahawk. Doesn’t’ look like any real cold until the 1st of the year.
This continued pattern of mild weather is playing havoc on anglers wanting to drive on the ice (though there is some ATV traffic on lakes of 6-8” of ice) and things don’t look good for snowmobilers. If ice fishing is your thing, this should be a good time to come up and get on the ice, tourism traffic will be lighter than usual as chances of a “White” Christmas look pretty slim.
Walleye: Very Good – Action peaked again by Saturday night (12/16) as Walleye activity increased and nice catches reported. Jigging raps, spoons once again providing good bites on active fish, reports of Eyes moving up 3-4’ off bottom to hit artificials. Tip-up with shiners (weeds) or suckers (wood, mud) producing nice, plump 15-19” “eaters” with some 20+” overs being released. Nice job anglers, those are our future.
Crappies: Very Good – Reports picked up nicely as anglers catching nice 10-13” fish from both weeds of 6-9’ and from basins in 20-25’. Plastics or grubs on wobbling rocker style spoons, as well as tip-downs with Crappie minnows all producing. Good reports still on the new Tikka Flash lures tipped with spikes.
Northern Pike: Very Good – Flags flying for anglers using big shiners in 6-13’ of waters. Nice fish into the lower 30” range reported.
Bluegill: Good-Very Good – Following a couple days of reluctant bites, Gills turned on by weekend. Mostly in 5-8’ weeds, nice Gills of 7-8 ½”. Now is the time, before ice thickens, to find Gills active in the shallower bays.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Very Good – Jigging “fry” shaped jigs and spoons loaded with waxies or minnow heads, tip-downs with fats or tip-ups with medium shiners producing good action for anglers on Largemouth, whether or not that’s their target.
Yellow Perch: Good – Larger Perch (9-11+”) being caught roaming shallow cabbage of 5-8’. Not schools, but small groups of 3-5 fish. Medium fatheads, small shiners on tip-downs or tip-ups. Fry shaped jigs (Forage Fry, Tikka Flash) loaded with waxies also scoring.
With ice reports still varying from 4-7” (with a few 8” reports from further north and bays on flowages) caution still advised. Today’s snow (2-6” further north) probably won’t stay much past the weekend with highs in mid to upper-30’s, but should shield the ice from losing thickness. High wind blowing bulk of snow off ice, use caution on windward shorelines where snow drifts could hide and insulate poor ice.
Upcoming Tournaments
Jan 6th – 73rd Annual Rib Lake Area Ice Fishing Contest – Rib Lake
Jan 6th – 16th Annual NCO Club & AMVETS Post 724 Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Nokomis
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
KVZ:
Thanks DT… Where would be helpful and when would also… I have some experience on the big lake from a couple of ports west of Black River Harbor to west of the Apostle Islands and have fished Copper Harbor as well. Another thing would be if you’re looking for someone with no experience or some trolling or other experience… I’m also from Minocqua…
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 12-11-23:
Things got a little wet and slippery for a while on the ice as the warm up late last week melted off the light snow from the early part of the week. That was OK, we didn’t lose ice just that annoying snow cover. Unfortunately, more snow came in with the drop in temps to cover things back up. Fishing was fair to good overall, not at all like the previous week, but rarely do we see action that good.
Walleye: Good-Fair – Jigging raps and spoons still taking fish, just not as aggressive of a bite as earlier. Tip-ups with medium golden shiners or river shiners still scoring in that 6-10’ of green weeds. Pre-dawn and dusk best.
Northern Pike: Good-Fair – Big shiners and suckers on tip-ups tops. Anglers using Jaw Jackers baited with the same having fun catching on rod and reel. No big Pike reports this week, but plenty of eaters.
Largemouth Bass: Good-Fair – Liking the warm up last week. Flags flying for anglers using medium shiners on tip-ups for Pike. Plenty others caught by Bluegill and Crappie anglers.
Bluegill: Good-Fair – Tentative at times, lots of talk of “lookers” but not biting. When this happens best to go small. Try a 2.5 mm tungsten tipped with a single red spike or smidge of plastic. An active presentation draws them in, but once they show up on your locator or camera its best to go small and slow.
Crappies: Fair – Once again, cautious bite. While Crappie minnows had been the preferred bait last week, a switch to a smaller, more subdued presentation was needed by the weekend. One exception was anglers fishing deeper water, 20-25’, there tip-downs with small minnows best.
Yellow Perch: Fair – Not being targeted, but incidental catches by Crappie and Gill anglers.
Looks as if this cool/warm pattern will persist through Christmas Day. Luckily the warm just takes the top layer (snow) down, then cold (teens 12/11) firms things back up. Unfortunately, the cold we need to really build a nice base (12-15”) isn’t in the forecast for the next two weeks. Walking and checking are safest forms of travel for now, most reports of ice thickness range 3 ½-6”, some North (South facing) shorelines thinner.
Upcoming Tournaments
Jan 6th – 73rd Annual Rib Lake Area Ice Fishing Contest – Rib Lake
Jan 6th – 16th Annual NCO Club & AMVETS Post 724 Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Nokomis
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 12-05-23:
Off to a great early ice fishing season in the Lakeland area. Ice on smaller lakes and bays have reports of 4-6” of ice. Light snow, but not enough to hinder ice production when overnights got down into the low teens over the weekend. Anglers getting after it and reporting great success as the early ice has been a relief following a poor gun deer season.
Walleye: Excellent – Walleyes very active. This is a great time to hone your jigging skills as Walleyes reportedly chasing raps and spoons 4-6’ off the bottom, at times 3-4 fish at a time. Most of this action occurring 1 ½ hours pre-dawn as well as the hour either side of dusk in 5-8’ of water. Tip-ups of course scoring using suckers and shiners. But for some “reel” fun, try some jigging for these early ice season Walleye.
Northern Pike: Excellent – Also very active! Most anglers finding success with large, lively bait on tip-ups and Jaw Jackers! That same 5-8’ depths with good weed cover. Don’t be shy to hang ‘em high! Big Pike reported with a 38 ½” St. Germain fish tops, but an equally impressive 37” caught by 10 yr old local legend Elija also iced. Not many do it, but also a great time to jig big pimples or large jigging raps for the Pike. Great fun on a rod and reel.
Crappies: Good – Where and when you can find. Most reports from anglers working shallow green weeds in 6-10’. One report from anglers tip-down fishing in 25’ not able to keep up with 3 lines. Finesse not as important with early ice and good oxygen levels. Minnows or spoons tipped with waxies best.
Bluegills: Good – Most reports are of #’s, but feeling is as anglers get out on the less pressured waters we will hear more on size. The new Clam Tikka Flash has been a surprise hit on these aggressive Gills and Crappies in the smallest size. Otherwise, grubs, spikes and the old reliable teardrop is hard to beat early like this.
Not much for a Perch or Bass report, some being caught.
With such great action, don’t throw caution to the wind. Spud your way across new ice, carry safety spikes, rope and wear floatation jackets or carry a floating cushion. We do have a 24-30 hour or so stretch of above freezing temps (32-45 degrees) before things cool off by Saturday (12/9). Shouldn’t be enough to hurt, just enough to take snow cover off and require cleats to get around.
Upcoming Tournaments
Jan 6th – 73rd Annual Rib Lake Area Ice Fishing Contest – Rib Lake
Jan 6th – 16th Annual NCO Club & AMVETS Post 724 Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Nokomis
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 11-20-23:
Open water season is winding down. With the onus on gun deer this past weekend, fewer anglers out on the water. Despite unseasonably warm days last Wed/Thurs, temps below freezing for mornings cooling things down further. Surface temperature readings ranged from 38-43 this past week, ice forming on edges, small bays and pond. Be very careful at boat landings that are being used, ice building up fast on black topped launches.
Musky: Good – Not a numbers game this time of year, but some fish being caught! While striking out my last trip of the year (11/19), did talk to a young angler on the same lake that boated a 46” on a Bulldawg and lost a second during the last hour before dark. A few other reports of Skis between 42 & 47” this past week. Mix of lures (mostly rubber) and suckers.
Suckers getting harder to find but still available. Call your favorite, local bait shop (us?) ahead of time to check availability. It’s legal to fish Musky by open water or land through December now, but not legal to use ice as a base, so watch for specific ice lake reports in the coming weeks.
Walleye: Good – Very few targeting, but those that are finding fish in deeper pockets or along transition zones in 24-34’ of water (some deeper). Jiggin Vibrato’s, Jigging Raps and Shiver Minnows producing. On shallower lakes and Flowages, fishing 10-14’ depth using black chubs, suckers or large fathead putting Walleyes in the boat. Slow dragging these baits producing better than slip-bobbers. 2”-3” bullheads found in these fish, makes sense for the slow, low presentation needed.
Could see (possibly?) some fishable ice early next week. Lows in teens for 8 of the next 10 mornings starting 11/22, should start locking things up. With highs of only 32-34 degrees 4 of those 10 days, time to dust off your tip-ups.
Mark your calendars for our 14th Annual Ice Fishing Extravaganza Dec 1st, 2nd and 3rd. More deals than ever before on shacks, electronics, rods, reels, clothing and boots! Call ahead and order a flip over shack, custom built (hyfax other accessories) for the Ice Fishing Extravaganza only. Pick up during show and SAVE set-up fee, SAVE time and SAVE Frustration!
If you are signed up on our Big Buck Contest, be sure to bring your deer in to get in on the board. Remember, the smallest deer gets a share of the pot as well.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
From Kurt’s Island Bait for the date 11-13-23:
With most outdoors people thinking gun deer season opener coming up, not a lot of anglers hitting the water. Those that did were finding surface temps of 40-44.5 degrees on average. Yet following last week’s cold snap, with ice forming on shallow ponds and bays had anglers thinking “Early Ice”! Now, with forecasts of highs in the 50’s (57 for 11/16) don’t expect it to cool off fast enough for “Deer stands and tip-ups” this year.
Musky: Good – Actually fair to great depending on the day and the angler. One angler boated three Muskies of 42, 48 and 49 ¾” on Saturday (11/11). That’s an incredible feat, let alone single handed? While suckers have scored the majority of the Skies caught, rubber baits have put some fish in the net also. Unlike the angler with the 3-fish day, most anglers happy to get one opportunity as the colder water has fish slowing down. That particular day (11/11) had several reports of multi-opportunities (figures I was in the shop all day)!
Did see some anglers baiting up for a final shot at Walleye as it warmed Saturday. Expect a few more as those who haven’t put their boats away will want to take advantage of the warm spell.
Deer opener this Saturday (11/18). Rut starting to wind down, wish we had some snow (didn’t need it last week). May see some Thanksgiving.
Kurt Justice
Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
http://www.kurtsislandsports.com
Like us on FaceBook
Minocqua, WI 54548
Mark
