Late ice fishing on Puckaway Wi.

We ventured out on Lake Puckaway searching for some late ice fishing action for panfish. The ice was getting pretty soft on top with the air temps reaching into the upper 40’s in the afternoon. The mouth of the river was opening up out into the lake a long distance all ready and this means that ice fishing will be coming to an end soon. Last year at this time we were in the boat and catching walleyes.

We set up out on the lake in about 1 1/2 feet of water under the ice. The general area we fished was shallow water close to some weed beds and some reed beds. There were some holes that would be filled with weeds when you looked down the holes. The baits of choice were mamooskas and diamond jigs tipped with spikes and wax worms. putting 2 baits on your jigs worked very well when the fish came in looking for some bait and were more aggressive. In this shallow water at times a group of fish would come through and getting down the hole fast was essential to getting some more fish. We even had a northern on for awhile on 2 pound test but that did not last long and we got bit off. We got some nice meals all the days and only one crappie.

Overall we had 3 great days fishing on the 4-wheelers at late ice and just a few of us out on the lake. At late afternoon was the best fishing for us , the fish really got on the feed bag as the sun was setting. We made a big swing out from the mouth and the open water each day we moved a little farther swing aroud it to get to the spot we were fishing. Yesterday the whole area opened up where we crossed the lake. Be safe on late ice and we will be fishing in the boat from now on.