Lake Altoona Fishing Reports

[dudewheresmyboat]

Cooter, I see you live in EC. Was wondering if you could give me an ice report?

[Cooter]

I fished the bay on Altoona Sat - about 3-6 inches of ice. Caught a nice 18.5" largemouth and then we ended up with a couple perch and a gill. Hit and miss like usual on that lake according to the guys we talked to. They were venturing out a couple hundred yards into the main lake. I would guess they will be fishing the main lake soon. My old man will be out there this week so I'll let you know how he does.

[dudewheresmyboat]

Cooter, you fish Menomin???

[Cooter]

Not very often but I'm sure Butch's is producing fish or will be soon.

[dudewheresmyboat]

Thanks Cooter!

[Cooter]

They are getting fish on the main lake, nothing fast and furious but that rarely happens on Altoona. Nice fish though, which usually does happen.

[Cooter]

Made it out to 'tooner yesterday. Fished the northeast bay for about 2 hours. Took home 3 crappies and 3 perch. Surface temps were 58 there and around 54 in the rest of the lake. Crappies had spawn in them, a bit early but they are starting to get going.

[Fat Guy Powell]

What a beautiful day to be out!! That being said..what a great day on the water!!!! Brought the kids out to Altoona this afternoon/early evening, and did awesome on the perch. We fished shallow with waxies and minnows and had a ball catching and keeping 10 nice perch and one nice crappie. Enough for dinner tomorrow night! Wait.. I may be back tomorrow night!

[Fat Guy Powell]

Back at it tonight, and the wind blew harder, and the fish bit harder, too! No problem finding a limit of perch and crappie. Waxies and minnows did the work again, but the bigger fish seemed to like the minnows. After limiting out on panfish I focused on walleyes. I found them, but most were short. Trolled the shoreline, lost one maybe 18", while I was trying hard not to crash my boat, then landed a 22" hog to cap off the night. Great night fishing once again!

Sorry, cell phone picture!

[Fat Guy Powell]

Took a friend and his daughter to Altoona last night, just fishing for whatever bites. We caught quite a few perch, some real jumbos. Still catching them fairly shallow, on crawlers, or peglegs. Nothing taking the minnows last night. One short walleye was caught, never got a chance to try and troll for them last night, as my buddy's little girl was having way too much fun with the perch. Which is what it's all about!!!

[Cooter]

Man, that lake is an amazing fish factory. Sometimes I swear Altoona and Marshmiller provide half the fish for the EC/Chippewa Falls area.

[Fat Guy Powell]

There are some really nice eyes in there, too if you can locate them. I am going to try and split time this summer between Altoona and Wissota

[Joe]

Thanks Cooter.

[Cooter]

Guys are out on area lakes on the smaller bays as of yesterday - I don't know how much ice though.

[Cooter]

More of a warning than a report, the northeast bay on Altoona has inconsistent ice - my bud went through over the weekend.

[Cooter]

Hearing mixed reports from most of the area lakes - seems like you just need to go and hope the fish cooperate. I'll be on Altoona Saturday plus I know several other guys who will be there between today and Sunday so I should have a report by Monday.

[Cooter]

My dad was on the northeast bay and reported slushy, wet conditions and poor fishing. The main lake has good ice, not sure about the fishing though.

[Cooter]

As usual mixed reports for Altoona - just a matter of being there when they turn on. I'm heading out now for perch/crappies and then eyes the last half hour. Truck went through on Sat so best advice is to walk or take a wheeler/sled out for now.

[Cooter]

I've been on Altoona 4 times in the past week. Last week Tues and Thurs were pretty good - brought home 8 each day, mostly perch but a few dandy crappies. Yesterday and Sat were much slower, only managed a few each day. As usual there, the ave size is good on both perch and crappies.

[Cooter]

Was out there yesterday from 3:30 til 5, caught just 2 perch. Marked fish but couldn't get them to bite until about 4:30 and then instead of a last light bite didn't even mark a fish until I left at 5.

[Cooter]

Yesterday proved very tough on Altoona, marked very few fish and only caught one small perch. Fished 5 different spots and just never found them.

[Cooter]

Yesterday afternoon was another tough one, caught just one gill in the old river channel near some cribs. Have heard the morning bite is much more consistent.

[Cooter]

My dad was out this afternoon and struggled, catching just one and losing another. He did mark plenty of fish but couldn't get them to bite - small feeding windows on that lake from my experience.

[Cooter]

Pops was out there again yesterday afternoon and did a bit better - brought 4 home and lost 3 more on the way up. Fish showed more interest, he was getting them to follow up 2-3 feet.

[Cooter]

My dad continues to fish it with mixed results, he took 8 home at the end of last week then was out yesterday and only caught one. I might give it a try tomorrow.