Crawford County WI Fishing reports

[Joe]

Ice fishing action this week was generally slow. Prairie du Chien Area and Lower bottoms: Garnet Lake has decent ice but access to it remains tricky and action there has been slow. Pickerel Slough was producing some bluegills but it too has slowed. Fishing pressure in these areas was light. Dillman’s pit white bass (striper) action was very slow. In the past stripers were caught on jigging rapalas or sweedish pimples near the bottom of 40 feet of water. Ice conditions are pretty good there with over 20 inches of ice. Rotten Slough, St. Feriole Slough and Hunter’s Slough which are located near the sewer treatment plant have ice that, in areas, is not safe. Caution in these areas is advised. Anglers have been fishing between the Blackhawk and Washington Street bridges. On some days the bluegill action was pretty good, but the average size was small. St. Feriole Slough has open water areas near the bridges and in the center of the channel so use caution there. Prairie du Chien Ambro Slough Complex: Gremore Lake’s northern end has very low oxygen so fishing action there is very bad. The lower end of Gremore Lake was very spotty. A few crappie, bluegill and perch have been taken from time to time. For the most part Gremore has about 24 or so inches of ice. Tilmont Lake and Mud Slough have been very slow. Good ice conditions exist on Tilmont Lake and Mud Slough. Anglers are urged to use caution crossing over the Black Slough to get to Tilmont Lake. The Lower Doubles and Fish Lake have been pretty slow recently. Ice conditions there are good with around 24 inches of ice. Little Missouri has been spotty with some smaller bluegill and a few decent crappie being taken. Good ice exists on Little Missouri. Big Missouri on the other hand has been very slow for some reason. The Upper Doubles had been the best area to fish, but action there has been spotty. Tip up anglers are still finding a few bass. Upwards of 24 inches of ice exist on the Upper Doubles and Big Missouri. The Fennimore Cut has produced some perch, crappie and bluegill. The bluegills have been small and overall action was spotty. Spring Lake has been very slow even though good ice conditions exist. Spring Lake has produced a few bluegill and crappie, but overall size has been small. Access to the Doubles, Big and Little Missouri, the Fenimore Cut, and Spring Lake can be tricky. Poor ice conditions exist where Mill Coulee Creek enters the Ambro Slough. Anglers traveling on the Ambro Slough must monitor ice conditions as current is slowing in it and ice conditions can change rapidly. Sturgeon Slough Area: Sturgeon Slough remains very quiet. Some anglers have ventured down to Sturgeon (aka McGregor or Horseshoe) Lake but success there has been very slow. Recent oxygen level testing on Sturgeon Lake shows very low oxygen levels. Sturgeon Slough and Sturgeon Lake have good ice, however travel to Sturgeon Lake can be tricky. Stay on established paths. Cold Spring: Fishing here remains very slow. Reports of a few small bluegill and an occasional crappie and a fair amount of small bass have been reported, but overall very slow. Ice conditions on the southern lobe are still good except when you get near the boat landing/stream where open water and very thin ice exists. Mississippi River: Walleye and sauger anglers have been venturing out onto the ice below the Lynxville dam. Ice conditions there vary greatly and day to day. Even so, some anglers have been vertical jigging or dead lining through the ice. This week some anglers came off the ice with a few sauger and an occasional walleye. Ice conditions have been reported as ranging from an inch or two to 6 or more inches. Those who hunt coyotes are finding the breeding season is beginning and there are ample opportunities out there.