How has the ice season treated everyone so far?

[Jim Hudson]

Well the signs of spring are in the air, even way up north here. I just wanted to get a post started on how everyone has faired through this hard water season? Any good stories or memorable moments from anyones experiences? Any good pictures of fish that will last in your memories? Let them be told as another season will hit the books here in a couple of weeks...

For me, this ice season was great in the fact of the people I met and was able to fish with. But for sheer numbers of fish it was down from years past but the pattens the fish showed were so dramitically different then those of previous years. I guess that could be to blame on the late ice formation on the waters I fished. I believe most early ice bites happened during times of open water.... This year was also a time I got to pass on a lot of knowledge to fellow FM users about fishing here on the Lake Superior region around the Apostle Islands and Chequamegon Bay, that in itself gave me many great memories... Such as the coho incident when the boys from the Duluth/Superior area came down to fish the bay... I wish I could of seen that mink run out of the truck and up into that permanent shack... Thanks to everyone who came down, over, or up to fish with me this year... Hopefully we all can do some open water fishing together and maybe get some FM gatherings on Wisconsin waters...

[Quickstrike]

Overall I had a very enjoyable and entertaining winter. I was able to learn the waters up here much better and I was able to meet a lot of great and informative guys such as yourself Jim. For catching fish I also had a fairly slow winter. i was forced to miss the early ice walleye bite back home in WI for the first time in 15 years. However, i had a couple great days on fish and nichols lake and a lot of fun catching salmon through the ice while slowly learning chequamagan bay, (when the weasels weren't stealing my fish!!! ) Then there's burntside which i'm sure most of you guys that went will never forget incidents such as the Wabbit and Porter sleeping upside down. However the highlite of my winter would have to be the trip I made up the gunflint, we worked very hard to get where we wanted to be and it paid off in a big way and we left with a very satisfied feeling that we accomplished something big that day. Another season past, but now i'm starting to think more and more about open water.

[FlagUp]

I had a great Ice season. Definetly opened up a whole new can of worms, fishing the Ashland/Washburn/Bayfield area. Afriend of mine brought me down for first ice off the rivers and it was a blast. And then reading all of JKH's posts of awesome fishing action. It seemed every chance i had we were on the Bay fishing. Even tried the Ice road for deep water trout. Now for the funny part.... I thought it was just gonna be a 1 time thing so i only purchased the 2 day license each time, well 6 2day licenses later at $14 each i definetly should of bought the full season. I know i will after Apr 1 and be ready for next year. I will be in Washburn tomorrow hopefully seeing and catching trout, My buddy is goin to the Brule but i havent opened that can of worms yet, who the heck has enough time for all this great fishing in Wisc.

[Jim Hudson]

Glad to hear a few people had some good times this year... What about everyone else? Lets hear some good stories and see some good pics from this hard water season..

[andy j]

I had a sucessful hard season. Did better in Minnesota, but I am still learning the lakes here in the Milwaukee area. I caught more walleyes and bigger walleyes through the ice this year then ever before(MN). Also got a some nice Pike this season also. The one species that I didn't fair as well this year was crappies but I didn't target them very much this season. Did do well with gills, but mostly small ones here in WI. Got some big ones last weekend in MN. The biggest thing that I did this year was consistantly use a underwater camara. I love watching that thing and I have learned a few more things with it and caught more fish and that is all I can hope for. I am looking forward to open water. I will be down in Iowa in about a week, I can't wait!

[Jim Hudson]

Andy it seems like your WI waters down there by Milwaukee dont compare to the MN waters ... Anyways, I have heard there is some good panfishing down around the Lake Geneva area but I am sure most lakes down that way get hammered pretty hard... But there is a plus, that during open water you have some good fishing opportunities down that way on the big water...

If you are ever in the Duluth area this open water season or next hard water season and you want to wet a line in my area, let me know...

[andy j]

JKH431,

Thanks, Ya the area gets pounded pretty hard. I have heard the recreation traffic in the summer is brutal. I will have to hit up the smaller lakes. I have never done the great lake fishing before. That would be fun, I have always wanted to fish the bay up there. I will let you and Northlander know if I make it up that way.

[Jim Hudson]

Well tuesday was my last day on the ice for this year... Took a co-worker along who has never iced a fish in his life where we had a good time with good results fishing for crappies and bluegills...

I now I have packed up all the ice fishing gear, and am making the switch... Hoping for a great open water season...

Glad a few people posted on how their season went and I hope a few more chime in...