Chequamegon Bay Ice Fishing...

[Jim Hudson]

Just thought I should get this ball rolling here... Ice has been setting up on the bay since 12-02 where it should have accumulated some inches by now. Personally, I have yet to go check the conditions as I feel it is a bit too early yet. There is open water yet a ways north of the lighthouse area over towards Washburn, but the shore ice from the head of the bay east to Second Landing has been locked in since it skimmed over. Over here in Bayfield, we received some a bit of snow last night, hopefully it managed to missed the ice over in Ashland!!

I have heard some people have been checking things out, but I have heard nothing for conditions as of yet. If you do try to venture out, be very very very careful this time of year. No messing around on this big water, be prepared!!! Ice thickness will always vary, and try to stay away from objects that will have current running around it.... ie anything sticking out of the water or anything sticking out from shore...

I will report back when I check things out personally, and when I hear other reports... For now, inland waters have been producing really good for me!!! But in due time, the trout, salmon, walleyes, smallies, pike, and smelt of Chequamegon Bay will see a few lures from me!!

Just a quick edit here... I spoke to a few people,where I found that there have been guys fishing off the Coal dock, the Pamida Hump, and near Kreher Park in Ashland. Ice reports varied... Also, a few people were going to try to get off Bono Creek, but it was unsure if they were able to make it out...

[I'llTakeWhatiCanGet]

Thanks for the up to date reports Jim, I know we're all looking forward to fishing on the bay again.

[Random guy]

Thanks for the report Jim. I need to get some fishing time in that neck of the woods.

[Jim Hudson]

Anytime guys...

QuickStrike and few of his buddies made it down, where we made it out today off the Bono Creek area... We had good ice, which is a good thing, but we didnt catch much for fish, a bad thing!!! 5" to 6" of ice was found out to the first break off a big sand bar in this area, where there were a few sniffers around, but there was only one lake trout to show for our efforts. But hey, it was still fun to be back out on the bay again!!! One thing that was pretty disappointing was how dirty the water was.... The bay really muddied up after those rains we got prior to ice up, and the off colored water really could make for a slow ice season!! Hopefully in a few days, the sediment will settle some....

For the rest of they bay, I hear good reports of ice over off the Ashland side and over near Second Landing, where I am sure there will be a few people out this weekend cruising around on snowmobiles and ATV's... And from the fishing reports, it sounds like people are fairing as good as we did today...

Other then the Ashland side, the ice did skim over towards Houghton Point last night, where I could only see one pocket of open water near the coal dock in Washburn this afternoon... So hopefully, this ice sets up good, and there will be some areas to fish where the water is a bit clearer...

[Tom Linderholm]

Quick and myself made it out this morning around 9am and set up out in 24' of water close to the shipping lane off the ore dock. Pretty slow going with quite a few lookers and not much for takers. Did manage one eye out near the channel.

Kent and I figured this to be around the 27-28 mark. Hit like a brick and I was quite suprised when we actually got it up the whole with they way my landing luck has been this year. Thanks Kent for the photo's.

We continued to move in shallower throughout the evening only to manage missing a few strikes and landing 5 perch.

[Jim Hudson]

Nice fish Cheffrey!!! What did ya guys have for ice depth? Were ya able to take the machine out?

Sorry I couldnt make it out with ya guys... Lets plan a trip maybe for this coming week or so....

[Tom Linderholm]

Jim, we had anywhere from 10" to 7" the lesser being closer to the ore dock. Next time I make it that way we'll be in touch. This week doesn't so much work for me. Probably after the holidays. I am sure quick and the gang will be out in the near future.

[Quickstrike]

wow, pretty nice picture for a phone, huh? I'll probally hit the bay towards the end of the week, (thurs or fri) unless I hear of a great report or two. the water was still very cloudy and hopefully starts to clear up soon. At least we were able to watch the vikes manhandle the rams from the portable, so it made my not so productive day a little better. Oh.....sorry..... I forgot i was posting in the WI forum. I mean....go packers!

[Quickstrike]

Jim, I didn't bring my sled out yesterday, although i would have if we brought it along . But next time i'll have it with for sure.

[I'llTakeWhatiCanGet]

Nice fish tom, is that a gaff in the background? Hope you get to use that bad boy a lot this year

[Quickstrike]

sorry porter, but that eye was spared the gaff and put back down the hole, now if it was a laker of that size on the other hand,

[Jim Hudson]

Cool.. Quick, let me know when your back down here... Headed out in the wee morning hours for a shot at some bay eyes... Went inland today... Put a few chunky eyes on the ice!!!

[Jim Hudson]

Quick report here from this morning... Headed out at 5am in search of some 'eyes, where things were quite slow to say the least... At about 8 am I had my one and only bite, where a 16" walleye came through the hole... A few more sniffers, but thats all she wrote... Water clarity was 6', where it is usually 10'. Hopefully the big bay clears up a bit!!!

9 inches of ice where I was fishing, with a few permanents showing up on the bay now... One other fisherman working the bay, where he was out by the lighthouse on a snowmobile.

[clam up]

Thanks for the report JKH. Myself and a buddy will be heading up this weekend to hit some inland lakes near the Delta area (I'm originally from the Mason area). I actually fish quite a bit with JDM911. I was thinking of trying the bay out from the oredock if things don't pan out inland. I'll keep an eye on this thread......

[Jim Hudson]

Cool.. well good luck down there inland... Tell Jason to get ahold of me!!

[Quickstrike]

Hey Jim, sorry i didn't get back to you, i just got your e-mail. Too busy to make it today with shoveling and errands. How was the fishing, might be able to make it tommorrow or sat, might stick around here chasing down pout and eyes.

[Jim Hudson]

Didnt make it out either.. glad you didnt come down... had to work late.... didnt get into the door until 5am, then shoveled...

Tomorrow hopefully!! Or this weekend for sure...

[Jim Hudson]

Hit the bay today with a father and son team... Searched out some smallmouth in the bay. Water clarity is still bad, but the bass didnt seem to mind. 9 inches of ice wherever I drilled, and about 4 to 6 inches of snow in spots. People are wheeling and snowmobiling all over the bay now. Seen guys out past the lighthouse. Still I urge caution out that way...

A couple bass from today... Great fun with Matt and his son Wyatt!!!

[outdoor ran]

Jim, nice pics! Nothing better then kids and fish in the same pic. Hows business going?

[Jim Hudson]

Thanks Randy... Things are going well, dates are filling up!! How bout over your way, things going well? Hope so.. have a great holiday season!!!

[outdoor ran]

Jim, I haven't been able to get out fishing much yet. The wife and I are finally buying our first home . We close on Friday and the wife says we will be in the new home by Xmas . I plan on taking a trip over to the bay in Jan. I will get ahold of you for a report. Have a good Xmas.

[Quickstrike]

fished just north of bono creek today and once again had no luck. marked quite a few fish that would come in hot but would not take anything we threw down at them. one guy on the ice had a real nice brown, but other than that nobody was catching any fish. fished from 20-12 feet of water.

[Jim Hudson]

Sad to hear Quick... Wish the trouts would pick up a bit more... Hope for good ice off the coal dock in Washburn soon and out towards Houghton Point.

Other then that, I am off searching for walleyes this morning. Hope to run into a few!!

Oh, and if anyone wants to get together here Wed or Fri for some fishing, let me know!!! Be happy to get out with a few guys...

[Quickstrike]

i may be able to make it out on wed, will probally be my last time out on the ice for nearly a month!!! I'm going to the twin cities for christmas and then leaving for northern california for a couple weeks. so i suppose i should attempt to get out at least one more time. to look on the bright side, by the time i get back it'll be time to start chasing down some big lakers.

[Jim Hudson]

Quick

Give me a call if your coming down... We can form a game plan of some sort..