Favorite WI Ice Fishing Destination?

[Jim Hudson]

Thought I would see where you guys like to spend the majority of your time when you ice fish? What lake intrigues you the most to spend most of your time on it during the hardwater?

And do you fish here because of the great fishing? Or is more of a social occasion? Or maybe its the lake you grew up on?

And of places in WI that you havent been and have wanted to go, where is that one spot you want to fish through the ice but havent been there as of yet?

[Wade Joseph]

1) Pool 8 of the Mississippi river. [it is only hardwater fishing about 30% of the time.]

a)Best place I know to catch walleyes from Dec-Apr.

psssst that means the season doesn't close so I can catch walleyes 'til "opener"

2) Too many to list.

[kjgmh]

No one lake that I spend the most time on, move around to lots of different lakes.

Were I really want to ice fish is were ever I can catch a salmon throught the ice (hint, hint Jim:))

[GatorBait]

I live in Waushara County, so I have 100's of little lakes to choose from so I'm all over. But I love venturing out on to Poygan, Butte De Mortes, Winnie, Parts of the Wisconsin River. My fav is Poygan as I know it inside/out, always good perch/gills running, and when the shad are gone, the monster slimes will be plentiful.

I fish most of these lakes because I spend countless hours on them either on the ice or in the boat. Whether it's tournie fishing, local fisheries or just having fun with friends, all that matters is I'm fishing.

One place I'd really like to ice fish is Little Bay de Noc. I've boated lunkers from the boat, but I've never been there on the ice. If anyone has any info on icing some eyes up there let me know.

[Blake]

I'd have to say Lake Lucerne and Metonga in Forest Co. and Miller Dam in Taylor Co. I also like Post Lake in Northeast WI...for a few

[outdoor ran]

I do about half of my ice fishing in MN and the rest is done in WI on a few small panfish lakes. Can't rememeber the names of them though I do hit the St. Louis river a few times. Also like to fish the south shore Lk Superior whenever theres ice.

I really like Fishing Cheq. bay although it seems to kick my butt over and over. Would like to get into some lakers and smallies there. I need to get a snowmobile.

I really can't think of anyplace that I would like to try ice fishing in Wi. I wish I could find a lake with a decent walleye bite. I just don't seem to do any good when I try a new lake threw the ice even if I have done good there in the summer. Guess thats why I'm always fishing the same few lakes. I do need to expore more thats for sure.

[Cooter]

I have lots of 'least favorite' places If I could pick one in WI I'd say Green Bay for walleyes - which I don't know anything about or even if they get much ice or the fishing is good in winter there, but BIG walleyes through the ice would be killer.

[Blake]

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I have lots of 'least favorite' places

If I could pick one in WI I'd say Green Bay for walleyes - which I don't know anything about or even if they get much ice or the fishing is good in winter there, but BIG walleyes through the ice would be killer.

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Cooter....I know your western WI, but you need to go try Little Bay De Noc....Escanaba,MI.....close to the border with WI, but the pig walleyes are there for sure and in numbers....I have never seen so many 30 + inchers come out of another lake, except a favorite lake in Canada....My biggest is 291/2, but I've seen the 30's many times up there and I have a buddy that fishes it often, from Marinette. It freezes over usually late Dec. I have fished it in a boat in mid Dec, but we like to go up there for a few days every Feb, usually the 3rd or last weekend of the month...We get on the ice near Gladstone....try it!!

[Quickstrike]

I grew up fishing Balsam Lake, Round Lake, Long Lake, and Half Moon Lake a lot. Up here I fish in both WI, and MN. In WI i like fishing the river up from boyscout and I LOVE fishing chequamigan bay, even though I've never done great.

I would like to get out into the islands this year with my sled for some big lakers, it's intimidating but I think I'll wait for good ice and give it a shot.

[mjames]

I like Chequamegon Bay best because it is close and there is no limit to what you can catch. You may have to return some but they're still fun to catch. I like the smallies on a short jigging pole. They're real tuggers. I prefer walleye and perch to eat though.

I've got to run into you sometime out on the bay but it is a big place.

[Jim Hudson]

Well for me, the best place to fish here in WI, has to be out my backyard... I just love fishing Lake Superior!!! As mjames said, you just dont even know what you might catch. So many different opportunities for so many different species... Could be trout or salmon.. or it could be big sturgeon... or maybe walleyes and perch... or even bass, whitefish, herring, and the occasional pike!!!

But one place I really want to fish that I havent gotten to yet, are the harbors of Lake Michigan in Southeastern WI.. Just something about fishing for 20lb browns through the ice that makes me want to make this trip...

[GatorBait]

Blake,

When yall fish out of Gladstone, are you pretty much concentrating on the reefs or hitting the deep water?? I still have many coords of the reefs out there from being on the boat. Planning on taking a trip up there this winter to grab some eyes.

[Jim Hudson]

Gator

I ice fished LBDN for the first time last year... And from the short-time that I fished it and through the information I gathered, there are two distinct bites there...

First is the bite in the Upper Bay, which is what most people fish during the night. Here, people are set up on the reefs and shallow structure using tip-ups and big sucker minnows.

And the second is fishing the breaklines in and around Gladstone and south past Escanaba, when the ice permits. I guess you could also do this in the Upper Bay as well. But this bite seemed to be on during low light conditions, sunrise and sunset. We tried fishing the breaklines and up onto the breaks at night in these areas without much luck besides eelpout!!!

And from the word last season, the fishing success really varied and was quite down from years past, due to what a lot of locals felt were bad ice conditions and the majority of the fish not even entering into the upper bays until after the walleye season closed. Who knows, it was a great experience and I will probably be back.

[Blake]

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Blake,

When yall fish out of Gladstone, are you pretty much concentrating on the reefs or hitting the deep water?? I still have many coords of the reefs out there from being on the boat. Planning on taking a trip up there this winter to grab some eyes.

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Gator...yeah....what Jim said Seriously though, he got it preatty good...I fish in and around the gladstone area, not far from the boat landing, near the river mouth...usually 8-12 fow and most use tip-ups with big shiners...I personally prefer my jig pole with a lead jigging rapalla( is this politically correct fishin term?)

I was sitting in a shack 2 years ago warming up when I hooked my 291/2 incher and I only had about 6 ft of line out when he slammed it...I about died trying to keep from losing him and trying to get a 2 1/2 ft eye out of 12 inches of ice....after several runs and alot screaming and hollering, I had to put my arm down under the ice and grab him in the gills to get him up through the ice...it wasn't what I invisioned(big mouth on that baby), but I wasn't about to lose him! After I landed him, I went outside to brag only to see my buddy, fishes there almost on a weekly basis, pull a 33 incher out, snap a picture and put him back

Now I will release everything I catch there....if its a wallhanger (30+), I will take the pic/measurements and have a replica made. I kept a couple in the 18-24 inch range a number of years ago and took it home and cooked it. Personally, I couldn't eat it, maybe just me but didn't like the taste. I am used to eating Walleye out of the deep clear lakes of Northern WI and this was no match for taste IMO, but how much fun!!!

I usually get up there a couple times a year. If you want more info, I have the expert who lives nearby....I usually ask him what,where,how to's before I leave and he knows...also have a couple friends that guide these waters, but my buddies fished it for 30+ years so he usually knows.

JKL....do you know the Ranger Boat Rep for the state of WI?...he and another guy fish your homeland quite often

[Blake]

I meant to ask Jim about the Ranger Boat Rep

[Jim Hudson]

Blake,

Have not met any Ranger rep while on the water.. See a few Rangers here and there though... You fish with him on occasion up here?

[GatorBait]

Thanks for the great info guys. I'll keep in touch as time comes closer to coming up there. I sure miss the dark nights catching eyes up there on boards. Pulling them through the ice will be even better.

[LoonASea]

Outdoor Ran

why not try Yellow lake some time for eyes??? You may get a bonus ski or nice pike even a few big perch too ,,Ill be there for their annual contest on Jan 13th if ya wannna try it

Randoid

[Blake]

Jim....personally I have never fished up there...sad but true....but I know who to call when I take my first trip ,

but the Ranger Rep and his buddy go quite often...you can't miss them....biggest Ranger boats they make and all the bells and whistles....He does a trip a year with some RCL tourney guys up to "Bay of Quint"? I believe....maybe Lake Ontario?...anyway these guys last year boated I believe 30+ fish over 9 lbs. and I have pics to prove....all released...they go for the trophy's up there...Ever been up there? I'm still begging to go 1 of theses years with them.I have a pic from his last year trip..they had 1 fish at 15# 4.oz...If I ever take the time to figure out how to post pics, I will scan them and post...

I figured you might have run across him as he travels all over the state and services most of the boat dealers up north as well...I have business in Ashland and Clam Lake areas so I get up there every couple of months....will look you up sometime I'm up there. Also want to try some trout fishin up in the Bayfield area streams as I have a friend who goes up there often.

[Jim Hudson]

Blake

Yeah, probably have seen him out and about... I will pay attention a bit more when I see a big Ranger howling past me...

Yup, the Bay of Quinte... NE Lake Ontario. Big Fish Mecca for the Great Lakes right now... I know Parsons and Kavajecz did another trip and show out there this past fall. Supposably, from I gather, they may have caught the largest walleye ever caught on film during this trip. Definately a trip I want to do, but the 15 hour drive or so...

[outdoor ran]

Loonasea, I've never tried Yellow threw the ice. Just during the hot summer. I tried Clam last year but didnt do very good. Thats a good idea, think i'll try Yellow. Is it pretty easy to tell where to fish, with the traffic or do I need to buy you a couple of drinks and pick your brain

[LoonASea]

Ran I fish from the mouth of Yellow river and west ,,My knowledge of that lake is free but a few beverages helps to jog my memory well and it lubricates my lips (just ask BD110 he carries a sign with a disclaimer ,,Im not responsible for what comes out of his mouth) just kidding Tom

Randoid

[Muskycrazy]

Are you talking about Round Lake by Hayward ? I fish Muskies there , with little results of course , but would like very much to hear how and what you fish for through the ice .

[Quickstrike]

No, I'm talking about Round Lake in Polk County by Balsam Lake. Me and Outdoor Ran had this same misunderstanding a couple years ago if I remember right. If I fish the hayward area I usually fish Nelson Lake.

[Quickstrike]

LoonASea and Outdoor Ran: anytime you guys want to hit Yellow, count me in. I've never ice fished it, but have done very well on eyes in the summer. It's a nice lake for only being an hour away.