Barron-Cumberland-Rice Lake-Chetek Fishing Reports for Barron County

[vman59]

Walleye:

Walleye fishing continues to be good; however, the fish can be extremely particular when it comes to the size and type of minnow. Late afternoon into night are the most productive hours, especially just before dark. Look for fish in 5-30 feet of water (or deeper), and in assorted locations ; weeds and weed edges, drop-offs, break lines, bars, humps, and hard bottom areas. Walleye suckers, northern suckers, shiners, and fatheads on jigs or under tip-ups, and jigging spoons and Rapalas are all producing walleye catches.

Northern:

Anglers fishing for northern pike are finding good (though inconsistent) action, with sunny days the most productive. Look for pike near weeds, particularly green weeds and those holding panfish, and in depths from 4-20 feet. Large baits northern suckers, walleye suckers, and shiners ; fished under tip-ups will all catch northern. For trophy pike, fish larger baits in deeper water.

Crappie:

Crappie action is good and getting better, particularly in late afternoon and evening. You will find crappies near weeds and weed edges in water as shallow as four feet, and suspending over water as deep as 40 feet. Watch your flasher closely and closely check the entire water column. Crappie minnows, rosy reds, waxies, spikes, and plastics are the baits of choice. Fish them on plain hooks or small jigs, and if action is slow, try changing your presentation. Downsizing tackle and using fluorocarbon line can also increase your success.

Bluegill:

Bluegills are in and around weeds, weed edges, and cribs at various depths, from 4-20 feet. The smaller lakes appear to be producing the best action. Favorite baits are waxies, spikes, plastics, and Berkley Gulp! on plain hooks, small jigs, and teardrops/ice jigs.

[Badger]

I went out last weekend on Long lake (Centuria), and Big Butternut (Luck). Very slow....kept a few gills and perch for a fish fry, but talked to a few guys and it's been a lite bite for a couple of weeks now.

[vman59]

hit a number of area lakes today and word for the day is SSSLLLOOWWWWW.

[snoozebutton]

Well, that makes another place not to go Vman. Same thing here, slooooow yesterday. Went out again this morning, different lake, same results. Did catch around a 5# northern at 4:00 AM and he managed to tangle up everything I had down there. It was a good half hour before I was fishing again.

[vman59]

Walleye: Walleye anglers are making some nice catches, but the bite windows are extremely short and usually occur in early morning and late afternoon to just after dark. Depths vary from lake to lake and can range from shallow water down to 30 feet. Fish weeds/weed edges, rock bars, humps, slopes, deeper water structure, break lines, gravel drop-offs, and mud flats. Best baits and presentations include jigs with fatheads, jigging spoons with fatheads or crappie minnows, and tip-ups with shiners or walleye suckers. Get out there now – game fish season closes March 7.

Northern: Northern action is fairly good to very good on most pike waters. Northern suckers and shiners under tip-ups are working best at this time. Work weedlines and the top of shallow weeds in 5-15 feet of water, and deeper for larger pike. Areas holding panfish will be most productive, and peak activity is during afternoon hours.

Crappie: Crappie action is frustratingly inconsistent, with good success one day and no fish the next day. Crappies are suspending in 7-35 feet of water (depending on the lake.) Start on the bottom and work up until you find the fish. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, rosy reds, waxies, spikes, and plastics on plain hooks, small jigs, and teardrops. If fish aren’t responding, downsize line, and use plastics and/or bright color jigs.

Bluegill: Bluegill fishing is fairly good, but you will have to sort through a lot of smaller ‘gills for a meal. Fish shallow weeds, weed edges, and cribs with waxies, spikes, mousies, and plastics on plain hooks, small jigs, and teardrops.

Perch: Perch anglers report fair to good action, somewhat inconsistent, but improving. Fish soft bottom areas, mud flats, and just off deep break lines. Though depths can vary from 10-30 feet, perch are on or very near the bottom. Favorite baits include fatheads, rosy reds, crappie minnows, waxies, and silver wigglers on plain hooks, small jigs, or jigging spoons.

[Nick Kuhn]

Will be up this weekend for opener. Anyone have info on water temps? Also how is weed growth looking this year? I anticipate the weeds will be a little better established than at this time last year.

[snoozebutton]

I've been fishing mainly the Hayward, Stone Lake, Spooner areas and what I've found is the water temps are about 10 to 12 degrees higher than they were at this time last year.

[vman59]

Walleye: Fishing for post-spawn walleyes should improve once the winds drop to small gale force. Calm conditions often prevail in early morning and in the evening, which are also prime fishing times for crank and stickbait fishing along shorelines. During the day, target new weeds, brush, break-lines, muck bottoms, and rocky drop-offs in 5-20 feet of water, depending on the lake. Opening weekend, fatheads and walleye suckers were the top choices, but anglers also caught fish on crawlers and leeches.

Northern: Northern action is fair to good around shallow weeds, shorelines, and bays, and anywhere you find panfish. Live bait includes northern and walleyes, suckers, and fatheads. Top artificial include minnow/twitch baits, crank-baits, spoons, spinners, and spinner-baits.

Crappie: Crappies are in pre-spawn (as soon as water temps reach the upper 50s ... ) and offering fair to good action. Depending on the lake and weather conditions, concentrate on shallow water (3-12 feet) bays, weeds, and brush. The old standbys are working well: crappie minnows, fatheads, leeches, small jigs, tubes, and plastics, with or without a bobber.

Bluegill: Though it's a bit early for hot and heavy bluegill action – they spawn when water temperatures reach into the 60s –anglers report some success in shallow, dark-bottom, weedy bays on sunny, warmer days. Use small jigs or plain hooks tipped with waxies, worms, small leeches, and plastics. Fish 3-5 feet of warm water, and move deeper on cool, cloudy days. (It's all about water temps.) For larger ‘gills fish deeper water with minnows, small crankbaits, and spinners.

[ridgerat2]

i have had good luck on cedar fishing stick and shad raps in the shallows at dark and after dark. shallow being 6 feet or less. balsom lake can also be good right at dark with rapalas or shad raps, ive done really good on the east end where the river or creek comes in. with the 18 inch size limit i havent spent much time out there this year or last. but the fishing hasnt changed much in the last 10 yrs out there.

kind of slow in here guys. it would be nice to share info here a little more.

good luck let us know how you do.

[vman59]

Stu hey ,your alive ! Shoot me an email with your cell number.

[vman59]

Fished a small local lake this afternoon and had a steady bite the entire time my son and I were out. Fished in 8-9 fow using a lime green rocker about 12-15 inch's off bottom. Ended up with 31 mix of gills and crappies but more gills.

[The_Diesel]

How thick is the ice out there? I'm in the cities, but I'll be going to the parent's cabin in the area next week.

[vman59]

I had a good 10' of ice. But do be where there are slushy spots on the ice from the past snow we have gotten. For the most part I would not be afraid to go with an atv if thats what you were thinking.

[The_Diesel]

Thanks VMan. I doubt I'll bring the 'wheeler this time, but I think we'll be making a trip up there the second weekend in Jan, and I may bring it then. Gotta go through the whole license and register thing for it first though.

[vman59]

Well here is the latest report that I can offer. The Chetek Chain is producing panfish in various sizes and also some northern. Panfish on Rice lake. Many of the smaller lakes are actually producing better quality fish than the bigger chain's and lakes.Northern action has been pretty much good all over and a few eyes are also being caught.

[vman59]

Additional snow is not improving ice fishing conditions, but it is also not stopping anglers from fishing. Walleye fishing is good with walleye suckers and shiners under tip-ups, and northern action is good on northern suckers and large shiners. “Panfish anglers are catching crappies in the evening on crappie minnows and plastics, and bluegills throughout the day. Ice is 10 inches on most areas, though with quite a bit of water on it in some locations, and anglers should continue to be cautious. “Ice depths in the Upper Chippewa basin continue to be real variable,” says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt, “and range from five to ten inches in thickness. Recent heavy snowfall also caused quite a bit of slush to form, and this is limiting access and travel.” Sommerfeldt says some anglers are beginning to drive ATVs and snowmobiles on a few lakes, but urges them to use extreme caution. “Lake ice cover is very irregular, with a solid 10 inches in some areas and only five inches just a few hundred yards away. Slush adds a lot of weight to the top of the ice and even softens the ice underneath it, resulting in weaker ice cover and less weight-holding capability.” The biologist says ice fishing success is generally fair, and action for walleye and panfish– the species of main interest – is quite variable on a day-to-day basis. The best walleye success on the stained lakes and flowages is in late afternoon with small to medium suckers on tip-ups. “The mud flats and weed edges at 5-8 feet are producing fair numbers of 12- to 15-inch walleye, while deeper break lines and rock bar edges at 8-12-feet depth are producing a few walleye in the 20-inch size. Fish the clear-water lakes a little deeper at dusk and just after dark. “Panfish anglers are making some good catches of crappies, bluegills, and perch. Using waxies and small minnows, fish perch in 4-20 feet or deeper, and 15-24 feet for suspending crappies and bluegills.

[stewartfisherman]

just wondering about the lakes around there. I am from western Mn and plan on being out there the first week in Feb. I have a 16 foot fish house and a 1/2 ton truck. well I be able to get it out there or should i leave the house home

[vman59]

should be no problem by then.

[vman59]

Ice conditions are now very good, “Walleye fishing is best on the big lakes, but there is a shorter bite window. The best fishing is early morning and late evening into dark, with about equal success jigging or using tip-ups. Northern and panfish action are both good.” Slush is gone and bitter cold following the rain froze the lakes solid. Some anglers are catching northerns along the weeds and perch on the drop-offs, but I have heard few success reports for walleye or panfish. The best walleye success is with suckers, though shiners are also producing fish. “You will find the walleyes around weed edges in 10-15 feet of water and on humps and bars during the evening. Use big suckers for northerns in the weeds, and panfish are hitting waxies near cribs, weeds, and structure. The best walleye success is on small to medium suckers fished near break lines in 5-10 feet of water. Cloudy days are best, and the hour before dark is prime time, but fishing after dark is slow on the stained lakes. “Northern action is slow. Crappies and bluegills, suspending just off bottom in 15-24 feet of water, are taking waxies and small minnows. For perch, work waxies and small minnows in as shallow as four feet out to more than 15 feet.”

[vman59]

CHETEK ICE FISHING

THE 17TH ANNUAL CHETEK FIREFIGHTERS’ ADULT AND KIDS ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT IT HAPPENS SATURDAY (1/15) ON POKEGAMA LAKE. THE GRAND PRIZE DRAWING IS FOR $1,000! JOIN US FOR A LIVE BROADCAST ON THE ICE FROM 11:00AM – 2:00PM. THERE’S ALSO A GUN RAFFLE. REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED ON THE ICE AND YOU DON’T NEED TO BE PRESENT TO WIN THE GRAND PRIZE.

The 28th Annual Wisconsin State Ice Fishing Contest will be held on Sunday February 13th ,2011 from 10am to 3pm on Beaver Dam Lake in Cumberland, WI.

Food concessions will be available courtesy of the Cumberland GAP.

You can purchase tickets at the following businesses soon!

Cumberland - Indianhead Sport Shop (phone credit card sales), Skiddies, Nelson's True Value, Corner Bar, The Country Store, Louie's Finer Meats, Cumberland Hardware, RadioShack

Turtle Lake - Auto Stop, Laker Country Sports

Barronett - Speedy's C Stop, Red Brick Cafe, Barronett Bar and Grill

Rice Lake - The Bear Paw Co., Full Throttle

Cameron - Wild Bills Outpost

Spooner - AAA Sports

Trego - Wild River Sport & Marine

$20,000 in prizes will be given away!

[vman59]

The Wisconsin Ice Fishing League (WIFL)will be holding a series of ice fishing tournaments on lakes in north west central Wisconsin. For more information go to this link; Wisconsin Ice Fishing League

[vman59]

Muskie: Muskie action is improving with the warming water. Depths vary, but look for them near new green weeds and weed edges, on flats, and suspending over deeper water. Most importantly, they will be near whatever they are eating. We are entering prime time for topwater action, but fishing is also good with bucktails, Bull Dawgs, gliders, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and suckers.

Walleye: Erratic weather and a mayfly hatch combined to make for challenging walleye fishing. Fish low light periods such as early morning and late evening into dark. Fish are scattered. Look for them in depths ranging from six feet to more than 25 feet, near weeds/weed edges, and cribs, to rock bars and shorelines, brush, drop-offs, flats, and channels. Leeches, crawlers, walleye suckers, and fatheads on jigs, harnesses, bottom bouncers, and under slip bobbers, as well as cast and trolled crankbaits, stickbaits, and Beetle Spins are all productive walleye offerings.

Northern: Northerns are on the move, always on the feed, and found near deep and shallow weeds/weed edges, flats, and bay mouths out to about 20 feet of water. Bait selection seems to be of little consequence. Spinners, spinnerbaits, spoons, Shad Raps, bucktails, buzz baits, jerkbaits, minnow baits, and topwaters will all catch pike. For trophies, use wire leaders and fish northern suckers in deeper water.

Largemouth Bass: Largemouth spawning period is finished or finishing and fishing action is fair to good. Look for them near docks, weeds and weed edges, wood, brush, lily pads, and rock, from shallow water out to the first break. Best bait choices include plastics (tubes, grubs, crawfish), rigged/wacky worms, topwaters, crankbaits, spinners, spinnerbaits, crawlers, leeches, and minnows.

Smallmouth Bass: Smallmouth are also finished or finishing spawning and action is fair to good. You will find smallies on rocks and rocky points and bars, near weeds, wood, gravel, and other structure in depths out to 15 feet. Best artificials include tubes, plastics, topwaters, rigged worms, frogs, crankbaits, and X-Raps. For live bait, use crawlers, leeches, and small northern suckers. Slow presentations will increase you success rate.

Crappie: Crappies completed their spawning activities and are scattering and locating in deeper water near weeds, brush, cribs, and wood/sunken trees. Some are near shallower weed lines, while others are suspending over deeper water. Depths range from fairly shallow out to more than 20 feet. Once you locate them, fishing is very good. Baits of choice include crappie minnows, panfish leeches, waxies, worms, spinners, topwaters, plastics, Mini-Mites, Tattle-Tails, and Gulp! baits. Use small jig with or without bobbers, but a slip bobber enables you to keep your bait at the right depth.

Bluegill: Bluegills are on their spawning beds and fishing is very good, though they occasionally move in and out with the weather fronts. As expected, you will find them from very shallow water out to about 12 feet, on sand flats and near brush and cribs. Waxies, leaf and garden worms, crawler chunks, leeches, plastics, spinners, topwaters, and Gulp! baits are all effective bluegill baits. For bigger ‘gills, fish deeper water with minnows.

[vman59]

FISHING REPORT Muskies: Muskie fishing is good with the warm weather, but particularly so after dark. Hot and humid days can be excellent, too, but keep an eye on the sky for developing storms. During the day, fish deeper break lines, and weed and bar edges, with big bucktails, jerk, crank, and twitch baits. In the evening, work shallower weed beds and edges with topwaters, bucktails, Bull Dawgs, plastics, and crankbaits.

Walleye: Best walleyes action is during times of low light, though some anglers are catching fishing during sunny, mid-day hours. Walleyes are scattered at various depths, from shallower to deep, in and on deep weeds and weed edges, rock, gravel, sand, cribs, and brush. Leeches and crawlers are the top choice, fished under slip bobbers or on jigs, Lindy rigs, and bait harnesses. Rapalas, stickbaits, and crankbaits, cast or trolled, can also be effective.

Northern: Hot weather pushed northern pike to deeper water, slowing action. Still, you will find plenty of small pike along weed edges and structure. Catch them on spoons, spinners, and spinner, stick, and chatter baits. For trophy pike, fish deeper, cooler water with large northern suckers.

Largemouth Bass: Largemouth action is very good. Fish weed and bog edges, docks, shallow flats, rock, wood, brush, cribs, and lily pads, from very shallow to the second break. Use surface baits, soft plastics, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, chatter baits, buzz baits, weedless spoons, minnows, and leeches. Bass populations are very strong. If you are not catching fish, try other locations and/or presentations.

Smallmouth Bass: Look for smallmouth on deep structure, rock bars and points, weeds, wood, sand, gravel, and cribs. Best artificial bait choices include crank and minnow baits, tubes, plastics (particularly in crawfish colors), spinnerbaits, and topwaters. For live bait, go with crawlers and leeches. Vary your retrieve speed and presentations.

Crappie: Crappie action is good, with best success in early morning or late evening. Look for fish along weed edges, cribs, bogs, and brush in various depths, and suspending near structure in deeper water. Use crappie minnows, panfish leeches, waxies, plastic, Gulp! baits, and worms.

Bluegill: Bluegill action is good on most waters. Depths vary, with some fish shallow and others out to 18 feet or so, in/near weeds and weed edges, cribs, lily pads, and brush. Waxies, worms, leaf worms, crawler chunks, plastics, topwaters, and Gulp! baits will all work. Fish deeper water for bigger ‘gills; small minnows help avoid little bait robbers.

[vman59]

here's the latest of what I have heard or observed. Panfishing is good on many local lakes particularly gills. Walleye and northen fishing has been good setting up on weed edges and drop offs. Ice remains walking or atv traffic only use your own judgement.

any questions just ask if i don't know I will do my best to find out.

[vman59]

Again in 2012 Wisconsin Ice Fishing League (WIFL) will run the ice fishing circuit. Each qualifying tournament will be open to the first 30 teams who register. Each team will consist of 2 people. Entry fee for each qualifying tournament is $100 per team. The four qualifying tournaments will last 5 hours, beginning at 8:00AM and ending a 1:00PM. The team limit is a total of 12 pan fish. Pan fish eligible are sunfish, bluegill, pumpkinseed, perch and crappie. All weigh-ins will be conducted indoors at the weigh-in sites listed with the lakes. The rules explain how each team’s fish are transported to the weigh-in site. There will be a meeting on the morning of each tournament to cover specific rules and the procedures each team will follow during the tournament.

We have already received a few entries for the circuit and are expecting to fill up fast this year. The teams that fished last year had a blast and said they are going to tell there friends about it. More info and entry forms are available on our web site www.wtcbass.com.

Here are the lakes and dates for 2012.

1/7/12 Wapogasset (limited section) Waterside Bar & Grill Amery, Wisconsin

1/21/12 East Balsam (limited section) The Thirsty Otter Balsam Lake, Wisconsin

2/4/12 Pokegama Lake (limited section) Chetek Snow Flyer's Club House Chetek, Wisconsin

2/18/12 Long Lake (limited section) Prop's Sports Bar & Grill Sarona, Wisconsin