Chequamegon conditions

[Bronze Backs]

Anyone been out here lately? Planning a trip and curious to know ice conditions and snow cover. In the past years we've done alright on the smallies with a few splake and cohos mixeed in. How about walleyes and lakers? I know they've got them in front of the Ashland marina. Any other general tips are appreciated.

[clam up]

I fished out from ashland in the bay last weekend. The ice seemed fine (17" where I was). I drove out and encountered drifted snow but nothing impassable. The walleyes really turned on around 5pm on shiners. Caught quite a few just under 15" so didn't take any home. Fun bite though. Check the Outdoor Allure HSOforum for a nice report on ice conditions. Sounds like area's north of Bayfield may be suspect.

[This message has been edited by clam up (edited 01-23-2004).]

[muskybuck]

Bronze Backs and clam up. One of my wishes is to go to Ashland, stay in a nice motel on the lake, fish for smallies and or walleyes during the day and sit in the hot tub in the evenings sipping a cool one. My preference would be those huge smallies. Whats the chances of doing this and where to go. Any suggestions (anyone?) (Ice Fishing Mostly)

[This message has been edited by muskybuck (edited 01-30-2004).]

[can it be luck?]

Anywhere along the shoreline in Ashland are numerous access sites. Hwy 2 follows the shoreline. There are several docks/piers/jetty type areas that will have some deeper channels for boats. Just east of Ashland is the Bad River Casino. The casino has jacuzzi rooms at a fairly reasonable price(check thier HSOforum). To the west of the casino a few miles is 2nd landing access off hwy 2, this is where I go out of in the open water for bass. Not much structure there though as I'm usually fishing the shallow river mouth areas for the bass in pre, spawn, post spawning areas. Off the Ashland shoreline the water has structure because of shipping and wood that scattered about from shipping, milling, etc.

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http://groups.msn.com/canitbeluck

[pout-slayer]

I hope to head over to ashland,tue or wed,and try my luck.Haven't been on the bay since I went to Nothland in the early 80's.This is pretty much just an exploratory trip so any info would be helpfull.We don't really care what type of fish we get into,just looking at a new place to fish. Thanks for any info.

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HOOK-UM

[muskybuck]

Thanks for the tip "Can it be luck" I suppose the thing to do is check in with the bait shops and see whats going on when I get there. Thanks again. Pout-slayer, let me know what happened.

[clam up]

I'll be out there this weekend. I usually head out from the landing near the oredock. I make my way out to the shipping chanel which runs a little deeper than the rest of the bay. It's a ways out there and i hope the snow isn't too deep. Just stay away from that oredock. Ice fishing and swimming don't mix!

[Bronze Backs]

Just to update - fished on Chequamey after the Mille Lacs Ice Leaders Event. We concentrated on the shipping channel and did alright. Marked way more than we caught, early to mid-morning definitely the hottest. Biggest I suppose was 19" with a few splake and salmon mixed in. We drove trucks out from the coal docks - snow was fairly deep but they've gotten pounded the last 2 weeks so may need a sled by now.

I've stayed at the Super8 and Americinn - both have hot tubs, both cheap.

[blackjackdavey]

Hi all i to graduated from northland but i probably spent more time studying how to fish the bayI fished the bay hard for over 10 years before moving to minnesota for work . I would focus on the Houghton point area near the drop off's with tip ups in 10 out to 40 feetalso set some up top fpr herring they are fun when the action is slow for trout you never now what you have when the flag flys out ther could be whitefish, laker or splake or brown we have even caught smallies there and big ones 22inches a couple times thats always a surprise if you need more info contact Outdoor Allure just south of Washburn always good infoand always remember to fish the bay you must be patiant

[Northlander]

Headed down tomorrow. The reports are good for Coho and Smallies. Lots of snow and if you dont have a good 4by4 dont head that way. Nobody usually plows at all. A couple guys were out this am and did well on Coho. The smallies and coho are relating to the channel edges by the coal dock from my reports. Biggest Smallie we gotten so far was 20" and biggest Coho was 4#. A nice Steelhead and Brown tossed in as well.
Talk to Ray at Harbor Bait and tell him Steve S. sent ya. He will hook ya up.
If ya need a # for Harbor e-mail me at [email protected]

[This message has been edited by Northlander (edited 02-09-2004).]

[muskybuck]

Well, I have a room reserved in Ashland for this weekend and am finally going to give it a try. I called and talked to a man at Harbour Bait and he gave me the scoop. Ray was not in but they were very helpfull. It looks like I can walk out from there and find some action if I'm lucky. Thanks again for the tips.

[blackjackdavey]

Harbor bait has always been my choice when fishing on the ashland side of the bay great service way over a dozen shiners per scoop, great people. You can fish the channel to the north of the coal dock and catch lots of coho and there is no size limit on them this year and boy are there a lot of them tasty critters out their. you may also pick up a brown or walleye in that area, never forget to fish around the light house but stay atleast 200 yards awayfrom it someone has already made a fatal mistake out their this winter

[Xplorer]

I'm not able to make it over this weekend, but will be over on Chequamegon the weekend of the 21/22nd. Got a room at the chequamegon hotel for the mrs and little guy so they can swim, and i can sled out from there.
Anybody else gonna be there that weekend? Always like to hook up with anyone on the board here. I'll be up friday night and stay til sunday noon. Hoping some of those tasty coho's are still in the area.
Xplorer

[blackjackdavey]

Ill be back up the weekend of march 13 14 15 to fish the bay. You can't beat the hotel cheq for access on the bay good luck

[Xplorer]

Muskybuck,
Just wondering how ya did last weekend out of ashland?? Too many options on the bay!!
Xplorer

[SuperiorConnection]

Xplorer.. I am gonna go try the bay tomorrow.. probably fish out beyond the lighthouse... I know the action has been a lil slow but am gonna give it a shot... still some cohos and smallies being caught near the coal docks.. but I am gonna go see whats lurking out a lil deeper.. maybe try for an evening walleye bite... I will give you a report....

[Xplorer]

SC,
Thanks, i appreciate it. Am thinking i will start on the channel edge out from marina/docks and go from there. May head over to the washburn area if things are slow. Do you know if i could sled up to the houghton point area from washburn on the ice (i'll be towing a green ottersled/house)?
Hope you did well out there today, some nice weather temps. Saturday looks good too!!
Xplorer

[muskybuck]

Xplorer, I had one of my elevators (passenger) break down and spent the week end in Madison working on that. You see, elevators usually don't break down unless its a Friday, 3pm or so is common. Pretty sad. I am going to do that one day but my attention starts to swing to Upper Red Lake this time of year also.

[SuperiorConnection]

XPLORER

I didnt go out today.. I decided to just stay in and get some of my long overdue stuff done... as we all need to sometimes.. hahaha..and its back to work tomorrow.. but the fishing has been sporadic along Ashland.... so just get in the channel and you should get a few fish... as for Houghton Point.. you should be good.. just watch out for the pressure cracks if you plan on traveling out of Washburn... especially with the warm weather...but the ice should be good.. just use caution like always...

Jim

[blackjackdavey]

Hey musky Buck you mentioned URL have you ever clamped and if so that makes you an I.B.O.T by the way clamping is when you take the lead weight that you use for depth and clamp it between your nostrils it keeps the evil spirits away on URL, i tryed it last year up there, those guys up there are crazy but who wouldn't be when you catch 13-15 inch crappies all night. had a great trip up last year many slabs and walleyes.

[muskybuck]

You know, I think I might have done that back in the early 70's. Can't remember for sure though.

[Xplorer]

Went out of Ashland on saturday, fished the channel area and picked up 2 smallies, 17" and a 19.5". Missed a couple more also. Did not have anything come thru suspended (splake,coho) all day.
Beautiful weather and about 18-24" of ice. A little slush in spots on top.
Xplorer

[MT Net]

We might head out onto the bay in March. More than likely out of Washburn. Any general areas we should try for lakers and coho, or techniques?

[This message has been edited by MT Net (edited 02-23-2004).]

[blackjackdavey]

Those are some nice ice smallies explorer. good to hear the ice on the bay is holding up with all the snow and warm weather. I hope it gets colder as iam coming up in mid march for three days. I would look towards the houghton point area for lakers MT net that is if your only going to fish the bay?try swedish pimples tiped with lake shinners on small teardrops i like green or orange tipped with lake shinners you can fish anywhere from 15-60 at houghton point and lake trout are usally cruising out there along with splake and browns. for cohos try in front of the nsp power plant or the channel in front of the coal dock on the ashland side. i have also caught lots of cohos off memorial park in washburn go out to 30-40 and set up. good luck and and thanks for the reports from the bay.

[MT Net]

Thanks for the tips. We'll be out from the Washburn area. probably get bait from Outdoor Allure.