Wingra Lake, Dane County (all postings)

Went on Wingra, 8" of consistent ice. only a few flags, slow day.

Thanks LiarPatrol...I am approved, but for some reason, thought it might just apply to the big lakes...just got the atv last year, and still am wondering why not Waubesa or Kegonsa for floats. Not that I am complaining, but it is sort of a wasted effort since all will float anyway. Would be fun to check out some marsh areas frozen on Wingra...as long as they're not springs.

Thanks again for the clarification.

Fs

Is it legal for atv traffic on Wingra? If so, do you need floats?

Thanks, Fs

While I'm at it, I'll comment on my fishing trip out here 2 weeks ago. I drilled my first hole 50 yards out, expecting 8' and no weeds. Hah. Drilled a series of holes, ended up in at least 10', maybe 125 yards offshore. Set up shanty, and had no trouble sight-fishing a jig near bottom, just as advertised.

A far a panfish size, on a good day you can get 7" gills, but smaller ones are generally far more common. 8" gills are basically un-heard of. Always have been the most abundant panfish in the lake.

Wingra has a long history of producing an abundance of skinny white and black crappie, most being 7-8", but occasionally some numbers of 9-10" fish. It also has a long history of producing a few giant crappies; the state record came from here in the 80's - 18" fish, as I recall. My PB (14") came from here, and my brother once hit the lottery and picked up 5 from 14-17". The lake still kicks out some nice crappie, as you can read from the recent year's reports.

Perch are generally not overly plentiful or large. Exceptions have existed in year's past. That's all I'm saying.

I apologize Mendota, and to other fishermen(women). I should have clarified. There are NO active springs on lake wingra. However, in the arboretum, which is located on the outskirts of lake wingra, there are 6 ACTIVE springs that flow into the lake. Here is a map, visit the visitors center for more information... http://uwarboretum.org/map/

There are two springs near the Ho-Nee-Um buffer and four on the south western end by the wingra woods. You may see this for yourself by clicking the watershed tab on the arboretum map. I am not posting this to cause any issues, but rather to keep fellow fishermen(women) safe. As always, keep your lines tight... and remember, no ice is safe ice.

Let me make a few comments regarding "springs" on the lake. I've lived in the watershed and fished the lake for 30 years. I spent considerable time with a temperature probe searching for spring seeps one summer back in the early 80's, with no success.

I'm talking offshore, in areas purported to have them, etc. Nada. I identified plenty of springs all around the periphery of the lake, all "known". The only area on the lake I even suspected a seep existed ironically had the Edgewood pier built nearly right over the top of it in the late 80s. Which probably explains the open water chronically in that area as well.

I even spent several days out here with side-scan sonar after ice-out one spring, mapping a good portion of the lake, looking for odd features. Found a few, but no evidence of underwater springs.

Muskrat trapping ended here in the 80s, and I'm not sure what controls their population on this lake these days. I would not walk any great distance close to the shoreline (<25') anywhere on the lake, simply because you are more likely to "discover" a seep or muskrat-induced weak area there.

Otherwise, there are no "spring" areas offshore on Wingra that I am aware of. Geese, and the vagaries of wind and weather, will occasionally keep some areas free of ice a bit later than the rest of the lake. But it's not the same areas year to year, from my observations.

I am headed out with some friends of mine who have never been icefishing before. I have never been on wingra, but it seems to have the most ice and is the closest to where we live. Can anyone PM me some locations to possibly target? I know to stay off of the western part of the lake, there are springs that keep that open.

Do the panfish in wingra ever have any size to them? I've personally never caught a "keeper" out of wingra. Just wondering if the whole lakes like that or if i just need to search out new areas. Haven't fished it in a while and it might be fun to try again

Fished from 2 - 5 Sunday 1-13. Caught small gills non stop. Did not really matter the jig or bait, even minnow heads. Mixed in a few small perch and 7 inch crappies. Big event was a 14 inch crappie. Biggest I have ever caught. It measured 5" thick, which explains why I had difficulty getting it through my 4" hole in the ice. Wife took a pic and I will try to post it.

was out today. Ice was 7-8".

Headn out there today never ice fishd wingra. was wonderm if the 14' hole on the back side of the lake ever gets fished. good luck everyone tight lines.

anybody have a ice report after the rain we got?

Ice is never safe directly around docks...for future reference.

I went out on Saturday around 11 AM and have a hazard to report. There is a dock that sits about halfway between Knickerbockers and Vilas, right behind one of Edgewood's buildings. The ice all around was great except for right around this dock - there is open water. Night fishermen and dog walkers please use caution.

Fishing was slow for me.

Went out in the morning and then again in the afternoon. Morning was slow, half dozen small gills. Bite picked up at around 1pm and ended up hooking onto a couple dozen crappies, perch and bluegills, kept a half dozen in the 7-9" range. Nice clear day, great day to be out on the ice.