Oneida County

Ice continues to build here in the Northwoods.   We have been fortunate to be just north of the heavy snow falling on the lower ¾’s of the state, this will keep the insulation off the lakes up here and allow more ice to build.
 
Walleye:  Very Good-Good – Low light level times best using shiners amongst cabbage flats of 8-12’ in the mornings.  Switch to outside weed edges (12-16’), off-shore humps of gravel/rock using suckers on tip-ups or jigging Raps, Rippin Raps, Z-Darters or Tikka Minnows towards and right after dusk.
 
Crappie:  Very Good-Good – Better reports from anglers fishing basins of 22-27’ using tip-downs baited with rosies or crappie minnows or jigging Kenders T-Rips, Kastmaster spoons or Clam Tikka Flash tipped with waxies.  For Crappies still holding in weeds (10-14’ Narrow leaf cabbage), Little Cecil spoons, Euro Tackle Z-Vibers, Kenders K-Rips and tip-down/minnow set ups all working well.
 
Northern Pike:  Very Good-Good – Lots of good action and some nice Pike in the 8-12’ of weeds.  Big shiners and suckers as per usual with fish to 34” reported this weekend.  A pair of anglers jigging Raps and Chubby Darters on thin wire leaders reported fun action working baits at weed tops in 8-10’.
 
Bluegill:  Good – While most reports were of good numbers, but lots of sorting for size, a few anglers did better by leaving the crowds behind.  Most action in 8-12’ weeds using #3 and #4 tungsten jigs tipped with waxies, spikes and the rare moussee.  Others finding BIG Gills (10-11”) over mud basins in 20-25’ of water using small tungsten jigs with hair, tipped with moussees.  Anglers targeting these big Gills using select harvest (and sneaky approaches) to maintain these populations of such special fish.
 
Yellow Perch:  Good – While not the numbers (or the effort), nice Perch (9-11”) in shallow weed flats of 6-9’ on jigs shaped like small Gills (Z-Vibes, K-Rips, T-Rips) tipped with waxies.  Also a few reports of Perch starting to show over mud (14-18’) on wigglers presented on Hali style spoons.
 
Largemouth Bass:  Good – Temps above 20 degrees seem to be best for Largemouth.  Some very nice fish to 20” caught this past week, mostly by anglers targeting Pike or panfish in 6-12’ weeds.
 
Smallmouth Bass:  Good – Rarely seen in the winter, but providing some added fun for anglers, especially those jigging for Walleyes over gravel/rock humps.  Fun on a jig rod.
 
With light snow and cold temps ice thickness is coming along nicely.  Most anglers reporting 6-8”+.  We are seeing more ATV, UTV and snowmobile use on the lakes.  Still use caution on the big lakes (Fence, Trout, Big Crawling Stone, Tomahawk) as these were still open just two weeks ago and are just now getting 2-4”’s of ice reports.
 
While snow is still a concern at this stage, forecast show temperature lows below zero and highs in the single digits for Sunday (1/14) thru Wed (1/12) that should put some nice finishing touches on our lakes and get us into the 12” plus range by the following weekend.
 
Upcoming Tournaments
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake

One last report from last weekend. . .Fished Hansen and Townline Lakes. Hansen was a bust, but we found good gills and bass on Townline!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
 
We’re slowly sliding back into a “second” early ice season.  Despite warnings to the contrary, some anglers got out on the ice and continued to fish.  Things got dicey with shorelines pulling out 1-2’ from banks (some even further), some open water Musky fishing and water skiing was also witnessed (Trout Lake).   But as nights have gotten colder (and the days since 12/30) ice is firming up and slowly building.  It would be nice to get some sub-zero temps, but the forecast only shows teens for the first 12 days of 2024.
 
Walleye:  Good-Very Good – Most reports on tip-ups using suckers and shiners as anglers not willing to do as much hole jumping with jigging raps, rattlin raps and hyper glides.  Not that jigging hasn’t been working, it has for those willing to do, but the less walking on 3-4” of spongy ice the better.  Nice catches before dusk and pre-dawn, still most in 6-12’ weeds.
 
Northern Pike:  Good-Very Good – Nice catches using large suckers and river shiners.  Nothing out of the usual, live green weeds in 5-10’ best.   Nice fish to 36” reported this past week with the best, a 38” caught and released on Friday (12/29).
 
Crappies:  Good-Very Good – This species being found actively biting (except 12/28) in both weeds and in open basins.  The basins have not been as accessible due to thinner ice (2”) so most activity has been weed related.  Tip-downs with Crappie minnows or small rosies, as well as rocker style jigs with white, pink and yellow plastics.  Jigs with blades such as Lethal Cecils and Tikka Flash tipped with waxies also producing well!
 
Largemouth Bass:  Good-Very Good – Not typically targeted, but moving the needle in a big way!  Several reports of Bass in the 18-20”+ range caught and released by anglers using medium shiners on tip-ups, as well as those jigging spoons tipped with waxies or minnow heads.  The warm temps always seem to bring out the best in Largemouth activity, with no real “cold” days on the forecast, expect good action to continue.
 
Yellow Perch:  Good – Anglers looking for Gills finding Perch in 6-10’ weed flats taking #3 tungsten jigs tipped with spikes or waxies.  No jumbos being reported but nice eaters in the 8-9 ½” range.  Also picking some up on tip-downs baited with minnows for Crappies.
 
Bluegill:  Good – Once past Thursday’s high-pressure system, Gills once again biting well on small, dark jigs (black, red, green) tipped with red spikes or dark colored plastics.  While most attention is spent in weeds of 5-10’, a few anglers (where ice is thick enough) finding suspended Gills in 20-25’ basins.
 
Thankfully, no reports, that I’ve heard of locally, of people breaking through the ice. While things will be getting better from here on out for a while, caution is still advised.   Most ice reports have gone from 2-4” mid-week up to the 3-5” mark, some small lakes with 6”.  Can’t recommend vehicle travel of any kind.  Creepers are essential for safely walking and safety spikes and flotation suits or throw cushions still a must.  Looks like we will be getting our ice back, not quickly, but enough to have an ice fishing season.
 
Upcoming Tournaments
Jan 6th – 73rd Annual Rib Lake Area Ice Fishing Contest – Rib Lake
Jan 6th – 16th Annual NCO Club & AMVETS Post 724 Ice Fishing Tournament – Lake Nokomis
Feb 10th – 22nd Annual Plum Lake Ice Fishing Tournament – Plum Lake

Set tip ups out in front of our place south of Minocqua.  Shoreline is weak. The rest of the lake seems questionable. 2-5" where i drilled but its soft, water bounces when walking and was cracking bad while drilling. Should probably stay off. Really not seeing many fisherman on area lakes. I'd stay home if you're thinking about trying it. Bite is slow anyways. Be safe.

Looking at the bright side, with no fishable ice the fish get a much needed break from the piggery that’s gone on the last four years. 

Went up to our cabin yesterday and the ice is really getting bad. We lost 3 inches of ice in the past few days and the ice that is left is really soft. This was before the rain and warm temps last night. I measured 5 inches but it is not good ice at all where we are. ​

Has anyone heard if the ice is fishable on Burrows Lake ? We fished it in 2020 and wanted to try it again. It’s about 5 1/2 hr drive up there for us. Thanks ! 

Friday, 12/22/23
Ho, Ho, Ho!  The ice is still very very good. We've made a little lately but not a lot.  I understand there is anywhere between 4 and 10" in most spots.  I probably wouldn't head out onto any deep basins yet but as always its lake dependent.  Fence, Presque Isle and Trout still have some open water but that's normal.  We probably won't make any more ice over the next few days as sprinkles and moderate temps are in the forecast.  Overall, there are plenty enough places to fish out there to keep anybody busy.

The ice caps are enough as most fish are shallow or on the weed edges in most lakes.  All the baits are working pretty well right now although, windows are small.

Let's work backwards today.  Here are a sampling of some baits that are really doing well and I would advise you to try them out.   Colors depend on your water you are fishing.  In no particular order from CLAM: Tikka Flash, Tikka, Rattlin' PT Spoon, Jointed Pinhead Pro Minno and Pinhead Pro Minno.  These have been slamming all kinds of fish.  From Crappie to Walleye, you got to put some of these in your tackle box. From ACME (Kalin): Hammer Pro Grade Tungsten Jigs, Micky Mouse Tungsten Jigs and Hyper Glides.  These have been go to jigs now for a few years.  I haven't got to try the Ice Winder Spoons or the Slingblades yet.  But they look promising.

'Tis the season to spend time with the family.  If fishing can find it's way into the time I hope these reports can help you be more successful.  And by successful I'm talking having a good time together on the frozen water.
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We have plenty of musky suckers right now for $1 each.

We are in the middle of our annual December Christmas sale.  Come on in the store to check it out.  We are adding new items every day to the specials list.  They are also on the website. While you're on the site make sure to sign up for our newsletters so you will be the first to know when we add more items.

Right now for live bait we have Jumbo Crawlers, Small crawlers, Panfish Worms, Wax worms, White & Red & Multi-colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads, Blacktails, Rosie Reds, Walleye Suckers, Northern bait, Medium and Large River Shiners and Golden Shiners.

Our hours thru the end of the year are: 
Saturday 12/23 - 6am to 5pm
Sunday 12/24 - 6am to 5pm (maybe)
Monday 12/25 - CLOSED
Tuesday12/26 - 6am to 6pm
Wednesday12/27 - 6am to 6pm
Thursday12/28 - 6am to 6pm
Friday 12/29 - 6am to 7pm
Saturday 12/30 - 6am to 5pm
Sunday 12/31 - 6am to 5pm
Monday 1/1 - 6am to 6pm

Let's continue to squelch a few rumors.  The shop is for sale.  Business is great but Linda and I are ready to ease into retirement.  WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS!  If you have an interest in owning and operating the largest non-franchised bait shop in Wisconsin, call our Realtor, Eric Johnson, at 715-892-1234 or call Jeff at 715-892-2751.

Jeff Bolander, owner of Dewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guide Post
715-892-2751 cell
www.DeweyCatchemAndHow.com

Three days around Christmas are predicted to bring rain with upper 40’s and stay above freezing. I can’t speak for the whole county, but I can’t envision good ice on many of the lakes I’ve checked lately. 

Bass_master, I was on big Arbor Vitea on Tuesday,  we had anywhere from 8 to 4 inches of solid ice. It depended on where we were.