Hayward Lakes Sherry
03-17-2011, 01:52 PM
March 14, 2011
Steve Suman
Relatively cold nights and mild days forecast for this week should make for great maple syrup tapping, very comfortable conditions for anglers ice fishing for panfish, and a bit of snow thrown into the mix could extend snowmobiling and cross-country skiing seasons.
At Happy Hooker, Pat says late season ice fishing for panfish can be some of the most rewarding times of the year.
“As the days grow longer and warmer, time on the ice is more pleasant, and when you add in hot ice angling, this is ice fishing prime time for many anglers.”
Al at Pastika’s says he expects big changes in fishing conditions if we experience the predicted thaw this week.
“Anglers fishing the early catch and release trout season are having to contend with quite a bit of shelf ice, but it could soon be gone with the thaw.”
Mark at Hayward Bait says bait preferences can change during the day and advises anglers to go prepared by taking a variety of baits. He offers this tip: horizontal jigs will usually out-catch vertical-hanging jigs.
Ice conditions continue to be very good, says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt, and most lakes have 18-22 inches of ice with an inch or two of snow cover.
“Angling pressure dropped significantly with the ending of game fish season this past Sunday, but a fair number of panfish anglers are still venturing out and having generally good success.”
Wisconsin 2010-11 hunting and fishing licenses expire March 31. New licenses, available now, are valid April 1 through March 31, 2012. Starting this year, an angler can purchase a one-day license ($8 resident; $10 non-resident) and later upgrade to a reduced rate annual license ($12.75 resident; $40.75 nonresident) at any time during the year.
The DNR is holding public trout information meetings around the state to gather angler feedback and suggestions. A meeting for Upper Chippewa Basin waters is March 21 at Weiss Community Library in Hayward starting at 7 p.m. Visit the DNR website for more information.
ICE FISHING REPORT
Crappie:
Crappie action reports vary from fair to good. Some fish are suspending over deeper water, some are as shallow as eight feet, and still others are somewhere in-between. Use your flasher to check the entire water column. Crappie minnows, rosy reds, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits all work at various times. Jigs and jig poles and tip-downs offer the best presentations, and downsizing equipment – especially using very light line – will increase productivity.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action remains slow but showing signs of improvement. Concentrate on areas with weeds, weed lines, and cribs. Some are suspending in deeper water and others are at mid-depths or shallower. If you do not find them in one place, try another. Waxies, wigglers, mousies, minnows, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits are all fish catchers. As with locations, if one bait or presentation is not working, try another. Again, downsizing can make a huge difference in your success rate.
Perch:
Perch continue to be the most active species. They are still primarily in deep water, but some are starting to move to shallower areas and depths range from 4-30 feet. Fish on the bottom of mud flats or near weeds using jigs or plain hooks tipped with fatheads, rosy reds, waxies, spikes, or plastics.
Upcoming Events
March 20: Winter crow season closes.
March 21-25: OTC sale of remaining spring turkey permits.
March 26: Trout season opens on designated sections of some Lake Superior tributaries. (See regs.)
March 31: Hunting/fishing licenses expire.
April 9-10: Youth turkey hunt.
April 11: Spring Fish and Wildlife Rules hearings, Conservation Congress meetings.
April 15-July 31: Illegal to run dogs on DNR and WPA lands. (See regs.)
April 30: Otter trapping season closes in north zone; Frog season opens.
May 7: Game fish opener.
Spring turkey hunting periods
A: April 13-17; B: April 20-24; C: April 27-May 1; D: May 4-8; E: May 11-15; F: May 18-22.
Steve Suman
Relatively cold nights and mild days forecast for this week should make for great maple syrup tapping, very comfortable conditions for anglers ice fishing for panfish, and a bit of snow thrown into the mix could extend snowmobiling and cross-country skiing seasons.
At Happy Hooker, Pat says late season ice fishing for panfish can be some of the most rewarding times of the year.
“As the days grow longer and warmer, time on the ice is more pleasant, and when you add in hot ice angling, this is ice fishing prime time for many anglers.”
Al at Pastika’s says he expects big changes in fishing conditions if we experience the predicted thaw this week.
“Anglers fishing the early catch and release trout season are having to contend with quite a bit of shelf ice, but it could soon be gone with the thaw.”
Mark at Hayward Bait says bait preferences can change during the day and advises anglers to go prepared by taking a variety of baits. He offers this tip: horizontal jigs will usually out-catch vertical-hanging jigs.
Ice conditions continue to be very good, says DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt, and most lakes have 18-22 inches of ice with an inch or two of snow cover.
“Angling pressure dropped significantly with the ending of game fish season this past Sunday, but a fair number of panfish anglers are still venturing out and having generally good success.”
Wisconsin 2010-11 hunting and fishing licenses expire March 31. New licenses, available now, are valid April 1 through March 31, 2012. Starting this year, an angler can purchase a one-day license ($8 resident; $10 non-resident) and later upgrade to a reduced rate annual license ($12.75 resident; $40.75 nonresident) at any time during the year.
The DNR is holding public trout information meetings around the state to gather angler feedback and suggestions. A meeting for Upper Chippewa Basin waters is March 21 at Weiss Community Library in Hayward starting at 7 p.m. Visit the DNR website for more information.
ICE FISHING REPORT
Crappie:
Crappie action reports vary from fair to good. Some fish are suspending over deeper water, some are as shallow as eight feet, and still others are somewhere in-between. Use your flasher to check the entire water column. Crappie minnows, rosy reds, waxies, plastics, and Gulp! baits all work at various times. Jigs and jig poles and tip-downs offer the best presentations, and downsizing equipment – especially using very light line – will increase productivity.
Bluegill:
Bluegill action remains slow but showing signs of improvement. Concentrate on areas with weeds, weed lines, and cribs. Some are suspending in deeper water and others are at mid-depths or shallower. If you do not find them in one place, try another. Waxies, wigglers, mousies, minnows, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits are all fish catchers. As with locations, if one bait or presentation is not working, try another. Again, downsizing can make a huge difference in your success rate.
Perch:
Perch continue to be the most active species. They are still primarily in deep water, but some are starting to move to shallower areas and depths range from 4-30 feet. Fish on the bottom of mud flats or near weeds using jigs or plain hooks tipped with fatheads, rosy reds, waxies, spikes, or plastics.
Upcoming Events
March 20: Winter crow season closes.
March 21-25: OTC sale of remaining spring turkey permits.
March 26: Trout season opens on designated sections of some Lake Superior tributaries. (See regs.)
March 31: Hunting/fishing licenses expire.
April 9-10: Youth turkey hunt.
April 11: Spring Fish and Wildlife Rules hearings, Conservation Congress meetings.
April 15-July 31: Illegal to run dogs on DNR and WPA lands. (See regs.)
April 30: Otter trapping season closes in north zone; Frog season opens.
May 7: Game fish opener.
Spring turkey hunting periods
A: April 13-17; B: April 20-24; C: April 27-May 1; D: May 4-8; E: May 11-15; F: May 18-22.