Save 50% Off An Annual Plan
Enter Code: 50OFF
Save 50% Off An Annual Plan
Enter Code: 50OFF

Northern Wisconsin (Jan 28th, 2024)

Ice conditions have FINALLY improved over Northwest Wisconsin.  We are looking at ice between 7″ and 11″ inches in most places with very little snow on the ice.  Machine travel is widespread across the area.  No full sized vehicles are recommended at this point but at least we can get around on snowmobiles and wheelers.  The fishing has been FANTASTIC as the fish have had very little pressure this season due to the poor ice conditions.  That said, the light snow and ice cover have kept fish in their early ice locations far longer than usual so be prepared to find them in places you normally wouldn’t in late January.    

     Panfish have been found in the same green weeds they were in at first ice and we’ve been catching both crappies and gills right in the weeds in less than 8′ of water.  There are a few crappies in the basins as well but they seem to be scattered and not grouped tightly so forward facing sonar is a must.  Live bait has been very key to catching these fish as they are still a bit shy in the shallow water so a tungsten tipped with spikes is definitely the hot bait.  Bass and pike are holding near large schools of smaller panfish and since the panfish have been shallow, so have the bass and pike.  Weeds and weed edges have been key and larger suckers or shiners on set lines have been taking a bunch of nice fish.  Jigging/glide baits have also been a great bait for the largemouth as they have been staying relatively active with the warm weather.  We are finally able to get to our key walleye spots and the typically early morning/late evening bites have been very good with fish coming on jigging spoons, glide baits and set lines with smaller shiners and sucker minnows.  Again, lots of walleyes are still shallow and being caught in less than 15′.  Get out there while you can and enjoy the ice while it lasts!  

Caleb Wistad – Hookedupwi
calebwistad@gmail.com
715-338-0545
hookedupwi on YouTube 
@hookedupwi on Instagram
Hookedupwi LLC on Facebook


LIMITED TIME OFFER

50% OFF

Save 50% off an ANNUAL membership with code 50OFF.

Not sure about signing up?
Don’t miss our fishing reports database open to non-members for a VERY limited time.