Chamber Notes

Ice fishing in many cases leads people to let themselves get bored, cold, or discouraged. That doesn’t have to be the case. It’s a matter of being willing to change and try something new. If you haven’t had any action in 15 minutes, move. Drill a few more holes, not only will it keep you warm you may find a fish bonanza. If you have some young labor with you they are pretty eager to help drill the holes, they love to fish and have unlimited energy as long as they’re enthusiastic about the trip. Remember children have short attention spans (as do some adults) and if the fish aren’t biting or the weather is too cold or windy it’s no fun at all being on the ice. Keep it short and sweet and your youngster will be much more likely to get excited about the next trip.

It wasn’t that long ago I remember going fishing with my son and we had a hand auger a few jigs, wax worms and the most important invention the plastic five gallon bucket. We always walked to a specific location using the triangular positions of the dead tree on the far shore lined up with the white house and fifty paces from the last point we crossed.

Two of the most revolutionary devices for ice fishing are the portable GPS and fish locator. Without these ice angling would still be locked in the last 1000 years. Today, when a hot spot is located, the location can easily be electronically saved as a waypoint on a portable GPS, ensuring swift and efficient guaranteed returns with just the press of the button. Wish I had one of those when I was younger. The frustrating times trying to find that white house and the dead tree when in actuality the house was painted a different color and the dead tree fell in the high wind last summer. A GPS and locator would have made it a lot easier to locate those fish next to that nice drop-off.

I have good luck locating fish holding structure through the ice using my portable locator. By making use of the zoom feature, I can identify fish that are holding very tight to the structure being checked. By simply wetting the ice and placing the transducer on the wet spot, you can examine the bottom make-up before drilling your holes. This saves you both time and work.

The key to ice fishing as it is in any fishing situation is location. For walleye and other game fish, try long tapering points, inside turns, rock humps, neck downs, and any structure near spring spawning areas. Use the sonar to spot fish. Try submerged brush piles and blow downs for crappie and bluegill. Keep an eye on your flasher or graph because you can actually see fish appear on the unit. Sensitive sonars track your lure so you can put it right in the fish’s face. I have actually seen a day when a mark appeared on the sonar screen while reeling in a lure, a pause and the mark moved closer to the bait, a twitch of the rod tip brought a powerful strike. A heart racing fight put a nice walleye on the ice. The same situation can be used for pan fish.
The warmest innovation that has helped the ice angler stay on the ice longer, which enables them to catch more fish, is the portable ice shanty. A good, lightweight, and portable ice shanty can provide a lot of added comfort. A propane lantern is enough to warm the interior. These structures come with names such as Frabill, Clam, and the Fish Trap. The important thing is that they allow you to take others out on the ice and yet be mobile. One thing that many modern ice fishermen want to do is to move from location to location. Sure, the carpeted ice shack with the bunk beds is nice, but not as portable as the modern ice angler needs.

Best Fishing Times
Feb 9 12:13-2:50pm
Feb 12 2:50-5:26pm
Feb 15 5:47-8:13pm
Feb 18 8:39-11:09pm
Feb 21 11:05pm-1:44am
Feb 10 1:04-3:41pm
Feb 13 3:46-6:21pm
Feb 16 6:43-9:16pm
Feb 19 9:29-11:59pm
Feb 22 11:25am-2:03pm
Feb 11 1:56-4:33pm
Feb 14 4:47-7:14pm
Feb 17 7:43-10:14pm
Feb 20 10:17pm-12:57am
Feb 23 12:15-2:41pm

Happy fishing! Selective harvest is the way to go. Colin Crawford’s Guide Service, crawfordfishing@gmail.com (715) 891-2715. You can also “Like” us on Facebook.

With the days getting shorter quickly, the change coming into the Northwoods days and nights will be the temperature getting colder. The lakes should be done with turn over by now so let me help you put this all in perspective for fish species.

Muskies: They will be putting the feed bag on as the season progresses and water temps keep getting lower.  You should go through your tackle and bring out some of your biggest twitch and crank baits for this time of year, if you are going to use suckers make sure you have a good supply of quick strike rigs in your arsenal.  Start your drift with the suckers on the outside of the green deep weed edge.  Your hard baits should be retrieved at a slower pace than you would in warmer water because the metabolism of fish this time of year has slowed down.  Don’t forget that in Wisconsin when you are casting and running your trolling motor you can’t have suckers dragging behind you because that is considered trolling, which isn’t permitted.

Northern Pike: These fish have left the shallow weeds and went to the deeper ones that are still green.  A 1/8^th to 1/4^th ounce jig or a small quick strike rig with a small sucker on would be a good choice at this time of year.

Walleye: They are coming out of the weeds at this point and I am finding them on the edges of rock humps or the deep transition areas.  This is where I use 1/8^th ounce minimum weight for my jig and depending on the water  depth and wind that day, I might go up to a ½ ounce jig tipped with a red tail chub at this time of the year.

Bass: Both Smallmouth and Largemouth will be heading for deeper water getting ready for the cold water to set in.  You can catch them on the same set up that you will be using for walleyes.

Panfish: Perch should be hanging out in the deep weeds looking for minnows.    Slip bobber set-up should be what you are using.  Bluegills and Sunfish will also be in the deeper weeds, use a slip bobber rig tipped with wax worms.

Happy fishing!  Selective harvest is the way to go.  Colin Crawford’s Guide Service, crawfordfishing@gmail.com (715) 891-2715. You can also “Like” us on Facebook.

With our air temps staying pretty steady during the day, the water temps have started to level off.  I don’t think that any cold front will negatively affect water temps too drastically.

Muskies: You should be fishing the deep side of the weed beds during the day with bucktails and jerk baits.  Also, don’t forget that the young of the year such as ducks, geese, and loons are now on the water, which means that the topwater baits should start producing fish too.

Northern Pike: They will be in the weeds or on the edges of them, because they will be chasing the young of the year and bait fish.  A 1/16^th or 1/8^th ounce jig tipped with a fat head minnow, crankbait, or spinnerbait will usually catch pike.

Walleye: With the start of the mayfly hatch you need to shift gears and bait.  Most of the walleyes will be on the mud flats or soft bottoms where the mayfly nymphs will start to swim up.  I switch to using slip-bobbers and a lindy style rig tipped with leeches or night crawlers with a shot of air in it to help keep it off the bottom.

Bass: Both Smallmouth and Largemouth are done spawning and are eating very well at this time.  Largemouth will be hanging in the weeds and around the docks on area lakes.  You should be throwing spinnerbaits, plastic worms or small crankbaits for these fish.  Smallies will be around downed timber and on rock bars.  These fish will be looking for baits that are mimicking minnows or crayfish so stick with using those same colors.

Panfish: Perch will be hanging out in the weeds and the soft bottoms foraging on some of the mayfly larvae.  A Slip bobber set-up should be what you are using with small leeches or pieces of crawler.  Bluegills and Sunfish will also be in the weeds, around cribs or also fallen timber.  Use a slip bobber rig tipped with wax worms or garden worms.  Crappies will in the weeds.  To get them, a slip bobber and crappie minnows will do fine at this time.

Happy fishing!  Selective harvest is the way to go.  Colin Crawford’s Guide Service, crawfordfishing@gmail.com (715) 891-2715.

And Mother Nature is starting to apply the brakes…
With the nights getting down into the low 30’s it should slow things down a little in the underwater world. On the other side of the coin we have had bug hatches on some of our area lakes, so water temps have gone up considerably.

Muskies: Should still be in the spawn cycle depending on the lake they could be starting, in process or just finishing up, they should be coming up in the shallows as the sun warms up the water during the day. I would still try using smaller baits to get their attention. Season opens May 28th on inland waters.

Northern Pike: They will be in the weeds or on the edges of them chasing young of the year and bait fish. A 1/16th or 1/8th ounce jig tipped with a fat head minnow, or small crankbaits will catch pike.

Walleye: These fish are all done spawning and recouped by now. I have found these fish anywhere from 5 foot of water in the weeds to 40 feet in the mud. The weather will dictate jig weight, you still need to be lite as possible but keep contact with the bottom. My bait of choice is still minnows until water temps warm up some more.

Bass: Both Smallmouth and Largemouth will be getting ready for spawning. These fish will be easy to spot while preparing their spawning beds. Slip bobbers, split shot, and an Aberdeen hook baited with a minnow or crawler will work fine to get these fish. Just a quick reminder: This species is only catch and release until June 18th.

Panfish: Perch should be hanging out in the weeds and foraging on some young of the year bait fish. Slip bobber set-up should be what you are using. The bait of choice will be theirs so bring along a selection of small leeches, red worms and crappie minnows. Bluegills and Sunfish will also be in the weeds, around cribs or also fallen timber. Use a slip bobber rig tipped with wax worms or garden worms. Crappies will be coming into the weeds to start their spawning as water temps get into the 50’s a slip bobber and crappie minnows will do fine at this time.

Happy fishing! Selective harvest is the way to go. Colin Crawford’s Guide Service, crawfordfishing@gmail.com (715) 891-2715.

I hope everybody’s opener went well. With the warming days and nights well above the freezing mark water temps will be on the rise and so will the fish’s metabolism, also the weeds in the lake will start to green up and grow helping to put more oxygen in the water. Let me help you put this all in perspective for fish species.

Muskies: Should be in the spawn cycle depending on the lake they could be starting, in process or just finishing up, they’re going to need some recoup time, especially the females. They get pretty roughed up in this process. I like to fish smaller buck tails like the Mepps Muskie Killer or a 500 series Bucher Tail, or small twitch bait like a Husky Jerk or Shallow Raider.

Northern Pike: These fish have already spawned and are cruising the new weed beds in search of prey. A 1/16th or 1/8th ounce jig tipped with a fat head minnow will catch pike. Bass style spinner baits will do the job also. I like to use white or chartreuse with willow leaf blades and spoons like daredevils or Johnson silver minnows that are weedless are also a good choice.

Walleye: They are coming out of post spawn and should be in the new weeds that are coming in nicely. A good weedless 1/16th or 1/8th ounce jig helps a lot. I will use a Jacks Jig or a Northland Weed Weasel and I prefer the plastic weed guards better than the steel.

Bass: Both Smallmouth and Largemouth will be getting ready for spawning. These fish will be easy to spot while preparing their spawning beds. Slip bobbers, split shot, and an Aberdeen hook baited with a minnow or crawler will work fine to get these fish. Just a quick reminder: This species is only catch and release until June 18th.

Panfish: Perch should be hanging out in the weeds and foraging on some young of the year bait fish. Slip bobber set-up should be what you are using. The bait of choice will be theirs so bring along a selection of small leeches, red worms and crappie minnows. Bluegills and Sunfish will also be in the weeds, around cribs or also fallen timber. Use a slip bobber rig tipped with wax worms or garden worms. Crappies will be coming into the weeds to start their spawning as water temps get into the 50’s a slip bobber and crappie minnows will do fine at this time.

Happy fishing! Selective harvest is the way to go. Colin Crawford’s Guide Service, crawfordfishing@gmail.com (715) 891-2715.

The wind was amazing yesterday and the surf was up in North Twin. But no ice!

It’s a gorgeous Easter Sunday. North Twin is still closed but the ice is very dark. Over on Long Lake, the south end is open and my nephew was out in the canoe! It’s coming. Slowly, to be sure, but there is hope here for Spring!

Winter has returned to the Northwoods with snow, sleet and temperatures in the 30s. I doubt there’s much ice production happening on the lakes, but it sure has slowed the ice-out process!

North Twin is still ice covered, but the ice is very dark and definitely receding from the shorelines. We’re having pretty high winds, so there’s movement, and at least one good sized crack has appeared. The bad news is that there’s snow predicted for this weekend! Will winter EVER end?