Fishing & Hunting

What a winter we’re having! A stretch of really cold weather has helped firm things up across the Eagle River and Vilas County area, and the cold has continued and and is intensifying into this week. Overall ice conditions continue to improve. Snow cover remains a factor, but in many areas it has packed down nicely, especially those places where there’s been regular foot or machine traffic. That said, there are still pockets of slush and uneven ice out there, so beware. Ice thickness across most area lakes is generally running in the 12–16” range, so we’re in good shape in most places.

Walleye fishing continues to be very good, although we might see a slow down with this cold. We’re still seeing action along weed edges and transition areas in the 10–14’ range at the time of this writing. If you’re not finding them there, look for some flats and try 20’ or deeper. Tip-ups with medium shiners are working well in these areas. Evenings are by far the most productive time of the day, with steady after-dark action still being reported.

Northern pike action has also been good. Fish are still in the remaining green weeds, with tip-ups set along weed edges in 8–15’ producing the most consistent results. Large shiners and bigger sucker minnows continue to be the top choices for these guys.

Panfish action has remained strong. Perch are in deeper water, generally in the 15’ + range over flats and digging in the mud now. Use heavier tackle to get your bait down to the bottom and stir up some dirt. Bluegills are more shallow, often under 10’, around cabbage and remaining weed cover, and are eating small jigs tipped with waxies or spikes. Crappies are being caught on tip-down at the weed edges at around 10-15’. If that’s not working, try some small plastics on your jigging pole.

These cold temperatures sure can make it brutal out there, so be sure to dress for the weather. And with this cold keep in mind that the fish will likely slow down, so slow down your presentation in turn, and tend for your deeper spots. Hopefully we can get through this snap without too much of a drop in action.

And if you get a chance between fishing trips, take some time to enjoy the woods. The snowmobile trails, ski and snowshoe trails are all in great shape thanks to the hard work of a lot of clubs and groomers. If you can catch a sunny day, it’s truly stunning out there right now. We're in the midst of a good old Northwoods winter.

Good luck and good fishin’!