Lake Michigan
??Augie Ralph (Salmon Stop) reports anglers are getting panfish, northern pike and brown trout through the ice at North Point Marina. When the wind keeps the ice out from South Rock, Government and Johnson Motors piers, anglers have been getting browns using shad, smelt or shiners off the bottom.
Fox Chain O’ Lakes
?Jim Pspinic (Jim’s Bait and Tackle) received reports from a variety of lakes that fishing was very slow last weekend.
Nielsen’s Channel
??Wayne Krcmar (Hermann’s Lowlife Bar & Grill) reports several anglers have been using underwater cameras and seeing many fish but can’t get them to bite. The best catch of the week was six crappies and one striper.
Mazonia Lakes
????Several huge bass, a few over 6 pounds, have been caught on golden roaches below a tip-up, says Jon Meder (Jon’s Bait). Club lakes have been catching big pike. Anglers are setting baits to hang only 6 inches to a foot below the ice to get the big fish. Many small gills have been caught on jigs and spikes.
Illinois River
????The Hennepin boat ramp is open, says Tom Matejewski (Time on the Water Outdoors). One group Sunday caught 47 14- to 16-inch saugers on jigs and minnows or paddle-tail worms. By Ottawa, larger saugers are being caught.
Wolf Lake
???On the Illinois side, panfish and pike have been caught in 8 feet of water. On the Indiana side, bass are being caught on tip-ups with minnows and gills, and crappies are taking jigs and waxies or small minnows. The corn channel is the best spot.
Willow Slough, Ind.
????Ed McCain (Mik Lurch) reports many big bluegills are being caught on the No. 2-size glow-spot jigs tipped with a waxworm or spike. Some nice bass are coming through the ice too.
Northwoods, Wis.
????Lakes in the Boulder Junction have been doing well, says Janie Harpster (Northern Highland Sports), with crappies up to 13 inches caught at Palmer Lake. Gills and perch are best at Partridge, Ballard and Big lakes. Boulder Lake yielded walleye up to 27 inches last weekend.
Compiled by Don Dziedzina from bait shops, avid anglers
and local and state resource reports.
