snowman Loc: Danbury, Wisconsin

Are there any folks from Wisconsin/Minnesota interested in Ice Fishing? If so, how has your season been going. I Ice Fish on a lake called Yellow Lake in NW Wisconsin although I grew up in Minnesota. Great fishing last year. Just so, so this year. Perhaps because of the weather we had during the freeze up. Not sure. Let me hear from you. Blessings.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Welcome to the Forum, snowman, I'm from MN. but I'm not ice fishing down here in Tx. Good luck!

DonaldRotter80 Loc: St, Cloud, Minnesota

Snowman. I am from Central Minnesota and fish often all year. This winter ice fishing season has been different to say the least. We had a few inches of ice, then snow, then rain which opened some lakes. Then when they froze again we had heavy snow which was more than the ice could handle so most had water covering the ice and forming slush. I usually put my small permanent fish house out but there was only 9 inches of ice on the lake I usually go to and too much snow on top for an ATV and not enough ice for a truck. Our permanent houses have to be off the ice by March 2nd this season and further north a little later. I did fish with my portable but it was difficult walking out with the slop on the ice. By the time we had adequate ice, but still too much snow, the fishing slowed down as usual at this time. We have had so much wind and so many snow showers and temperature fluctuations that opportunities were few. I did well when I went but it was not often. Many on this site are not familiar with ice fishing and how much we enjoy it with the right conditions. In Minnesota we can drive on the ice and the DNR recommends 8 - 12 inches for a car and 12 - 15 for a truck. We should not walk on until we have 4 inches of good ice. Wisconsin has different laws unless they have changed. My parents lived in Madison so I visited and fished there. There are (or were) No vehicles of any kind allowed on the ice unless equipped with flotation devices adequate to prevent them from sinking and polluting the lake. The number of ultra plush fish houses in Minnesota is astounding. They sell for $20,000 to $50,000 or more and are equipped with anything and everything!!! Popular Lakes like Red Lake have so much slush on top this year they are not allowing any of these big fancy wheel houses on the lake this year. The owners are unhappy as they usually stay in them on the ice many weekends or many days at a time. This year they can park them on shore and stay in them but cannot fish in them on the lake. They are unhappy this year but the snowmobile owners are happy this year, many years not so! First ice and last ice are the best times for fishing. The first is past and the second will be here in March, even sooner in Wisconsin usually. Good Fishing!!!

snowman Loc: Danbury, Wisconsin

Minnesota is a great state to live in - I was born and raised in Anoka. Moved about a bit and settled in retirement here in Danbury, Wisconsin. Trust you are enjoying the warmth there in Texas. Blessings.

snowman Loc: Danbury, Wisconsin

Sounds about like the way it is here in Wisconsin. Going out this morning. However, when the fish are not biting I don't waste my time sitting in my fish house. Am hoping that the fishing will pick up a bit toward the end of season. I heard about Red Lake. That should protect those walleyes and make them a lot bigger next ice fishing season. Blessings. Art

KevinTD

KevinTD

Ice fishing was ok the first month but not so good since on the Mississippi back waters. Had a real good year last year also but the army corps has been playing with the level all winter. Right now it's about two feet higher than it should be and it's been as much as 4 feet for a good portion of the winter.

J.Bruce

Fishing in Colorado Springs, CO on a small lake with 5-6” of ice. Catch n release stocker trout with my new “trout magnet” set up. Having fun, and catching 3-4 in an hour each time I go out. 45 degs weather on a sunny day keeps the coffee thermos close, while fishing in the open. And great views of Pikes Peak and the foot hills make the experience even more rewarding. Fish on brothers!

snowman Loc: Danbury, Wisconsin

Sounds al little like our lake. However, the water does not go up and down. Had the best day of the year this past Saturday. Caught 11 including one real nice perch. The largest Crappie was about 11 inches and the smallest was about 4 inches. Put them back in the lake. Was fun watching the fish on the locator. Blessings.

snowman Loc: Danbury, Wisconsin

No trout around our area. However did have probably the best day Saturday catching 10 crappies and one nice perch. The largest crappie was about 11 inches. Let them all go back into the lake. It was fun watching the locator and all the people with children out on the lake having a nice day. Blessings.