From our family to yours, Merry “Fishmas!”
It’s been a crazy busy holiday season as we continue to gear up for a full-blown ice fishing season. As we stand, ice continues to progress very well. Most area inland lakes have fishable waters.
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With that said, select lakes are not ready for snowmachine or ATV travel. And no area lakes are ready for vehicle traffic just yet. We are getting there.
Our team has been busy towing our Smitty sleds to our usual early ice haunts.
Let’s get into it: Lake Superior has a progressive sheet of ice that has formed in the Ashland area. On the protected corners east and west of town, we are starting to see 6 inches of ice. Some common pressure cracks are moving and shaking, but we are seeing healing times on those cracks, so we know we are heading in the right direction.
Over near Washburn, the ice gets thinner and more dangerous, but again, it is heading in the right direction.
North of Washburn, it is mostly open water, except for some small pockets of shore ice. Another nice cold snap would be great before we are full-go. We are getting there.
The St. Louis River Estuary has ice and ice anglers in select areas of the system. In the protected pocket bays off the main channel, some anglers have been chasing some pannies. Setting up over 4-8 feet of water and fishing with live Waxies or Spikes is a good bet. Most catches will include a mix of perch, sunnies and crappies.
On the big expansive flat areas of Superior Bay, anglers have been finding a few walleye bites. Some days they prefer a dead stick tipped with a live chub. And some days it’s the jigging spoon they prefer. Glow reds have been a solid choice. Remember, these fish spook easily. So be on the silent side as you set out fish hunting.
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The reservoirs north of Duluth have had some hit-and-miss bites. The same goes for most of the other Minnesota and Wisconsin inland spots. Panfish are certainly starting to swing into full winter mode. So, seeking out vegetation and crib-type structures will turn some fish. The best depths are going to be in 7-14 feet of water.
If you can find a clear lake, there is nothing more fun than “sight fishing.” If you never have, try it, you’ll love it. Pike and bass can still be caught with set lines rigged with golden shiners or sucker minnows.
For walleyes, we are starting to key in on low-light timing bites. Mornings have been best when fishing a buckshot rattling spoon tipped with a minnow head.
Now that we are into ice fishing season, remember to abide by your respective state’s fishing regulations. Also, please practice catch-and-release fishing, especially for healthy and mature fish.
We hope you all are having a great holiday season. We will see you on the ice. All the best hooksets, Merry “Fishmas!”
The Trust Project
