BOULDERJUNCTION WI

Winter is a great time for ice fishing in the Northwoods. The fish have fattened up for winter. Here are some general guidelines on how to track down certain types of fish in the Northwoods in the winter.  

​​​

Walleye

Gravel bars and rocky drop-offs, weeds edges and mid-depth mud flats and break lines where gravel/sand turns to soft bottom are excellent holding locations for walleye.​

​

Live bait is most often used on tip-ups. Use medium suckers or extra-large fatheads, but many anglers like golden shiners as their favorite bait. Smaller sized bait can produce more action. Minnows should be hooked lightly through the middle of the back so they hang in a horizontal position and stay lively.

​

On our clear lakes, bait placement can be 6 inches to 20 inches off the bottom, as the fish can better see the bait above them and come up to get it. Use a 2-foot to 3-foot leader that is attached to the nylon tip-up line.

​

Panfish

Panfish are attracted to weeds, green standing vegetation, woody debris, tree crowns and fish cribs. Some anglers use fish locators to hone in on fish or to put their bait in the fish holding areas.

​

Make bait tasty... mousies, wax worms, and spikes or a small plastics in a selection of colors available to work with changing water clarities and check your knot.

​

Panfish are dainty sight feeders. Keep your line light and the terminal tackle small. And be quiet, Panfish spook so avoid vibration and noise. Drill extra holes when you first arrive so when the bite gets hot you can move around without making extra noise.

​

Pike

Northern pike will suspend in the water column.  They can be found along deep rocky bars, but are more associated with vegetation as it's where their food is generally located. It also provides concealment while the pike is stalking.  ​

​

If you are fishing in vegetation the general rule is to think in halves. Twelve feet of water –put your bait at six feet.  During early ice northern pike will frequent water less than 5 feet deep. When setting up your tip-ups put one in shallow.

​

Northern pike are active and bite all day. Show up at noon and you are good to go.

​

Early ice can bring good fishing for walleye and panfish, but anglers need to be very careful about ice conditions.