The bite was steady for most, but small Perch and Walleye dominated the catch yesterday.  Overnight, I hadn’t heard much for reports at this time, but a couple of fishermen I talked to this morning said it was slow.

Ice conditions are slowly improving with the colder weather.  Ice depths range from  16″ to 18″ in the first 3/4 mile on our roads and reefs in that range.  15″ -17″ farther out on our deeper reefs. And 12″-13″ out in the gravel.  In close areas we will be letting single-axle wheelhouses pulled by trucks under a 6000lb curb weight.  Permanents, rentals and portables can drive a vehicle under 6000lb curb weight also.  The gravel bars will be strictly ATV and SxS only until we get more ice out there.  See our updated attached map:

  Click on map to enlarge.

With the colder weather thru the next week ice thicknesses will grow and weight limits will change.  Hoping we see some snow in the forecast.  It would be nice to see for banking, roads, and covering the ice.

Eddy

Yesterday, fishermen had a lot of action almost everywhere. It was mostly small Perch and Walleye, but the bite was steady all day. To 35″ plus Northern Pike were reported, a 20″ Smallmouth and some slot Walleye pictures were sent in.  The ice is extremely smooth and slippery in spots. If you don’t have ice cleats, I would highly recommend you get some.

The ice started cooling down, and some older cracks reopened.  One-off of Pope’s Point headed NE.  And one coming down from the direction of Big Point to the SW towards Izaty’s.  Most of the areas we go to are looking good.  With no snow on the ice to insulate it from temperature changes, it will happen.

Vehicles with curb weights under 6000 lbs will be let out to permanents, rentals, portables, and pickups with single-axle wheelhouses. Tandems pulled with half tons can go to some areas closer to where there is 18″ of ice.  Once we see 20″ of ice everywhere, the tandems and 3/4 tons will go.

I hope everyone has a Safe and Happy New Year out on the Ice!

Eddy

Yesterday, temperatures didn’t drop below freezing until late afternoon. Standing water spots had crust ice on them but still had plenty of water. Over the next 24 hours, a lot of that will change. We will allow 1/2-ton trucks and single-axle wheelhouses in some areas; tandems will need to be dollied. According to my reports, yesterday’s bite consisted of steady small Perch and occasional small Walleye. A 27-inch walleye was C/R in 18 inches of water.

With the weather turning colder, it will eventually get to the ice, and there will be cracks without snow cover to insulate the changes. So, fishermen will need to be very careful when moving around, especially anyone driving around with a wheelhouse. There are many areas where there is not enough ice to run on, and if there are cracks, it just compounds the problem. Resorts should inform their customers to stay in the areas where they maintain roads. If fishermen want to fish in an area different from where they normally go, they should refer them to the business that does.  Hopefully, we will get some snow over the next week or two to cure many of those problems.

Have a Safe and Happy New Year!

Eddy