This week we have seen many popular ice roads close. Even the Lake of the Woods resorts have been shutting down operations due to ice safety. Locally, a few accidents have been reported, mostly machines falling through, but at least we have not heard of anyone getting hurt. Safe ice can still be found on smaller inland waters, but the big deep waters are starting to get a little dangerous at this time.
Future forecasts call for a little bit of a cool-down, so we will see what the next couple weeks brings us. Until then, use extreme caution if you plan to get out and try for some late ice fish. The shorelines will be the most hazardous spots, especially around docks, bridges, etc., as well as areas around current and points.
Here is this week's report:
Lake Superior has seen a little bit more boat traffic this week in the areas of the North Shore up by Two Harbors. Anglers are catching some trout and salmon by long-lining stick baits. There are times of lots of dead water, but true to the nature of Lake Superior, things can change fast. Best baits have been a mix of brighter colors. Fish pods have been scattered, so half the battle is finding them. Once located, as always try and stay on them.
In the Chequamegon Bay areas we have scaled back operations to Ashland and Washburn. The cracks and heaves have started to pull making ice machine travel risky. If you can avoid these areas, as well as shorelines, ice is still averaging 12-20" depending on where you are at.
The bite has been hit and miss lately, but the best tactics we have been finding has been on dead set-lines. The fish in and around Ashland have seen a lure or two, not to mention the noise levels throughout the day. Many fish have got very finicky lately. This is common this time of year. I don't think we will have many more ice trips on the Gitch as the ice is going fast.
The Coast Guard is breaking ice in the Twin Ports Harbor of the St. Louis River estuary, meaning you will start to see a lot more open water in the lower sections. This mixed in with the weather variables, will make river ice very dangerous in many areas. The only areas that will have somewhat stable ice will be the back bays. A few people have found themselves in a pickle by getting too close to shorelines, so be careful. I do not recommend any machine travel on the river from here on out.
As far as fishing success goes, these backwater panfish have also been pressured pretty good. So it can be tricky to get fish to bite. Finding them on our Vexilar has not been too much of a problem, its finding what they want to eat that has been the challenge. Lately soft plastics tipped on tungsten jigs have outfished live bait. White, pink and orange have been the better colors, but not every day is the same.
This last weekend it was fun to chase last-minute game fish on Wisconsin waters. The pike and bass were especially active on mid-depth vegetative areas.
Our success came on small shiners suspended half way down under a tip-up. Inland waters are putting out some decent panfish fishing, but finding active eating schools can be the challenge. As usual, it is best to find an area that has not been pressured. It is easy this time of year, because you can usually see areas that have not been cratered by ice augers. Soft plastics, like the Clam Maki series, have been better than live bait lately. If you get a lot of "sniffers" marked on your graph, try using a scent like Dr. Juice or Billy Rub. Or if you have a wax worm, tear off a chunk and tip it. This was the difference yesterday.
A couple side notes: The onset of the new ice fishing side scan technology has been a "game changer" for searching out fish. I just want to drop a comment we heard this winter when we were doing a media shoot with our good friend Mike Hehner from AnglingBuzz, "with great power, comes great responsibility". You get the drift!
Also, it is that time of year where most hard-sided house anglers have pulled out and intentionally, or unintentionally left blocking and other debris on the ice, so be careful where you drill. And our final note, this time of year we like to bring garbage bags with us and start the process of spring clean-up. I hope others help with this as well.
Jarrid Houston of South Range is a fishing guide (houstonsguideservice.com) on Minnesota and Wisconsin inland waters, the St. Louis River and, in winter, on Lake Superior.
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March 13, 2021 at 06:00AM
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Jarrid Houston column: Try plastics instead of live bait for last ice panfish - Duluth News Tribune
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