Minocqua, Lac du Flambeau, St Germain, Boulder Junction, and Manitowish Waters Wisconsin open water and Ice Fishing Report

Well the good news is we got anywhere from 8" to 12" inches or more of ice on the lakes up here.  Of course there might be a few slim areas, like the 4" a guy went through on the Willow Flowage the other day with his truck.  It was next to shore over mud and only a couple of feet deep and it was an ordeal to get him out.  The other good news is most if not all the snowmobile trails, including lake crossings, are open.  Ok, now for the bad news.  We got a good 12-24 inches of snow over the last few days.  And that means slush.  It can be a mess if you don't take precautions.

Some of those precautions are as follows.  The ideal solution is to have a vehicle with tank tracks right now.  They'll go right over and through the  deep snow slushy areas just fine.  On a UTV, ATV or truck, they are great.  The tracks on your snowmobile need to have studs.  If you bog down into the deep snow and get into the slush without studs your chances of getting out are slim to none.  Even if you have studs, steadily work your way out without laying on the gas or you'll just dig a hole in the ice.  I would not take any wheeled vehicle out there right now in unused areas.  You can't imagine the pain of being stuck in that slush.

Here's how we deal with the slush up here.  Stay on the beaten trail is the number one choice.  If there isn't one where you want to fish take your snowmobile (or by foot) and zoom around the area never slowing down to expose the slushy water.  Then leave and wait for mother nature to freeze it over night or however long it takes.  Years ago on a lake we used to fish a lot we would go out everyday for a week or so and blaze a trail while everyday we would blaze it a little wider until we had an area that was frozen enough to fish and move around in.

Snow is a fantastic insulator. If you don't clear it back somehow the slush will be there all winter.  Hopefully at some time the wind will blow or the sun will melt the snow off enough the make an area fishable.

All species are cooperating with those fisherfolks that make the effort to get out there.  Walleyes and Northerns of all sizes are being reported in the shop and the panfishers are doing very well as well.  So get out there and clear you a spot and reap the rewards of doing so.

I'm done guiding for the rest of the season although I will be going out and chasing the fish myself when I'm not dealing with the addition on our house..  Give me a call and we'll see if I can fit you in next year and we'll go have some fun!  BTW, if you're thinking about ice fishing guide trips, now's the time to head to the web page for details and pick your dates.  We can accommodate 3-30 no problem.

ON A SCALE OF 1 to 10, HOW THEY HITTING?  
Walleye 8 (all day), SM Bass ??, LM Bass ??, Rock bass ??, Perch 8, Crappie 7, Bluegill 9, Northern 9, Cisco ??, Whitefish ??

OUR BAIT REVIEWS:
None this week

Enjoy your time in the northwoods and please slow down and be safe on the ice and off so you and others can do it again next year.  

30% off ALL Blackfish Gear 

CLAM Sub Zero Boots are $129 (reg $179)

Norfin Klondike II are $159 (reg $199)

Garmin Livescope bundles are up to $1000 off

20% off Ice Rod and Reel Combos

20% off Gravity reels

All Beaver Dam tip-ups are discounted

More specials coming as the season moves on. 

Right now for live bait we have Wax worms, Red/White/Multi Colored Spikes, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads (Tuffys), Walleye Suckers, Redtail Chubs, Northern Bait, Medium and Large Golden Shiners, Medium and Large River Shiners.  We also have Jumbo Panfish worms.  

NORMAL HOURS
Monday thru Thursday - 6am to 6pm

Friday - 6am to 7pm
Saturday & Sunday - 6am to 5pm

Business has been fabulous but Linda and I are ready to ease into retirement.  WE ARE NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS!  If you have an interest in owning and operating the largest non-franchised bait shop in Wisconsin and making a living while doing it, call Jeff at 715-892-2751 or Derek Larson at 715-360-2364.  We'll give you all the help you need to succeed in the beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin.

Jeff Bolander, Dewey, Catchem and How Bait Shop and Guides
715-892-2751 cell
715-358-5130 shop
www.DeweyCatchemAndHow.com