Minocqua, Lac du Flambeau, St Germain, Boulder Junction, and Manitowish Waters Wisconsin open water and Ice Fishing Report
Thursday 11/20/25
Smaller lakes are skimmed over with unsafe ice. The foreseeable future shows highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s.. Will ice be here by Thanksgiving. Tough to tell. Maybe in the secluded bays. Time will tell. But I doubt if the bigger lakes will be.
The musky folks are out trying to get a few more casts in before deer rifle season opens this Saturday and doing quite well. Reports of large heavy fish are consistently hitting the shop and the social airwaves. Suckers, suckers and more suckers are the bait of choice while pitching big plastics and wood.
Walleye, and big walleye, are being caught quite frequently now as well. But you gotta go deep. Fish the deepest part of the lake or at least 30-50 in the large clear lakes. Minnows and crawlers are both doing well being scooted along the bottom slowly. Harnesses are working well over the expansive mud flats.
Crappie are still suspended over deep water or are hugging wood on tall stumps in the flowages. Find those dead heads and you'll find fish. Sneak up to them else you spook them away. All sorts of crappie baits are working there.
Whitefish and Cisco are starting their spawn. Nobody bragging about catching buckets full yet. Whether making fish patties or filleting them up, these are some of the best tasting fish you'll find. Small Swedish Pimples and Kastmasters tipped with wax worms are the ticket to good catches. And for those of you that chase these fish regularly you know when the bite gets hot, look out! Dipping is also very popular. Google it. It's fun.
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 7 (all day), SM Bass ??, LM Bass ??, Rock bass ??, Perch ??, Crappie 7, Bluegill 7, Northern ??, Musky 7, Cisco 7, Whitefish 7
OUR BAIT REVIEWS:
None this week
ON A SCALE OF 1 to 10, HOW THEY HITTING?
Walleye 7 (all day), SM Bass ??, LM Bass ??, Rock bass ??, Perch ??, Crappie 7, Bluegill 7, Northern ??, Musky 7, Cisco 7, Whitefish 7
OUR BAIT REVIEWS:
None this week
The Willow is almost 8 feet below full while the Rainbow is only about 7' low. Water temps are in the lower 40's. For current flowage water levels go to https://www.wvic.com/WaterReports/Water_Level_Report.cfm. Most lake water surface temps are in the middle 40's on medium sized and larger deeper lakes but are heading down quickly. BRING YOUR BOOTS as landing piers are disappearing quickly.
Enjoy your time in the northwoods and please slow down and be safe on the water and off so you and others can do it again next year.
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IN-STORE & WEBSITE SPECIALS
CLAM IceArmor Parkas and Bibs 20% off
30% off ALL Blackfish Gear
CLAM Sub Zero Boots are $129 (reg $179)
Norfin Klondike II are $159 (reg $199)
More specials coming as we get closer to Black Friday and the start of our ice show. The Ice Show starts on November 28th and runs until December 7th. Numerous markdowns, give-a-ways and free drawings you'll wanna be a part of. Everybody spins the wheel and wins something! I hear Santa will be here at the shop!
Right now for live bait we have Wax worms, Crappie Minnows, Regular Fatheads, XL Fatheads (Tuffys), Muds, Walleye Suckers, Blacktail Chubs, Redtail Chubs, Northern Bait, Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large Musky Suckers.
We also have Jumbo Panfish worms. We have Jumbo Crawlers in 1 & 2 dozen tubs and they are also being sold in bulk in quantities of 100 and 480 count flats. Our flats this year are only $69. Please call and reserve them ahead of time. Leeches are gone.
NORMAL HOURS
Monday thru Thursday - 6am to 6pm
We also have Jumbo Panfish worms. We have Jumbo Crawlers in 1 & 2 dozen tubs and they are also being sold in bulk in quantities of 100 and 480 count flats. Our flats this year are only $69. Please call and reserve them ahead of time. Leeches are gone.
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
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