Merry Christmas to All!! We hope everyone gets to spend some quality time with the people that are the most special to us!
As for the ice. We have had some serious changes in weather this last week. We went from 30 below and windy to 45 above and calm/sunny to freezing rain to snow to cold to wind gusts over 50 mph. Ice conditions are pretty good but with all the recent changes it would be smart to be extra cautious. Drill your way out and really be careful around cracks and ridges. We are supposed to get pretty cold again so hopefully we will continue to gain ice! As of right now we have 2-14 inches of ice. Some areas really vary so it’s really important to go slow and drill often. Also, drive on and off in the light. Throw ropes and always fish with a partner are absolute must dos this time of year.
As for the bite…We have caught some dandy perch this past week. Look for flooded brush piles and deeper bowls for your best action. Remember, perch can and are often tricky eaters. Mix up presentations. Some days your best to have little to no movement, other days they prefer it pounded aggressively. We also will change up between a full minnow and a minnow head. We are mostly using buckshots, pk spoons, and lindy flyers. Something bright is usually your best bet as far as color goes.
Walleyes are being caught in shallower water between 5-18 ft during the low light hours. As the sun comes up look for them to slide a bit deeper (20-30 ft). We have seen a lot of different classes of fish. Some are as small as 6 inches and all the way up to 30 inches. We are looking for the 14-18 inches and have had a nice number of them as well. As we get better ice and more options to explore, we should find plenty of active walleyes. Buckshots tipped with a minnow head or a full minnow are always a good choice. We also like to use dead sticks with a lighter jig and run it on or close to the bottom. Another option is a hook with a split shot and bobber set up.
Good luck to all and remember to HEAD TO ED’S for all your gas,propane, bait, tackle, gaming, on and off sale needs! We also have CATCH AND COOK available now! You catch and clean your fish and bring it in and we will fry it up for you with Ed’s own special batter!!
Good luck to everyone and Merry Christmas!!!