Fishing report Jan. 6, 2023

Ice conditions are slowly improving, with thickness reports from 2-10 inches. Quality and thickness varies considerably from lake to lake and from spot to spot on each lake. Use extreme caution; foot travel remains the best choice.

Walleye:

Walleye fishing is good and improving. The fish moved to deep weeds and flats with structure and the best bite is just before sunset into dark when fish move shallow to feed. Walleye suckers and medium shiners on tip-ups and dead-sticks, and jigging spoons, are working well.

Northern Pike:

Northern pike fishing is good to very good, with fish in 3-22 feet ‑ and moving between those depths. Concentrate on shallow to mid-depth weeds, weed edges, wood, rock, and structure. Large northern suckers and shiners on tip-ups, with bait just a couple feet off bottom, will do the job.

Crappie:

Crappie fishing is good to very good when you find them ‑ use electronics. Look in lake basins (check the ice thickness closely and carefully!) and on points in 12-22 feet. Go prepared to drill many holes and be mobile. Crappie minnows, minnow heads, waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on small tungsten jigs are all working well.

Bluegill and Perch:

Bluegill fishing is very good to excellent; perch fishing is good. Bluegills are around shallow weeds, weed beds, wood, and cribs, OR in deep water with crappies. Look for perch around deeper weeds and flats. Waxies, spikes, plastics, and small minnows on small jigs and teardrops worked slowly produce for both species. Perch are also hitting small jigging spoons with minnow heads.