Wausau/Central WI Area fishing report
Recent flurries of activity from large numbers of bluegills and crappies, including some impressive specimens, have kept anglers in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area busy of late. Fishing tip-downs baited with crappie minnows has remained the most consistent produce of slab crappies. Anglers have been finding fish as shallow as 7’-8’, although be prepared to search for suspended fish out to depths exceeding 20’. The schools of crappies should also be worked thoroughly with light jigging equipment once located on your electronics; tipping jigging spoons and other vertical presentations with a small minnow head has made for the best results. Bluegills have been consuming small jigging lures tipped with waxies when worked along deeper wood cover or any remaining green weeds.
Walleye fishing continues to pick up on the ice as flats and backwater areas are providing anglers access to some excellent March fishing for marble-eyes. Tip-ups baited with golden shiners have been the most productive, although some fishermen are taking advantage of the opportunity to land good numbers of fish on dead sticks also baited with shiners. While the bite has typically been in shallower depths, vertical jigging presentations, especially during low-light periods, are also accounting for walleyes.
Anglers looking to cash in on some of the earliest open water opportunities have been catching walleyes, often in large numbers, below area dams and from access points where open water is available. Look for deeper holes and pools, and work jigs tipped with fathead minnows along the bottom.
Northern pike activity is picking up as the days continue to lengthen and the temperatures increase. Dark-bottomed backwaters and bays, especially those having structure available or freshwater flowing in are attracting large numbers of pike, including some of the larger fish in the area. Large golden shiners have been working best although some anglers also are beginning to report catches of fish on oily dead baits.
Much of the water in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area contains current, which becomes increasingly dangerous in respect to ice conditions, as spring progresses. The best suggestion for a safe and fun-filled day (or night) on the ice is to hire one of the Wisconsin Angling Adventures guides, who know where to go, and will insure some fabulous fishing action in complete safety.
Unlike most areas of Wisconsin during the late winter/spring, walleye and northern fishing remains open after March 1 on many of the waters in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area!
Furthermore, when the regular Wisconsin fishing season does "open", the daily bag limit for walleye (particularly north of Wausau) may range from two to three fish (because of Native American spearing initiatives and the resulting DNR "quota limits"); the daily bag limit in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area REMAINS at the "normal" Wisconsin five (5) fish per day throughout the year.
Tight lines,
Joel
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