Fishing report Feb. 15, 2023

Recent mild temperatures melted considerable snow on the ice, producing some slush. Cold temperatures mid-week should turn that around 180 degrees.

Walleye:

Walleye fishing is fair to decent. Look for fish on deep hard to soft bottom transitions and areas near shallow, low light feeding locations. Walleye suckers and shiners under tip-ups and dead-sticks, jigging baits and spoons, rattlebaits, and lipless crankbaits all work.

Northern Pike:

Northern pike action is good to very good. Find them on weeds, weed edges, points, other structure, and wherever you find baitfish and panfish concentrations ‑ and they might start moving shallow. Northern suckers and shiners under tip-ups, jigs, and bottom fishing dead minnow baits are all effective.

Crappie:

Crappie fishing is good to very good, but go prepared to drill many holes and move with the schools! Look for fish suspending, on deep weeds and weed edges, and in deep holes and lake basins in 18-30 feet. Use crappie minnows, waxies, spikes, plastics, and Gulp! baits on tungsten jigs.

Bluegill:

Bluegill fishing is good to very good, with fish on/in flats, weeds, wood, rock, cribs, and other structure. Waxies, spikes, and plastics on small jigs, teardrops, and spoons work well. Try crappie minnows for bigger bluegills. If action is slow, try downsizing baits and presentations.

Perch:

Perch fishing is fair to good, with some fish on deep transitions and other moving to mud flats in 8-15 feet, both feeding on food on weeds and on the bottom. Once you find the fish, try to keep with them. Disturbing the sediment can keep them interested. The best baits, which include small jigs and spoons tipped with crappie minnows, fatheads, and minnow heads, all work great.