RFRG Fishing Report w/Muskie Matt 3-4-09

RFRG Outdoors Fishing Report March 4th 2009

As of March 1st our gamefish season ended and we've had a good wrap-up of our 08-09 season. Walleye and Northern Pike cooperated nicely during our final week and the big bonus to some good fishing that made it great fishing was a good Largemouth Bass bite. All three species could be taken with the same set-ups and bait in the same areas... basically a tip-up and shiner combo.

Of course our panfish season is still in swing and stays open year-round. Look for some of the best panfishing yet to come. I'll begin using "tip-downs" quite extensively for crappies now. Watch for these fish to begin moving a bit shallower towards areas they'll be using to spawn. They will also start hanging higher in the water column. It makes for some exciting fishing to sit and sight fish inside a portable shelter. Using small minnows on a bobber rig or tip-down is my preferred method when going after these late season crappies.

The bluegill and perch bite has been very good also. A few of our area lakes are giving up 8-10 inch gills and 10-12 inch perch on a fairly consistent basis. Look right in the weeds around the 8ft level for gills and on the 20ft flats for the perch. Use little minnows for the perch, in the same manner as fishing crappies except deeper. For the bluegills nothing can beat a good spring-bobber rod used with a little jig tipped with a waxworm. Using electronics such as a Vexilar can speed up finding all these fish and is highly recommended but not mandatory.

Start watching our ice conditions closely as we come into March, our shorelines will begin pulling back first, especially with the longer, warmer days ahead. For the time being our ice thicknesses and travel conditions remain great. Access by machine or foot is quite easy now.

We'll keep you up to date as that sun climbs higher in the sky and brings some of the most pleasant icefishing of the season. Gotta love that late season panfishing.