Chequamegon Bay & Hayward, Wisconsin Ice Fishing Report 12-5-13

Josh Teigan

Old Man Winter has kicked the door in, and it looks like he’s here to stay for awhile!!!  Guide Josh Teigen began checking ice last weekend and found 1″ to 2″ of ice on larger lakes with smaller lakes producing 3″to 5″ of  ice.  On Saturday evening, he fished for a couple of hours with friends Tommy Hicks and Dylan Hudson from Ashland, and they iced several nice fish including walleyes up to 17″ and a very  impressive 39″ pike along with a jumbo perch.  All fish were caught on tip-ups with sucker minnows along weed edges in 17′ to 20′ of water.  Not a bad start to the ice season I’d say!

On Sunday Josh was joined his good friend Acorn Armagost from Iron River on a remote inland lake to focus on panfish, and the trip was worth the effort.  They found some dandy bluegills up to 10.5″ in 19′ of water relating to the mid lake basins.  With a few small crappies mixed in, it proved to be a productive outing with a possible new honey hole on the radar.  The fish were caught on Kastmaster spoons tipped with Berkley Power Wigglers.  Thanks for the great report Josh.  Those are some great looking fish, and some great looking smiles!

After a promising start to the week we were slammed on Tuesday through Wednesday with a winter storm that dumped over 20 inches of wet, heavy snow on most of our lakes.  That’s put an abrupt end to  the ice fishing, but only for a little while.  Frigid temps are forecasted over the next week, and ice conditions should stabilize relatively soon.  Stay patient folks, and we’ll keep you posted as soon as the conditions become favorable again.  Josh is chomping at the bit to get back out there, and we’ll have a new report for you as soon as possible.  Stay safe and stay warm everyone!