The bitter cold Fall holds its grip on the Lake Winnebago region for the past 10 days.  Area sportsmen have returned from the gun-deer season to find many frozen lakes in the area, some now supporting ice fishing activities.   Lake Winnebago is mostly ice covered, but the lake has insufficient ice to host most activities just yet.

Some of the back bays, including Asylum Bay on Lake Winnebago is hosting a few fishermen. The ice depths are variable, but some 6” depths were measured over the weekend.  The Asylum Bay bite is small to averaged sized perch, bluegills and an occasional larger crappie.  The fish have been “moody” and the bite is inconsistent.  These fish have been attracted to spikes on a jig or small spoon.

The area around Skipper Buds (Lake Buttes Des Mortes) was vacant the two times I went past this weekend.  But I have heard some comments of anglers catching a few bluegills here.  I don’t put too much credence in this as it doesn’t pass my smell test.

The harbor (Big Hole) in Fond du Lac on Lake Winnebago, along with the old Chaparral has been quiet.  Ice depths are unreported to date.

Lake Poygan has a solid ice sheet of 6-9 inches in most areas.  There were areas of open water or newly formed ice on Friday, so be sure you know where you are going on this lake. ATV travel has started and there is decent travel on the lake out of Noffke’s Bait and Tackle in Winneconne. The bite has been slow overall, but white bass are common.  Small walleyes have been caught, but not in great numbers.   Jigging raps have worked, along with narrow spoons tipped with minnow heads or waxies.

The back bayous of the Wolf River have ice in the 2”-4” range currently.

The ice set up is fairly fresh, and still very uneven in depths on all area lakes.  Anytime venturing onto the ice — extreme caution must be used.  Having ropes, ice picks and even a life vest available are a good practice.

Near average air temperatures are predicted for the near future, and a solid ice base can be expected in the next few weeks.   With temps near freezing for the next 10 days, the ice will not form as quickly as some anglers would hope for.  However, we are still ahead of normal trends related to ice depths.

Next weekend is the St Paul Ice Show in Minnesota.  The following weekend is the inaugural Milwaukee Ice Fishing show (State Fair Park).