Another colder than average week graced Lake Winnebago this week, with periodic light snow. The ice surface is navigable by four wheel drive, with normal snow drifting on top of the ice once off of the plowed roads. Ice depths remained relatively unchanged at around 30”. An auger extension is now a must in most areas. Water clarity is very clear over the majority of the lake.
The end of the sturgeon season occurred on Thursday, with one of the most successful seasons ever recorded. 1,854 sturgeon were harvested between Lake Winnebago and the up river lakes. In the harvest was the 6th largest sturgeon ever recorded, going a hefty 179.0 pounds. If you have never experienced the weigh in of sturgeon season, please plan on making a trip to Fond du Lac, WI area in 2015 to experience this one of a kind outdoor event.
Many anglers have changed their focus to the “Battle on ‘Bago”, which is one of the largest ice fishing contests in North America. Over 4,000 anglers are expected to hit the ice on Friday and Saturday, in search of some outstanding prizes.
Fishermen/women hit the lakes in huge numbers this past weekend, looking for their magic spot for next weekend. For some anglers, they hit the jackpot. For other anglers, they went home hungry. One thing is for certain right now, you either are locked in, or you have nothing to show for your efforts.
We experienced that exact phenomenon this weekend. A total distance of 75 yards separated anglers with an unforgettable day of white bass fishing, and with us never seeing a mark in our holes in 2 hours. The white bass have stacked up very tightly in their schools. As the schools move into an area, the locator will light up top to bottom with fish. At those moments, anglers must fish quickly to catch their white bass. The window of opportunity is small, so speed and skill are critical to success. The more fish on the screen means bigger competition for the lure, resulting in more aggressive bass.
The area outside of Pipe, WI (at about three miles out and to the south of the main road) held a massive school of white bass. You can’t miss the school, as there were approximately 150 anglers packed into a small area trying to capitalize on the opportunity. Small Rapala jigging raps were the best option. Fire tiger, clown, blue and white, and glow white were the best color options. Kastmasters, gold Hali’s, and Swedish Pimples also did well. I suggest getting some of the custom color spoons, especially in Hollywood (color), to give yourself a different presentation.
A second school was also located at the 5 mile mark out of Pipe, WI. This school was not feeding, but were very noticeable on the locator.
The Jesuit area on the west shore is holding solid numbers of crappies, and they have been attracted to small gold spoons tipped with minnow heads.
Perch fishing has been tough, but a few fish is common when targeting these fish. The bite is improving, from the previous week, and is expected to improve with the milder weather.
Walleyes are starting to become more common, especially at dusk. Spoons have been the best method to attract these fish. The active walleyes have been staged in the mid water column, so be sure to fish them higher up in the water column than the white bass. No bait tipping was required to attract these fish. These fish will come in hot after the lure.
Eelpout are moving onto the reefs and are assumed to be spawning. I am getting reports of anglers catching them, but no one is giving up locations due to the Battle on ‘Bago event. We checked several reefs this weekend, but most of them were vacant of any fish. These fish are best targeted after dark when they move to the reef tops and transition zones.
Lake Poygan has been a tough place to fish. Not much more to report…..Sorry.
Not unlike the week before a major June walleye tournament on Lake Winnebago, everyone is seeking information, and few are willing to talk. Be very cautious of public reports this week, as some anglers occasionally write bogus reports on the posting boards. It is best to do your own homework, and trust what you find.
To the many anglers which are frustrated and feed up with ice fishing on Lake Winnebago….It has been a challenging year. You are not alone. The best days of the season are still ahead of us. Walleyes will start to become predictable; maybe even starting this week with the projected warm front. Pan fish will start to move shallower. In the meantime, we are at the mercy of Mother Nature to drive fishing activity and inactivity.
[email protected] is my email. Feel free to drop us a fishing report. Good luck to all at the Battle on Bago! I will be one of the coaches for the North Fond du Lac Ice Fishing Team on Saturday in their quest for a State Championship! Weigh in is at TJ’s (Van Dyne) at 3:00 ish. On Sunday, stop by the Madison Fishing show at the Alliant Center, and you can find me working in the Tommy Harris booth. We would love to meet you!
