Fishing Reports

(Editor's note: The daily bag limit for walleyes on many lakes and the Wisconsin River in Central Wisconsin (always check the regulations on the particular water, first) is five (5) fish per day throughout the year while the daily bag limit for walleye in many areas north of Mosinee and Wausau may only be two to three fish because of Native American spearing initiatives and the resulting DNR "quota limits").

Walleyes, northerns, crappies, bluegills and perch are all hitting strongly, as ice firms up, in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River of Wisconsin's Marathon and Lincoln Counties near Mosinee and Wausau.

More ice anglers getting out and having success, as ice conditions improve daily in the Central Wisconsin area.

Follow up:

Walleyes and northerns in the Central Wisconsin are very active with the best action coming in and around shallow weeds. Tip-ups set with golden shiners or medium size sucker minnow set at appropriate depths will take northersn all day, and walleyes all night. For northerns, set the tip-ups so the bait is right below the ice in 3 to 5 feet of water. For the walleyes, run the same depths, your bait has to be within a foot of the bottom. The crappies and gills are "hungry" and hitting hard, in the Central Wisconsin area. Anglers are seeing great action from 3 to 8 feet of water for crappies, bluegills, and some real dandy perch. Teardrop jigs in orange or yellow tipped with waxies or spikes are keeping ice anglers busy all day. Work the jig slowly from top to bottom in the water column to take advantage of suspended fish, as well as those to the bottom. Right now the bigger panfish are hanging near the toop.

(This report based on interview with guide Phil Schweik of Hooksetters Fishing & Hunting Guide Service, Mosinee. Wisconsin)