Here is what the ice on Winnebago looks like just outside of Asylum Bay. This new ice stretches from south of Oshkosh all the way up to Neenah and is anywhere from right off shore to a couple hundred yards out. Most of the ice in the bays is still pretty solid but not safe enough for driving on with a vehicle. A slot of sleds and atvs are still getting out. Down South past Oshkosh, guys are taking the atvs and sleds out into the main lake and heading north or to the east shore. Once out in the middle of the lake, the ice is more like the bays. A pretty solid 8-12″ with a few areas around the cracks that are way less. Point being, stay away from any and all cracks and the new ice along the west shore.
The perch and bluegill fishing is still fantastic. There are days that they dont bite as it is still fishing! But, the days they do bite, its pretty easy to put a few in the bucket!
Out in Waupaca and Waushara Counties, the ice isnt much better with quite a bit of slush still remaining on the lake after last weeks rain. The fishing has been fantastic with a good amount of bluegills coming off the weed edges in about 10-15 feet of water. Metallic colored jigs like the gold diamond jigs have been great tipped with a crushed waxworm. A lot of the fish I’ve been catching have been suspended and will follow the baits a good couple of feet before they actually bite. Dont drop your baits back down too soon while jigging it up…. Some good tip up fishing has been going on out on those lakes as well with my personal best bass coming with a client this past weekend….25″ long and im guessing it weighed close to 7 pounds or better. It was HUGE!!!
Stay safe and tight lines everyone!
