Ice depths improve despite warm days; fishing reports good

Believe it or not, we are getting some good ice despite some warmer weather. There have been enough cold nights and days below freezing to keep what we’ve gotten, and to continue building ice. We’re hearing reports of 6-10”, depending on the lake and location.
The chain, due to current and wind, took a while to lock up this year, but folks have been fishing along the shorelines and in bays of most every lake for the last few weeks. Because this report covers two weeks, it’s tough to say but fair to assume, that by the time we write again for the second week in January, there should be enough safe ice to see machines and bigger shacks out there, too. Let’s hope that assumption is accurate!
Walleye fishing has been really good, including on the Chain, and we expect that to continue. Anglers are fishing in the 10 to 15’ range in the evenings and after dark, with tip-ups set with either sucker minnows or shiners.
On the bigger lakes the start of the season was pretty slow, as the ice was slower to develop. We were hearing about a lot of shallow fish, but a lot of that was a matter of access.
Northerns have been very active, as usual, and are being caught pretty much everywhere in the weeds. The attraction of these fish, other than their aggressiveness, is that they hit all day long so you can get great action with these fish during the day, then hit the walleye in the evening. Large shiners work best for these fish, with tip-ups set in the weeds.

Panfish season has also been good, with all species now being caught consistently.
For crappie, if you’re fishing shallow, look along weed edges in the 8-10’ range. If you’re looking deeper, search for those pockets of fish in or near the deep holes. Once you find where they’re hanging out, it’s a good bet that you will find other schools of fish in different spots that have similar structure — at the same depth.
The perch have been in the shallower water on many lakes and are taking waxies and smaller minnows well. Bluegill fishing has been really hot, with early mornings and late afternoons being peak times. Look for these fish in the shallows at three to eight feet. Waxies and spikes work great, but smaller plastics are also a good choice.
As we look back on 2024, it’s clear that weather inconsistencies affected fishing all year. That has made counting on our “normal” patterns a little more challenging.
Wishing you all a very safe and happy Holiday season! This time of the year can be hectic and irritating to the nerves. There’s nothing like spending a few hours on the ice thinking about life and catching some fish. It’s medicine for the soul and we can all use a little of that right now. Enjoy!
Good luck and good fishin’!