Fishing Information

Ice Fishing in the Wisconsin Winter


It's late December... temperatures are racing towards 0 degrees. Ice is covering most of the lakes in Wisconsin and getting thick on the lakes in the Northern half of the state.

This is the time of the year when the die-hards come out to take on the bitter cold to do what they love... fish!

But ice fishing doesn't have to be just for those fishing fanatics. If you usually put fishing into the back of your mind during the cold winter, you might want to think about reaching back and pulling it to the front a few months early. Ice fishing is definitely different than fishing in the middle of a muggy Wisconsin summer, but it may be more fun than you might be thinking it is.

Ice fishing isn't just about staring down into a dark hole in the middle of a big cold lake freezing your butt off... if you put your line in the water and do nothing but sit and stare at the hole and never get a bite, that could end up being a long boring day, but you can make it fun (but if the fish are active and biting, then it will be fun regardless!)...

Go with friends! Unless you need some "alone time," ice fishing with friends or family always makes for a better experience. Since ice fishing is more of a waiting game than fast-action summer fishing is, if you don't have somebody to talk to, you might start talking to yourself! If you do go along, at least bring a radio.

Got snowmobiles or ATVs? Do you know somebody who does? Take them out on the lake with you. Set your tip-ups up, and then go for a ride around the lake... as long as you don't get to far away from your tip-ups, you may be able to do a little exploring or have a little fun while your waiting for that 8 pound walleye to take your bait.

Don't forget that hot chocolate or coffee! If it's cold, nothing helps keep you warm like a hot drink... and to me, no other hot drink beats hot chocolate. Soup is always good too... and if you plan on making a lunch on the lake from all the fish your catching, be sure to bring cooking supplies, including something to actually cook the fish with.

If you're going with friends, bring something to toss around... a football, frisbee, hacky-sack, whatever... just don't kill yourself diving for a catch on the ice! These things will at least keep you busy while you wait for that tip-up flag to spring up.

Just remember, to make sure that you stay close enough to the tip-ups at all times so that you can respond within a reasonable time of the flag going up.

So, if you've always stuck to summer fishing and never wanted to venture out fishing during the winter months, you ought to give it a try this winter... you might just find out what a great rewarding experience it can be...

And just remember, unlike Wisconsin's muggy summers, there are absolutely no bugs biting you while you are ice fishing, so you can keep that mosquito spray at home!

---Scott Pinkert runs a great Wisconsin fishing resource site called Go Wisconsin Fishing. The website is an excellent resource for everything you want or need to know about fishing in Wisconsin. You can check out the site by visiting http://www.go-wisconsin-fishing.com. For more articles like this, sign up for his monthly newsletter at http://www.go-wisconsin-fishing.com/newsletter.html---


MORE RESOURCES:

Private Membership Fishing Club Announces Central American Plans
MarketWatch - 3 hours ago
Operated similar to a private country club, Angler Clubs provides members, utilizing this unique destination club concept, with access to popular fishing ...


Agency says fishing still allowed at closed parks
Chicago Tribune, United States - 7 hours ago
AP That's the word from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources on whether anglers can still access lakes at several parks shut down recently to offset ...


Flick Fishing 1.2
Macworld, CA - Dec 3, 2008
Catch a Whopper: Virtual casting, baiting, and reeling in is all part of the fun of Flick Fishing. Flick Fishing aptly describes the gameplay. ...


Gasparilla Fishing Report: Search deeper as water cools
Gasparilla Gazette, Fl - 8 hours ago
Now the weather has stabilized a bit the fishing has been good, and the snook are still around. Fishing around points and edges with good tidal flow is a ...
In Florida, winter conditions ideal for shallow-water fishing with ... Tampabay.com
all 2 news articles


Flathead fishing access proposal debated
KPAX-TV, MT - 7 hours ago
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials are holding another public hearing on an environmental assessment for a fishing site after the last was ...


Fishing Report
The News Journal, DE - 15 hours ago
By BOB JONES • Special to The News Journal • December 4, 2008 Anglers looking for late-season action on big game species have found good fishing for a mix ...
Fishermen use artificial bait on stripers Bethany Beach Wave
all 2 news articles


Fishing: Action is good despite cold fronts
Naples Daily News, FL - 16 hours ago
By JOHN PREEG (Contact) NAPLES — It has been a cool fall with numerous fronts and too much wind, yet the fishing has held up fairly well. ...
Gals in bikinis and giant goliath grouper Marconews
all 2 news articles


Fishing Line
Sacramento Bee,  USA - 7 hours ago
Fly fishing folks getting their share of the action, too. JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park)--Plenty of rainbow action here, mostly catchables from the recent plant. ...
Fishing the North Coast: This is Humboldt, where is the rain? Times-Standard
all 3 news articles


NOAA Charges Florida Dive Charter Businesses for Fishing Without
WJHG-TV, FL - 3 hours ago
NOAA and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched an investigation in summer 2007 after NOAA special agents in Niceville, Fla., ...
Ducks Wary After Opening-Day Volley The Ledger
all 3 news articles


Fishing report: Dec. 4
The Tennessean, TN - 16 hours ago
Center Hill: Fishing is still fair. Bass are being caught on spinner and crank baits along with jigging spoons. Anglers are nabbing crappie on jigs and ...
OUTDOOR NOTEBOOK Clarksville Leaf Chronicle
all 2 news articles

Fishing - Google News

home | site map
© 2006