chequamegon bay ice conditions

ive heard that there is good ice on the bay but have not been there to see it,has anyone been going out with trucks?

Welcome Brian & glad to see you made it to the posting side of IDO. Hopefully Jim or Grant will chime in & shed a little light on whats possibly happening in the area.

And the ice season is off inside the Cheq-Bay, We have been fishing at many locations all around the bay from the west side “head of the bay” from on the Ashland side heading to Washburn, We have been working the points and breaks & just off the creeks as shallow as 12ft to as deep as 24ft picking up some nice catches mix bag Browns, Splake, Perch & Whitefish. The ice is good to go most spots here have 11+ inches and travel is good for an ATV or sled. Access is good and there is a large parking lot right off of HWY 13 at the Bono Creek launch. From HWY 2 take 13 north aprox 4 miles right hand side of the road just as you get out of the 3 lanes it is just around the corner. Fishing here on the Washburn side of the bay has been good also guys are picking up Browns, Whitefish, a few Walleyes and some fast action Coho’s. Fishing shallow and right off the drops into the channel. Access is good here also there is a few landing one can get out from the first is West end boat launch as you get into Washburn turn a right at the Holiday gas station and 2 blocks down you are at the shore.The second access is the Washburn coal dock located just up a mile past the Holiday station on the right side look for Washburn marina sign. From this landing to the east to Houghton point is good travel ATV or sled. From the middle of the bay starting at the lighthouse off the Ashland side and going as far over to the east there is some thick pack ice use caution and drive slow if you have to go this way it is very bad. Stay tune for more reports. If you have anymore ?’s feel free to pm me anytime.

I talked to Jim Hudson yesterday and he said he was out in the polaris ranger and saw 12 to 14 inches around the Ashland area, but the ice thins up a little bir as you get towards Washburn. He’s been putting some fish on the ice too!

I was out again for a few hrs this morn again, did well picked up 3 more Browns out from Bono Creek launch 18ftow 1 jigging and the other 2 were on a dead stick. Moveing to the north side of Washburn tords Houghton Pt. the ice around the corner the skim all was blowen out. So it will be a bit yet befor guys can get out off the Souix and Onion River launches.

Going to be headed up your way on the 14th! never fished this area! planning on pulling my sleeper shack up and bring the wheeler and portables!

What are some of the traditionaly good producing lures for this area?

Thanx for the info on ice conditions you have already posted!

Gun,

Lures that are my go-to’s; Northland Buckshots 1/8 to 1/2 ounce – Sweedish Pimples same sizes – Hali Jigging Spoons with chain Droppers middle sized one – Salmo Chubby Darters, but now more and more Sebile Flatt Shad – Kastmaster or Macho Minnow – Fintech Knuckle Ball – Nils Master Jigging Shad

Should get ya started!!

Golds – Greens – Oranges – Blues – Chromes (and combos of the colors) are my fav.

Good ICE fishing.

great info thanx!

if your interested in heading out with us while we are there let me know! Im looking forward to hitting that ice!

We used to head to canada and do lakers on the lower manitou but thought we will try your area this year!

The anticipation of fishing new waters is always very exciting for me!

thanx again

Is there any possiblility that 1/2 ton pickups could be driven out there? I don’t have a sled or wheeler but am itching to try it this year.

Guys are driveing out off the Ashland side of the bay, none off the Washburn side at all yet as the pressure cracks are to bad,,and as of yesterday another pressure crack pushed up all the way from the light house to Thompsons Creek “West End Park” Washburn,, We cut down a path right out to the left out from the boat launch you can pass through now.

I was out today for a few hr’s on a mission I did manage a few Whitfish and on my way back in as I got close to Houghton Point Here was a 1/2 ton truck and a guy tip up fishing on 12″ of ice, He had to have one mean ride out to cross over two big pressure cracks going out from the Washburn Coal dock. I know it will hold however I don’t advise it just yet. Some mechanic will be making some money after that trip.

The crew and I were out last night off the Washburn Coal dock just to the east as your heading for Houghton Point 1 mile out from the Coal Dock the pressure crack pushed up very high, We busted a nice 14 ft path through it so theres a nice road to get out there and a great path over the crack. You are good to go with an ATV or Sled now. Travel from the Washburn side is good all the way to Long Island, Stay away from the point on Long Island the South Channel had opened up.

anybody know about the night bite near ashland. Is it worth it to stay in the crankdown all night? If so keep up the jigging or put down the rattle reels?

Burbot and walleye float around the mud flat area out by the lighthouse, so leave the rattle reels down.. It has been a bit slow at night, but you never know..

Also, if the smelt are around, you can really pound them at night as well.. Jigging small jigs and or spoons with chain droppers on them.. A lot more so as March comes around.

Good luck.

You bet, just as Jim said one never knows. Some of my best eyes ever came form over on that side of the bay in the middle of the night. A week ago in one of my day houses the Perch were still going strong at 10:00 at night all suspened up off the bottom five to six feet.