Heading to Wnnie

Going up this next weekend with a bunch of buds, it’s our first winter tip there, you guys got ant tips? we’ll be targeting perch and walleye/ we’ll be staying at the pines resort.

Been tougher out there from what I hear. I have not been out so just going off first hand reports from locals and guides I know.

Perch numbers are way way down compared to typical numbers in Winnie and have been for a couple years (likely due to zebs) but if you find them they are typically big.

If you have an interest in panfish I can pm some info.

Cant wait to hear how you do. I am thinking Winni perch late season or Gulf of America…….

we rented 2 houses from pines, hopefully they have them set in good area’s, We’re taking 3 popups so we have some flexibility. I have fished Winnie once before on open water and did fair on it. But this will be our first trip on ice. we’re all old farts so if we can catch enough to keep us entertained we’ll be happy.I guess any help with lure or color selection would be appreciated.

For perch I’ve had good luck in 12-14ft flats during the day with small spoons like slender spoon or other. Gold and chrome both work. Something tantalizing on the treble can make a difference too. I had some maribou ones that perch liked. Walleye might be bite windows now on break lines and structure. Not sure. Resort should have a report. Don’t be shy about moving around even small moves can put you on a fresh school.

Beast wrote:

I guess any help with lure or color selection would be appreciated.

From someone who fishes it a lot more than me, pink hooks on the dead sticks. Sorry not much more help other than Chad from the Pines is a cool guy, used to be a police officer. They will deliver pizza and other bar food out on the ice by the way.

We went up the first week in January out of The Pines Resort. Due to a heave/crack, we had to stay within the bay – I think Tamarac Hump is as far out as we could go. Fished anywhere between 8-20′. Perch were everywhere but you’d catch 50 4″ fish to every 8″. Couple walleye came through right before dark and had to deal with hammer-handle pike all day. That was our first time there before and we were pretty immobile with the cold. At that time, white hooks were the ticket.

We had a big group out there last weekend. Thursday before the bad weather hit we absolutely crushed them. Just 3 of us got there Thursday and were sitting outside enjoying the nice weather and just running tip ups. Id say we had 40+ flags from 10am-8pm. Action was steady all day. An even mix of walleyes and northerns with a few nice perch. The bad weather hit and we were constricted to the houses. Action was a lot slower but we still caught a fair amount of walleyes. Let a good amount of slots go as well. When the bad weather hit most our action was during the prime times and after dark. Main lake structure as far as we could get from anyone. Plain hooks and small suckers, big shiners, or decent size rainbows. Just big enough to keep the small perch off. We do this trip annually is this was by far the least perch we have ever caught, but also by far the most walleyes we had ever caught. Did catch them jigging as well on small tantrums. Boy was that weather nasty out there when it hit.