La Crosse are ice fishermen

Hey everybody. Anyone else in the La Crosse area getting geared up for ice season? This is only my third season out, but I have to say, I’m addicted. I just bought a (used) portable shanty, and a new Showdown along with a couple hundred dollars worth of jigs and rods, haha. I’m hoping to chase after crappies and perch a lot this year. I just have a few questions for the ice fishing vets out there. Where is everyone planning on going out on first ice? I was thinking maybe Lauderdale, Lake 22, or the Trempealeau area lakes. Also, could anyone give me some information on places like Lytles, the Brice Prairie boat landing area, and the French Island Airport Beach area. I don’t want any specific spots of course. I would just like some general info about what to look for as far as structure, what species are prevalent, and when the bite is the best historically. Especially for airport beach. I know the place turns into a shanty town when the crappies are in. I’ve had some great luck there myself the one time I fished it two years back, but I was wondering when does this fishing really start to kick off. I’d love to get a jump on it. Feel free to PM me as well, if need be. Basically any info you can give me in relation to ice fishing around La Crosse is more than welcome and much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I’m in the same boat in the LAcrosse area, my Girl Friend live outside of LAcrosse and she loves to fish but we have only fished around Eau Claire and north. I would gladly take someone out up here or north if they would be willing to give me some tips on some spots in that area. As said previously I don’t want GPS coordinates or hot spots, just where to go, where the access points are etc. Also would like to fish the backwaters to the north of Lacrosse if anyone want to chime in on that area as well.

Thanks and if someone could put me on some Crappies I would give you a complete tip down setup and show you how well they work on those Slabs.

There’s some great places around the La Crosse to ice fish. During the heart of the season, taking a drive around the area is the best plan to find out where to fish.

One of the more popular and easier spots to access is Lake Onalaska. You can access the Lake by Schafer’s Boat Landing. Out there, look for the the groups of people and work the areas around there. You’ll find most people chasing Bluegills, Crappies, and Perch. There’s also some good Bass and Pike action on tip-ups.

Another great spot is Lauderdale as mrCROWLEY138 mentioned. I fished that spot by boat a few weeks ago and did pretty good, boating enough Crappies for a fish fry. Also in that area you’ll find Bluegills. Target areas around the boat docks and you should do well.

If you click on the link and look west(left) of Lauderdale, on the map, you’ll see Fisherman’s Road. Where it takes a bend and heads north is where people park and head south along the tree line to fish Crappies & Sauger along with the occasional Sheepshead.

South of there, on the Minnesota side of the river is Lawrence Lake. You can easily access this Lake through the Lawrence Lake Marina. Out there you can find Bluegills, Crappies & Perch along with Bass and Pike on tip-ups. During the heart of the season, people drive vehicles up onto the upper end of the lake. At the beginning of the season, people park alongside the Hwy and access the Lake by crossing the RR tracks.

If you’re feeling like a drive, you can head to Stoddard and try for some Bluegills and Crappies out there. Look for the Waters Edge Marine & Motel this is a great place to access although they charge a minimal fee for parking. Well worth it to me. There again, look for the crowds and branch out from there.

One of the earliest “first ice” places in La Crosse would be the end of Fisherman’s Road and some of the sloughs in goose island. Be careful and bring a spud. the above mentioned spots are great spots to try and usually have an abundance of fish in them. I have heard lauderdale can have some shakey ice early on so be careful there especially. Early ice is always the best but if your after crappies my favorite is end of january/feb time frame when alot of the guys are off the ice…use that marcum to find the suspended fish and just start trying different baits/colors and especially presentation. If you hit the right combo you can be icing em left and right and everyone around you is struggling, good luck!

Thanks everybody for the great input. I can’t wait until I can finally get out on the water!

Thanks guys that will give me and the GF some places to check out this winter! I will post the results!

All are very good spots! Just ffish outside of the groups and you’ll catch fish. Let us know when you first get out around lacrosse

I hope to get out this weekend somewhere down there.

You have a PM sir….

It’s great to see the interest in Pools 7 and 8

It is a great area to fish and the sites a guy can see in a day during winter are hard to paint. Eagles soaring bluff sides, catching a deer crossing the ice, Seeing sign of a fox mouse chase in the snow, the yippin’ of yotes before calling it a night, the bone chillin’ silence before the sun breaks on a still crisp morn…….well it all makes the hair stand on the back of my neck

Make sure to say hello if we cross paths

Two guys were ice fishin on fishermans road yesterday. Please let me know if your on this site about the ice conditions