Mid-Winter slow-down?

So ice fishing for most of the readers on IDO has been in full swing for a while – while lakes near me in far SE WI may not freeze over (well or at all) for a couple weeks yet.

Seems I never get started fishing until late January or February. If that is our first really good ice – is that slow-down regular ice guys talk about not yet happening here, or is my season just less quality right from the get go?

If there is a mid winter slow down… is it all about temps and ice thickness, or?

Same with late ice many brag about… my late ice is other’s mid-season.

I ask this as I look at my bag of re-organized, all ready to go tackle sitting on my table – a little bummed about it and why I bother.

Chuck Melcher wrote:

I ask this as I look at my bag of re-organized, all ready to go tackle sitting on my table – a little bummed about it and why I bother.

Maybe not the answer you’re looking for, but I’d grab that bag and head north.

Plenty of decent ice and good fishing in northern Wisconsin now.

You can try to make that happen, or stay home looking at your tackle bag.

Slow down or fish shift and change patterns?

I just keep reading about the mid-winter lul… and even a late ice bite – wonder how that may play out on lakes that freeze really late and then open up earlier than the more northern waters? Maybe we don’t even experience it?

I was on my local lakes a couple weeks later than normal this year. Never really experienced the early ice panfish like I have the last few years. Crappies were already in the basins.

Certainly a lot of factors but relatively late ice, no snow and high light penetration played a factor imho.

My opinion, all fish eat on a regular basis, usually daily….. Particular weather patterns will make some fish tougher to catch than others, but, there is always a lake and a species that will be on a good bite. I have a general idea of what lakes in my area to head to, to fish particular species, during certain times and conditions.
Short answer, if you have time, go for it.