Rochester area fishing summary – 1/13

Lake Zumbro has been good some days and very slow some days , but some very nice crappies and bluegills are being caught. I am still hearing a few reports about catching fairly large catfish through the ice. Most fishing is happening across from Ryan’s Bay and some people are fishing across from Ponderosa. Minnows and ice jigs tipped with waxies are working. Ice is about 12-14 inches in most places.

Foster-Arends Lake is still producing some trout (some very nice ones at times) and some small panfish. Minnows and ice jigs tipped with waxies are working best. Some people are also using smaller spoon type baits. Ice is about 10-12 inches in most places.

Chester Woods is still producing bluegills and a few crappies, but seems to have slowed down. The best area has been out near the dam in the arms with flooded timber. People having the best luck are using electronics to locate fish. The fish have been fairly deep (20+ ft.) and may be suspended slightly off the bottom. Minnows and waxies on small jigs are working. Ice is 8-12 inches in most places.

Willow Creek is still producing bluegills. Best fishng seems to be in about 10+ ft. Small ice jigs tipped with a waxie is working. Ice is 10-12 inches in most places.

The Gamehaven Lake (boy scout camp) is producing bluegills and small crappies. Minnows and small ice jigs with waxies are working. Ice is 8-12 inches in most places.

Country Club Manor pits are producing some bluegills and crappies, although the fish are on the small side. Minnows and small ice jigs tipped with waxies are working. Ice is 8-12 inches in most places.

The Mississippi backwaters are going well. The Dike Road is still producing panfish. The harbors have been fairly slow most days. Wilcox, West Newton, the Finger Lakes, Winona, Alma, etc. are all producing fish – mostly bluegills and a few crappies. Small ice jigs tipped with waxies are working, with minnows producing a few fish. Ice in most places is 10-14 inches.

Be careful of any hills leading toward the water as many of them are still very slippery. Please help to keep our fishing areas free from trash. Maybe some of us can make it a habit to take a bag with us and pick up some trash left by others.

Good Fishing,
Mike

Thanks for the reports Bud. With the colder weather this weekend fishing from a portable ice shelter with a locator and heater is the warmest/best way to go. Sounds like today and tonight will be very cold which will make the cold weekend temps not seem as bad. [Have to think poitive you know] Seriously it will be cold but tonight will be the coldest then slightly warmer for the weekend with not as much wind. Thanks, Bill

Thanks for your updates Mike. They are always informative. I have only been out ice fishing three times this year but did manage to catch a few fish using waxies and small jigs. Keep the reports coming.