Landed a nice brown off a Jaw Jacker today and another jigging Spawn and Northland UV buckshots. Did a lot more ice checking than fishing. Off the Washburn side near shore there is 5″ of solid clear ice. When you get out a 100 yards and get onto the newest sheet of ice it is 4″ check as you go I would say foot travel for another day of two. There is only a inch or snow on the ice. Stay tune. Was a cold one today but the next two day it looks like a short warm up.

We made it out near shore around Washburn there is 4″ of solid clear ice. Out from the end of the coal dock area it thins out but with these cool temp we are going to be on track making ice fast! I would stick to foot travel for right now however after the weekend you shoulf be good to go but rember to check and double check! We worked over some near shore browns with small uv buckshots and minnow heads. 14 ftow to as shallow as 5 feet work the breaks and the rocky points into the water. Stay tune we will be in full swing after the weekend. The Ashland side of the bay has 5+ inches in most spots I forgot to mention. Good luck stay warm!

Well I made it out for a little bit today off the river mouths near by. Casting #4 in-lines gold/black was the ticket. Picked up a 2 browns in 20 min. Thisngs are starting to change good aroung the bay. Guys are still picking up smallies of both the Washburn & Ashland side of the bay. Live bait has been the ticket for us. I just started picking on my ice gear and getting set to get everything rocking for the up coming season. I’ll keep you posted.

I bet, I dont fish out of Saxon area but maybe twice a year, However the times I was there it was good fishing right out from the launch and to the left. Sounds like it must have been bad timing with the run off. From here north the past few days I did notice it was a early and late bite and marking fish and bait through out the day. Maybe would have been best off running to the Madeline Island shore line??

Just got word that there was a few boats making there way out from the Bayfield launch & that the Red Cliff landing behind the casino is now open as well. Just as things were looking good mother nature drops another foot of snow on us. Tight lines! John

Well the ice on the Washburn side of the Cheq-Bay here was gone all the way to Houghton Point. the ice is going fast there is still a ton left with a little luck and the right wind the rest of the bay will open up. I will keep you posted.

Salmo,
Spawn under a float works great. Or a floater weighted to the bottom. When I fish near the river mouths I set a rod in one of my wading pole holders and cast with the other.

I had to go back into the posts when you asked about size spoons my mind was stuck on trolling, Not casting from shore. When I wade from shore I use a ton of different size spoons it all depends on the wind, As a general thumb if you have to use higher than a 3/4oz spoon the wind is really strong and your going to get wet in the waves. I have a good stock from 1/4oz to 3/4 in many brand spoons.
John

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How long before the bay’s ice breaks up would you say. Were heading up next week

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Well I just got back into town to see a nice big lead opened up across the bay things might happen at a fast pace here on out. I will keep posted to let you know to when it will be open. Guys are also starting to get there smelting gear ready I will keep in tune with that report as well.

As for spoon sizes we have been using 3 3/4 & 4 3/4 both.

You got it Mark!

Salmo Trutta, I was just in Herbster and there was very little snow all I could see is rocks and sand for miles. Also for shoreline wading guys have been doing great casting around the Bark Bay Landing a nice mix of great fish.

Most shorelines are good to go as for walking. The nice weather and rain tonight is taking care of the left over snow. There is some good shoreline fishing now and it is only going to get better here on out.

We fished off the Ashland side Second Landing found many nice perch 14 to 17ftow. Gold and glow red 1/8thoz Northland Tackle Buck-Shot Rattle spoons with chain dropper’s with waxies and minnow heads & 1 1/2 ” Puppet Minnows and Born To Fish Ice Minnows pink and white’s have all been working well. Along with that we have been setting out a few Jaw Jackers and catching a few roamers. Off the plowed rd much of the slush is starting to firm up a little however we forund 20″ of solid ice along that side of the bay. Inside the bay to the west guy’s are still doing good and picking up coho’s brown’s and a few scattered eye’s & a few smallies. Washburn to Houghton Point & Houghton PT to Bodiens, Souix River, Onion River, we have still been doing well on coho’s and browns many 20’s this year fishing top to bottom we have found them all over. The river mouth action should heat up hear soon along with that some nice smelt are filtering into the bay as well. Stay tune for our spring smelting & river report as well as we will have crew’s on both sides of the bay. As of now it is all sled travel to get around unless you fish off of one of the plowed roads. Tight Lines!

LX7 Brown!

Thanks Mark!

Was out in the Apostle Islands for our first shakedown run today, From Bayfield north we found 6″ of ice in most spots, there is a few slush spots just north of bayfield Heading for the south end of Basswood Island. We found 6 to 7″ in most spots around the end of Basswood some spots were a little less Check The Ice Often! From Basswood over to Madeline Island sled travel was good up the Madeline shore we found a lot more ice 7 to 9″ we made it up the island a little over half way befor you start to get into all the bad pack ice. We fished the Madeline shoreline 20 to 30ft we invited many small Splake topside along with a few 20″ browns. Jaw Jackers with#10 trebles tiped with minnows was the trick on most. The others were all on spoons,,smaller buckshot’s and slenders tiped with minnow heads. Stay tune.

Was out again today checking from Bodiens north Bayfield, to Red Cliff I found no ice over 2 1/2″ and off af all them areas there is 4″ of slush/water on top of the ice STAY OFF OR USE MEGA CAUTION! We have some cold weather on the way that should lock this up nice just hold off for now. From Washburn North to Houghton Point and From Houghton Pt to Long Island you are good the go. From there north do not go yet.
Out from Bodiens Resort north of Washburn We have been doing well on the Browns and Cohos yet pick up most of the fish shallower 16 to 28 ft yet hot colors for us have all been gold/black & orange/glow buck shot rattle spoons tiped with minnow heads. Back inside from there off the deeper hole the whitefish bite has been good most days yet. We will be back out at it the rest of the week. Like I said guys hold off heading north for now.

Congrats to all them fisherman! We know you wouldent find them on your own! JK, nice work guys Houghton Point out of Washburn has been a good bite. I talked with the creel clerk and seen the numbers other than that day nothing has been a slam.

Had a good day on the ice today had the crew out we got all of our rental houses set in great areas all over the Cheq-Bay. With todays wind and temps near the 40 mark lots of ice got shifted around here on the Washburn side. Use caution going out from the coal dock and out near the coal dock lots of caked up ice there now.
Bite wise has been fair to slow however we are still picking up some great browns and some nice sized whitefish every trip out. UV tiger Jiggig raps have been working well for me with the browns so far this season.
We will be back out in the morning checking some new spots so stay tune for the next report.

We are off Washburn side starting out with some great hardwater action. We have been picking up some nice big whitefish and and browns both we have been moving around a bit 25 to 30 ftow. From Washbirn coal dok north to Houghton pt there is 4 to 5″ and same spots we did find as little as 3″ yet Check The Ice as you go. Some guys are chanceing with machines, We will have our sleds and atv’s out sometime this week. UV Orange Jigging Raps and 2″ Northland Puppet minnows have been working great for the browns and whitefish both. Stay tune we will be back out in the morning.

Out checking ice again today and from Bono Creek North to Washburn found 1 1/2″ to 2″ solid clear ice. From Washburn North just the same. out from Westend park there is a old lead of ice that is 4″ go’s out about 80 yards. We will be back at it in the AM.

Well much of the Cheq-Bay is frozen over now there is still a lead out from Washburn north still open, Whith these cold temps I should be walking off the Washburn side some time this coming week. As for the head of the bay Bono Creek around to Ashland and off to second landing that stretch of ice is 3 to 4 inches in most spots we checked. Guys are walking off the Ashland side yet how ever it is a bit early for me I like the bay to lock up befor I like to take chances. If you plan on making the trip up use “CAUTION” and check the ice often. Feel free to send me off a message any time you have a question or need some info. We will be out on the big fish soon this week! Stay tune.

I am going with some longer rods this year myself. It will be nice for venturning hole to hole and being able to stand up out side even in the wind. I’ll still use my short rods inside my shelter.

Will do, I will be posting as soon as I am able to get on the ice. Glad the weather turned aroung from high 40’s in December to back to more normal temps. We should be rocking here soon with a little luck keep the winds down and the cold here.

I to like the Sufix Ice majic, for fishing inside my shelter or out side on warmer days, on my other rods I run northland fluorosilk and have had no problems with it yet.

I like the Otter shield simple easy slides right on the otter atv box, The only thing I do is run a small bungie cord on the top to keep it from floping around as I dont drive the slowest on the ice.

I do just the same, for mine I just used the foam for shop floors for around the bench where one would stand all day, very cheap comes in puzzle connections from Menards.

Good deal the weather got back on track last night here in the northwoods sconni after all the rain.

That will be nice for the cold days you have choppers on!

For pulling out by hand I would go with the cottage no doubt. However for the needed room of fishing for two, and the little extra weight the Cabin makes sence to me.

I have 2 set up on one machine I have my otter box and my auger sheld on it. And my other polaris I spent 18 dollars on a little flat stock a a few muffler clamps and made a front mount auger rack the clamps right on to my front bumper. I’ll try to post up some pic’s later.

Most of the small shallow lakes Bayfiels Co had 4+ of solid clear ice, Around the Iron River, Delta, and close by areas they only got a little more than 6 inches of snow. Just got all my pike gear set for some weekend action. Ill keep you posted with my findings.

I to like to use a dead stick at times. Some days my dead stick is a Jaw Jacker or an automatic fisherman.