Winnie Ice Update

Travel on the lake is very good right now. The cold spell froze up almost all of the slush and water holes. On many areas of the lake, two wheel drive vehicles can make it away from the beaten path. There is some drifting with the fresh snow and strong winds, but it is very limited.

As of yesterday, the Birches public access is not usable. There was a big water hole in front of the access last weekend. It did not freeze up completely before the snow, it drifted over the old banks, and now the snow is keeping it insulated. There is a foot or so of drifting, a few inches of ice, then almost a foot of water. There are some other areas on the lake that could have this as well, but this was the only major one I found. As long as you stay away from any snow banks travel is good.

Richardson townsite public access is in real good condition on the south end of the lake. With the strong south winds, there is hardly any snow on the south side. There are some drifted areas where old roads or houses were, but it is easy to avoid those areas.

Fishing has been good, but the hotspot one day may not be the hot spot the next. I am still getting bigger perch on the bottom of structure in the 30′ range, but I have been finding more fish shallow. If you work shallow, you have the opportunity to CPR some bonus walleyes as well. Be prepared to move with the fish if you are not getting any. I left my camera at home, so the first picture is from last weekend. As of the last few days, limits of perch from 9.5 to 11.5 inches would be common with some fish over the 12 inch mark.

This will be my last ice fishing report. I leave this weekend for the MWC and the RCL on the Illinois River. Hopefully my tournament season will start out on a good note.