I can’t tell you how good it felt to cut the first hole of the season yesterday. There are milestones we all enjoy and for me first ice is one of my favorites. This would be my first day on Wapogasset. Showing me the way for the day was my good friend Erik Carlson. The ice was about 4” thick with limited soft spots.
We set up near a weed bed that fluctuated from 8 FOW to 10 FOW. We found the highest concentration of fish were right on the edge of the weeds. My Marcum revealed a good concentration of fish, but it was clear they were neutral to negative. I enjoy the challenge of figuring about what will trigger bites. The key on this day was to simply downsize our offering. I had my best results on a tiny tear drop tipped with a wax worm. We were able to ice a few crappies and bluegills. The bite was challenging, but it was encouraging see so many fish. It should be a good ice season on Wapogasset
We left Waposgasset late morning and spent the rest of our day on a small lake in the area. It wasn’t our first visit to this water.
We arrived with high anticipation. We cut holes with the Strikemaster Lazer hand auger and quickly got to work. Erik quickly iced a 9 ¾” bluegill. In a match of dueling bluegills I iced a bluegill that hit the tape at an even 10”. In an attempt for a late surge Erik iced another 9 ¾” bluegill. With other bluegills mixed in this body of water has a healthy average size.
There is no better time to be on the ice, but remember to use caution.
Sully
I feel your joy dude
First ice blue ears sure put up a tussle hey
Nice silver sides to boot
Didnt know you were a Wappo fisherman, one of my favorite lakes. Thanks for the report Jason maybe I’ll see you out there this winter
Great report Sully! Thanks for sharing
Was great to hang out again with you buddy!!
Had a great weekend trying to coax the gills into biting. 
Great report buddy
nice job guys…been awhile since I’ve been out that way-any word on Black Brook?
Dang.. we were gonna go to wapo,but opted to just go home early after we couldnt find fish on balsam. I guess it doesnt sound like you lit them up to much out there, but better than we did. Seemed to be a tough bite everywhere. Lots of guys on Wapo?
GPS coordinates?
Thanks for the report. I haven’t fished Wappy for a few years. Looks like I should wing by and give it a go.
Great report Sully.Some nice looking gills & specs guys!
Gear is all packed & I hope to be hitting some of the northwoods lakes & ponds tommorrow in search of ? 
Lets just say whatever stretchs my string. 
Hope to hit a few different lakes so I’m going with the aggressive approach,run & gun.Now I just hope they will take the bait.Watch out fat girls here I come. 
Hope to chat with you soon Sully.Until then best of luck fishing. 
WHITE TIP
Fairly tough bite a total of 4 other guys ventured out there that morning as well. All in all only stuck it out for about three hours before moving to another local small lake.
Not familiar with Black Brooke lake??
GPS cordinates I am claiming (not applicable)
Anybody else planning on heading out in the western wisconsin (Osceola-Amery) goodluck and look forward to reports!! Feel free to send a PM I will respond.
O.K. were is Wapogasset what county? thanks the gut hooker!
Beginning Friday I will be spending a week+ on the Amery area lakes. I have a cabin on Big Blake and will start there first. The gills are down there. They’re not as nice as other surrounding lakes, but there are lots of them.
It’s in Polk county.
Check out the DNR Lake Map.
Sully
so the ice overall is safe to walk out and fish on? anyone know how the ice is by the boat launch near the lake outlet where it turns into a river and goes over a cement spillway? I use to fish the weedbeds 50 yards out past the no wake buoy and over by the summer camp when i was about 12. would be nice to take a trip if the numbers are like that.
I recieved a report from a friend this morning who was out there and there is a solid 8 inches of ice out there. Guys are ventoring all over the lake however I am not suggesting you go by the river inlet or outlet due to the fact that I have stayed clear of that area and am unsure of the conditions in that area.
Regarding the cement spillway I was not on that end of the lake nor have I noticed guys down that far.
thes the only public boat launch i knew of, aside from one further north on the same side. do you know of any areas that would allow me to park and easy walking access to the lake?
Nice looking Polk County pan fryers Jason! I don’t know what it is about Polk County, but it seems to grow some nice size panfish every year. Nice to be back on the ice!
There is a landing on the southwest end of the lake this is the one with the cement overflow. A landinging in about the middle of the lake on the west side which has adequate parking and easy access to the lake, as well as a landing on the north end of the lake next to a bar that has burnt down previously. The last two have easy access as well as adequate parking. If you venture out I look forward to hearing a report. Good luck