Northern and panfish action good, with walleye fair; all in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.
Ice conditions in the Eagle River area are good, but travel is extremely difficult — lots of snow and slush to contend with. Stick to well traveled trails, and be extremely cautious as with the impending warm up, the ice will become “iffy” in many areas, and while looking safe, is not.
NORTHERN: Northern in the Eagle River area are moving to weed edges and adjacent hard bottom areas. Use a medium to large shiner or northern sucker under a tip up. You can also try a large jigging spoon (unbaited is just fine). All day action. Bite is good.
PANFISH: Crappies, bluegills and perch are locating in two areas in the Eagle River area. Try main lake basins in 30-40 feet of water; or fish shallow basin lakes in 15 feet of water or less on mudflats and weed beds. The perch are tight to bottom. The crappies and gills are suspending quite high in the water column — but that is day dependent, so best you use a flasher to locate the fish and save time and effort drilling lots of useless holes. Use a spike, wiggler, waxies or crappie minnow under a slip bobber or on a small jig. All day action. Bite is good.
WALLEYE: Walleye in the Eagle River area are off of break edges and on adjacent mud flats. The walleye are tight to bottom. Use a medium shiner or walleye sucker under a tip up, or try a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head. All day action with peaks in the evening. The bite is fair.
(This report based on Creative Brilliance interviews with Eagle River guides “Muskie Matt” of Wild Eagle Lodge, “Ranger Rick” Krueger of Guide’s Choice Pro Shop, and Mat Hegy).
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