Any Body Out There?   We are headed up to Shell Lake for a long week-end and plan to do some ice fishing. Anybody have a ice report for us? Snow depth? Are the fish biting?

 

Mossback

 I just got home from Missouri last night. Going to punch a couple of holes today and see what the ice is like. I am a bit south of Shell Lake so that ice should be thicker. I will post the info as soon as I get back.

 

Jim USArmy 1986-Present Life Member NAFC Member Western Fishers

Sounds good Jim.  Hope you have some luck today! 

 

 

 

 

  I had 6-8 inches of Ice that was kinda soft but not mush on top. The snow depth was 8-10 inches. I think the snow is insulating so that is why there is moisture on top of the ice. It was -8 this AM so there shouldn't have been any wet ice. As far as fish.....Their in there because I caught some 14 inch Crappie in the fall..I will just have to search for them...Good Luck to you also.

 

Jim USArmy 1986-Present Life Member NAFC Member Western Fishers

6 to 8 inched sounds like we should be alright then. We had -8 this morning here at home in Dodge Co. too. I'm hoping the gills will cooporte with us this week-end though!  Thanks alot Jim for the report. We'll let you know how we did.

 

Mossback

How was the fishing? I didn't get out this weekend.
Jim USArmy 1986-Present Life Member NAFC Member Western Fishers

We just got home last night. The ice was pretty good with 6 to 8 inches of good ice. We only caught a couple of fish on Saturday but did really well on the gills on Monday. We only fished a few hours and C&R'd over 50 fish. We had enough for a couple of good meals. Marked fish for the whole time with the bite only slowing down a dusk which I guess is usual for bluegills. We had a nice trip. Not too happy about being back at work! :O(                                         Oh well gotta pay those bills.

 

Mrs Mossback

Sounds like a nice trip. I've never iced a fish. I only went 4 times last year on a lake by Ladysmith, didn't have any luck. Going to try today for Walleye on a hole I know of on the river here at home. Just need to make sure the ice is good. I still see some open water.

 

Jim USArmy 1986-Present Life Member NAFC Member Western Fishers

Hello everyone, good to be back. I fish numerous lakes in Polk county and as of today I'd say theres a good 12" - 14" on most of the lakes. A lot of anglers are driving small trucks, cars and vans out already, but I would'nt recomend it myself. We had good ice formation in early December up untill some heavy snow storms that slowed the freezing process. You can definitely make it out on an ATV though, and fish are biting!