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Houston's fishing report: Look for pike, panfish in the weeds

I know some are growing tired of winter, but personally, I wish the cold weather would hold on through this month so we could see the ice grow to safer conditions on Lake Superior. Some anglers took to the ice we had near the Twin Ports last week...

Jarrid Houston
Jarrid Houston

I know some are growing tired of winter, but personally, I wish the cold weather would hold on through this month so we could see the ice grow to safer conditions on Lake Superior.

Some anglers took to the ice we had near the Twin Ports last week before it broke up - but that ice was unstable, making for dangerous circumstances, and we do not encourage this type of ice fishing. No fish is worth risking your life for, and if you do risk ice-fishing dangerous ice, you also risk the lives of the people that may try to assist in a rescue.

Lake Superior angling can be had on safe ice in Wisconsin near Ashland, Washburn and Bayfield. Ashland is producing some good catches of smallmouth bass, perch and a few trout and whitefish. The shorelines to the north into the islands are seeing mostly brown trout, splake and the occasional steelhead or coho near shore, and whitefish and lake trout in deeper waters offshore. Jigging heavy flashy spoons tipped with lake shiners has been best. We are also getting closer to full-fledged shore fishing on the North Shore, so stay tuned for that.

St. Louis River walleye anglers continue to catch a few fish, but action is slow. Low-light hours offer the best odds for success, though afternoons are producing better chances. We are having the most luck with Jigging Raps and spoons tipped with minnow heads, fishing depths of 8 to 16 feet of water off sharp breaks. The back bays on the Wisconsin side are seeing plenty of traffic with ice fishing contests on most weekends. The angling pressure has slowed the bite. Seek out areas where things can be on the quiet side for the best chance to crack some nice panfish and pike.

Inland fishing has been good, with catches of northern pike on weed edges and deeper weeds, flats and humps. The best baits include northern suckers and large shiners on tip-ups. Set baits near the bottom on weed edges and just above the tops of deeper weeds. Panfishing has been decent when you locate and stay with them. Check the entire water column, as the bigger panfish have been schooling up in suspended fashion. Crappie minnows, waxies, spikes and plastics on small teardrop jigs have been a good bet.

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