With conditions about the same as last year, minus the 18’” of snow that fell last year on May 1st, the 2014-2015 open water season will be delayed once again. ...more I have traveled the area checking on the lakes and found them to be very heavy with ice. All of the launches around the “Quiet Lakes” are still iced in and the only open water is around the inlets of the creeks where water is flowing. There is movement away from shorelines, but not very far. If you are determined to fish this weekend I would suggest fishing some of the flowage lakes like the Chippewa or Flambeau that have some open areas/bays, or the rivers like the Namekagon or the West Fork of the Chippewa. Walleye fishing should be good on the rivers.

If you are lucky enough to find open water lake, the walleye and the northern pike are still in their spawning cycle and should be fished shallow along any emerging weeds, rock bars or sandy bottoms. Of course walleye fishing would be best after dark. A slower presentation should used with shallow running lures like Rapala, plastics or live bait. In cold water fish will not chase fast moving baits.

Panfish and bass will spawn much later, but should be beginning to stage and move towards shallower water. Panfish can be found on the deeper edges of the weeds and the drop-offs. Crappie minnows or small plastics fished under a bobber will work for the panfish. This is the first year in many that largemouth bass can be kept on opening day. The daily limit is five fish and size limit is 14 inches. Smallmouth bass in the northern zone must be released immediately until June 20th.

Providing the forecast for the coming week is accurate we should be beginning a nice warm up period with temperatures in the 50’s, plus. If that is the case then I would think by the following weekend we should be able to get out on the lake and enjoy some good mid-spring fishing. Until then I am keeping my fingers crossed.