Try to fish 10-12 feet deep near cribs.  The fish are cruising from one crib to another, so more fish will be swimming by your line soon.  Stay a little deeper than usual to avoid the little perch.  If you’re catching bluegills during the day, as the light fades, charge up the plastic for crappies.

 Both the north and south ends of the lake are producing, and some of the cribs on the north end have been marked with a pole that has reflective tape.  I suggest fishing off to the side or between the cribs.  Don’t forget to mark a crib once found for further reference.  Tip-up fishermen have been doing well off of the mouth of the Red Cedar, with four fish this week weighing over 10lbs.

 I was pleased to see one of Rice Lake’s older fishermen get his limit of crappies the old way.  This was without the use of electronics-just a spring bobber and determination -Congratulations!

Frank Zumpf

Sporting Good Manager, Rainbow Home Center

January 25, 2011—(Rice Lake, WI)—After more than a month of solid ice fishing action, things have slowed down a bit in the Rice Lake area and across the north

As is typical for this time of year, nearly all species of fish have become less active. Bites are lighter. The action is slower. It happens every year.

The good news is that bluegills seem to be biting fairly well. While crappie action has been spotty, bluegills are biting on lakes throughout the Rice Lake area. The fish are biting lightly, but they are biting.

One good trick for attracting and catching more fish is to use two different lures. A good combination is a small fly tied just six or eight inches above a small tear-drop ice fishing jig. The flash of the jig entices fish and the fly appears as an irresistible morsel.

For your best chances at a good day of fishing, target bluegill this week.

Mid-winter Ice Fishing Provides Steady Action

Pike, crappie and bluegill on tap in Rice Lake

January 18, 2011—(Rice Lake, WI)—The Rice Lake area is experiencing fairly typical mid-winter ice fishing conditions.

While fish aren’t tearing up fishing baits right now, they are biting. The ice fishing action in the Rice Lake area can best be described as steady.

Pike are biting the best. Good-sized fish are being caught on large shiners.

Bluegills and crappie continue to bite, but at a slower pace than in previous weeks. Bluegill are being found in relatively deep water adjacent to the places where weed beds were during open water.

Schools of crappie are generally found deeper. The key for catching crappie is finding the depth at which they’re feeding under the ice.

Get out and enjoy some steady fishing this week.

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