Northwoods Wisconsin Outdoor and Fishing Report. February 21, 2011 2-22-2011

As of February 21, 2011:Outdoor and Fishing Reports for:
– Eagle River, Wisconsin;
– Central Wisconsin Lakes AND the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin’s Marathon
and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau).
THIS WEEK’S HEADLINES:- - - Northern, crappies, bluegills and perch providing good action, with
walleye fair, and some largemouth bass being caught, in the Eagle River,
Wisconsin area. - - Walleye active, with good ancillary action for northerns, and panfish
continue to hit without letup ,all in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin
River of Wisconsin’s Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and
Wausau).WEEKLY OUTDOOR AND FISHING REPORTS, and calendar highlights: ***Eagle River, Wis. (VILAS COUNTY) — as of February 21, 2011: Northern, crappies, bluegills and perch providing good action, with
walleye fair, and some largemouth bass being caught, in the Eagle River,
Wisconsin area.Ice conditions in the Eagle River area are generally good, with
areas of slush forming due to the warmer weather. As we move towards
spring, be extra cautious as ice will be thinning, honeycombing, and
breaking up, especially in current areas and around structure like bridges.
Be especially cautious about going out on lakes with motor vehicles.Northern in the Eagle River area are hitting well, and locating in 15 feet
of water or less in and around weeds. Use a tip up with a large shiner or
sucker minnow. Anglers are also getting some largemouth bass as incidental
hits when going for the northerns.Crappies are providing good action in the Eagle River area, but you have to
hunt for them. There are two areas to fish for the crappies: Shallow weeds
- -15 feet of water or less or the crappies are suspending up and down the
water column over deep mudflats.Fish at different depths starting at the
bottom and working your way up, remembering that crappies always bite up,
never down. Crappie minnows are working best, with waxies pulling in some
fish as well.

The bluegill bite in the Eagle River area is good. Fish 15 feet of water or
less in and around weeds. Use a small teardrop jig with a waxie.

Perch action has been good in the Eagle River area. The perch are really
scattered, with no consistent area to fish. Fish 5 to 25 feet of water,
over primarily mud bottom. The perch will be hugging the bottom. Use a
waxie, spike or wiggler - -all are working, and some real nice jumbos are
being caught.
One suggestion that is paying off for ice anglers going for panfish in the
Eagle River area: Use electronic locators. This will save you an enormous
amount of time and effort- - especially since the panfish seem to be really
moving around right now. Be patient. Drill a lot of holes, and move
around. You’ll find the panfish.Walleye action in the Eagle River area is fair. Evening bite is best. Fish
10-25 feet off of break edges. Use a tip up with a small walleye sucker or
small shiner.(Report for the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce 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).
Contact info for Eagle River:
* Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail:
info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
* “Muskie Matt”, 715-891-5980; e-mail: rfrgoutdoors@gmail.com
* Mat Hegy, 715-571-7544, e-mail: lunkerclunkerguideservice@yahoo.com
* Guide’s Choice Pro Shop, guide/owner “Ranger Rick” Krueger 715-477-2248
* George Langley, Eagle River Fishing Guides Association, 715-479-8804.
e-mail: fishing@eaglesportscenter.com
***Some special calendar highlights for Eagle River, Wisconsin: SNOWMOBILE TRAILS IN EAGLE RIVER ARE OPEN!!
The snowmobile trails in the Eagle River area are OPEN! 500 miles of trails
on the finest snowmobile system anywhere - -beautifully groomed and
perfectly maintained as no one else can do it- - and that¹s just one reason
why Eagle River is called The Snowmobile Capital of the World®. Trailer up
your sled and get on up here. You¹ll have the best ³two-fer² of your life ­
great snowmobiling and great ice fishing- - plus top-flight food and
beverage, accommodations, services, activities, and special events - -all
designed for every taste and budget. Don¹t miss out. Now¹s the time to be
in Eagle River! Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400;
e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
THE ICE CASTLE IN EAGLE RIVER, WISCONSIN IS OPEN AND ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!
DATE: Erected EVERY YEAR between Christmas and New Year’s.
Eagle River’s annual ice castle construction has been a community tradition
for nearly eighty years! Over 3,000 ten-inch ice blocks are cut from a
local lake using antique ice equipment, trucked to town, and placed and
sculpted into a breathtaking new design every year! Located on a major
snowmobile trail through Eagle River, everyone stops to have their picture
taken in front of the Ice Castle! Eagle River Chamber of Commerce;
800-359-6315; 715-479-6400;e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web:
www.eagleriver.org - - Sat.-Sun., Feb. 26-27, 2011: Great Northern Sno-X Series Round 7 at the
Eagle River Derby Track. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315;
715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org21st ANNUAL TRIG’S KLONDIKE DAYS WINTER FAMILY FESTIVAL IN EAGLE RIVER,
Wisconsin.
Sat.-Sun., March 5-6, 2011.
Considered the most multi-faceted winter event in Wisconsin. Learn the rich
heritage and history of the Eagle River area while enjoying this world-class
grand winter exhibition and festival which includes historically-accurate
Voyageur encampment with re-creators demonstrating and living life of the
earliest exploration days of the area, with muzzle-loading, smithing,
cooking, trapping demonstrations and so much more. Lumberjack events and
competitions, snowshoe races, chainsaw carving, Native American cultural
presentations, wood cut-stack-split contest, dog weight pulls, horse weight
pulls, juried arts and crafts show, quilt show, sleigh rides, fabulous
northwoods foods, live music and entertainment. Geared to families.
Something for every taste. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315;
715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org***(Report on Central Wisconsin Lakes AND the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin’s
Marathon and Lincoln Counties near Mosinee and Wausau), — as of February
21, 2011. Editor’s note: The daily bag limit for walleyes on many lakes and
the Wisconsin River in Central Wisconsin (always check the regulations on
the particular water, first) is five (5) fish per day throughout the year
while the daily bag limit for walleye in many areas north of Mosinee and
Wausau may only be two to three fish because of Native American spearing
initiatives and the resulting DNR “quota limits”.

Walleye active, with good ancillary action for northerns, and
panfish continue to hit without letup ,all in and amidst the lakes and the
Wisconsin River of Wisconsin’s Marathon and Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee
and Wausau).

Great late season ice fishing opportunities continue in the central
Wisconsin area.Walleye have been very active in the central Wisconsin area, with some nice
fish coming from area lakes. Target shallow mud flats early and late in the
day in 3 to 5 feet of water with tip ups baited with golden shiners or small
walleye sized suckers, set about a foot off the bottom. Anglers are also
managing to pick up some very nice northerns while walleye and crappie
fishing, with most of them being in the deeper 8 to 12 feet of water range. The panfish activity in the central Wisconsin area has continued to get
better and better. Crappies are moving into traditional late ice staging areas and the action
has really turned on. Small has been better as far as jigs and bait are
concerned. Tiny Marmooska jigs and Fiskas in orange and green have been out
producing any other colors or lures. Along with smaller baits, a slow
presentation has accounted for more action and larger fish on the ice. Work
depths of 10-14 feet and continually work the different water columns to
find active fish. The higher you find the fish, the more active they are,
and they are also usually larger.For the bluegills in the central Wisconsin area, work several different
lakes in the area with different tactics, but with similar excellent
results. On the stained Wisconsin River backwaters work shallow water in 3
to 6 feet and on the clear lakes fish as deep as 24 feet. Most of the fish
have been coming on Gill Pills in orange and green, with a slow presentation
being the key. Anglers have actually have had fish charge up to 10 feet to
meet bait in 20 feet of water ­ as long as the presentation has been real,
real slow.The perch bite is taking shape in the central Wisconsin area, and the most
recent activity shows decent fish moving into that 8 to 10 foot depth, as
they work their way towards their traditional spring spawning areas.
Jigging has produced the best. Run small teardrop jigs in red and purple
with a red spike, or set up a “Dead Stick” with a small #14 treble hook, and
a rosie red minnow, set about a foot off the bottom.(This report based on interview with licensed guide and trapper Phil
Schweik and licensed guide Glenn Moberg, of Hooksetters Fishing & Hunting
Guide Service, Mosinee. Wisconsin).

For more information about fishing and hunting in the Central Wisconsin
area:
* Phil Schweik, Hooksetters Fishing & Hunting Guide Services: phone:
715-693-5843; e-mail: info@hooksetters.biz; web: www.hooksetters.bizReports compiled, written & distributed by Creative Brilliance. ©2011.
Naomi K. Shapiro or Ray Smith, Creative Brilliance 608-827-6483;
e-mail: cre8vnaomi@gmail.com; cre8vRay@charter.net.