Northwoods Wisconsin Fishing/Outdoor Report December 26, 2011 12-25-2011

As of December 26, 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: - - Ice getting stronger, with walleye, northern, and panfish all hitting in
the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.- -Outstanding ice fishing bite for walleye, northern and panfish; 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 December 26, 2011:

Eagle River, Wisconsin: Snowmobile Capital of the World®, Hockey Capital of
Wisconsin, World’s Largest Chain of 28 Lakes (Eagle River Chain O’Lakes
named one of the “7 Natural Wonders of Wisconsin” by Travel
Wisconsin.com/Wisconsin Department of Tourism). “The Best Up-North Town -
-Eagle River, Wisconsin” , as voted on by readers of Wisconsin Trails
Magazine. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce: 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400;
e-mail:  info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
Ice getting stronger, with walleye, northern, and panfish all
hitting in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.Ice in the Eagle River area is going to around 6 inches and getting
stronger, on most of the smaller lakes, with a little less on the big, clear
lakes. Caution is strongly advised, and foot travel is the way to get out
at this time. Good things are happening fishing-wise in the Eagle River. It’s first ice
time, and the fishing is good.Walleye in the Eagle River area are locating in 6-12 feet of water outside
weed edges. The walleyes are locating in the bottom foot of water, pretty
tight to bottom. Use a small shiner under a tip-up. Action is good, with the
best time near sunset.Northerns in the Eagle River area can be found in 10 feet of water or less
in or near weeds. Fish about a foot or so above the weeds. Use a medium to
large shiner or sucker minnow under a tip-up. All day bite is providing
good action. Panfish - -crappies, bluegills and perch - -are being found in two locations
in the Eagle River area. You can fish in 10 feet of water or less in the
weeds, or in 12-20 feet of water over mudflats. Perch will be tight to
bottom in both areas. The crappies and gills will be suspending in both
areas. In the shallower, weedy areas, the crappies and gills are up and
down the water column. Over the mudflats, fish about half-way down in that
deeper water. Use a small crappie minnow or a waxie under a slipbobber.
Some real good action, and it’s an all day bite. Don’t forget, when fishing
for crappies, they only bite “up,” never “down.”
(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
***Calendar highlights for Eagle River, Wisconsin:*** ANNUAL ICE CASTLE IN EAGLE RIVER, WISCONSIN.
DATE: EVERY YEAR between Christmas and New Year’s (weather permitting),
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 by volunteers led by the area Fire
Department. Located on a major snowmobile trail through Eagle River,
everyone stops to have their picture taken in front of the Ice Castle! Lit
at night, too! Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315;
715-479-6400;e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org***** Fri.-Sun., Jan. 13-22, 2012: World Championship Snowmobile Derby Week
at the Derby Track. Vintage competition, world championships, exhibits.
Don’t miss this world-class event, attended by mega-thousands and recognized
around the globe. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315;
715-479-6400;  info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org– Fri.-Sun., Jan. 27-29, 2012: 26th Anniversary Annual Women on Snow
Celebration. Opportunity for women of all ages and riding abilities to
snowmobile Northern Wisconsin’s beautiful trails. Hosting lodge: Eagle River
Inn and Resort in Eagle River. Limited to first 120 women. Registrants are
accepted on first-received, first-accepted basis. Meals, lodging, and gas
are included in the registration fee cost of $250 for the weekend; oil and
refreshments are on your own. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315;
715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org

***** Fri.-Sun., Feb. 10-12, 2012: USA Adult Pond Hockey National
Championships. 4 on 4 Pond Hockey Championships held on Dollar Lake at the
Chanticleer Inn in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Dozens and dozens of rinks are
set up on the ice of Dollar Lake. 284 teams; competitors from around the
world. The premier winter ice hockey event anywhere. 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 December
26, 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”.Outstanding ice fishing bite for walleye, northern and panfish; all
in and amidst the lakes and the Wisconsin River of Wisconsin’s Marathon and
Lincoln Counties (near Mosinee and Wausau).The first ice bite of the year in the central Wisconsin area has simply been
“outstanding” with great numbers of panfish being caught along with some
really, really big northerns and walleyes.This past week in the central Wisconsin area we have had a very good panfish
bite when working shallow weeds in 3 to 5 feet of water. Large bluegills and
an occasional crappie have been taking our presentations along with a few
perch. We have also been getting quite a few nice crappies over deeper
water as well. Some really nice slabs have been holding in 15 to 20 feet of
water about 1 to 3 feet off the bottom. Small ice jigs in black and purple
have produced the best for us this past week when tipped with a small spike
or a waxie. We have been seeing more and nicer crappies when we have been
tipping the lures with small plastics as well.The northern pike in the central Wisconsin area have really turned up big
this year and we have been seeing some real giants. Most of our fish are
coming in less than 5 feet of water on tip-ups baited with a large golden
shiner or a small sucker minnow. We are running our baits about a foot
below the ice on most occasions and adding a few attractor beads and blades
to the line for added color and noise to help attract an aggressive pike.