Gary Engberg Outdoors

gengberg December 25th, 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 Continue Reading »