Northwest Wisconsin fishing report for Feb. 10

Good Day,

Brrr.  After a nice long spell of mild and warm temps, things have gotten back to normal.  Through the weekend we experienced above average temperatures that provided the opportunities to fish outside the hub shacks.  As long as you were running and gunning you would not get cold.  Ice fishing can be a great way to get into shape.  Between walking, drilling holes, carrying gear, setting up/taking down, focusing attention on fishing and electronics, etc. etc.  One can, and does indeed burn a lot of calories.

Ice conditions around the area continue to hamper some bodies of water.  We are seeing a lot of slush and in some cases "bad ice"..  On Fish lake Birch Island Rd has been a real problem and they are recommending anyone pull there permanents off before things get worse.  With the cold forecast, hopefully some of the wet areas will firm up and get better, but as always, be very cautious...

Throughout the weekend we struggled to catch fish, but at the end that changed...

Lake Superior was a dead sea until the cold came in at the end of the weekend.  Sometimes we cant help but be superstitious because karma paid off.  On a day where we had wide blowing snow and temps were dropping, fish put on a feed bag.  Jigging with Northland Fishing Tackle tungsten Sliver spoon in glow chub tipped with a lake shiner minnow did the trick.  We set up in 25-55 feet of water and the fishing was lights out.  We caught several whitefish, splake and lakers but were unable to land any Brown Trout.  Tip-ups with shiners halfway to the bottom and jigging aggressively off the bottom were the preferred methods.  We marked a lot of smelt and when they would disappear off the graph get ready for  a fish!

St Louis River continues to be a tough bite.  We worked extra hard to land very few fish this last week.  Best bite was after sun down for about a 40 minute window.  Jigging smaller Clam blade spoons tipped with chubs brought fish in.  Most often they would hit the dead stick with nothing but small red hook sinker and fathead under a venom float.  Look for the river to heat up as we move closer to the end of the season..

The inland bite continues and will continue to be the best for staying busy.  The crappies have moved off the shallower areas into deep basins and gills are also staying deeper.  Electronics are key to targeting these fish and feeling out there mood.  If we mark fish but have a hard time getting em to bite, we usually move to find a more active and aggressive school.  Tip ups are still getting pike and bass and the occasional walleyes.  Setting up near structure or shallow vegetation will pay off.

Stay safe, warm and good luck!

GoOD FiShN,

Jarrid Houston of Houston's Guide Service fishes the lakes of northwest Wisconsin. To reach Houston, call 218-393-4962 or email houstonbsu@hotmail.com.