45'' - 25#+ Musky Catch and Release On Open Water

36-37 degree surface water
All main lake landings remain open
Ten day forecast still not ice-like

• Ice conditions in Norton's Bay are 5-7 inches and getting worse. The open water is almost to Bay View Motel today. The Mill Pond had fishermen on it today. The lake will have boat traffic this weekend with the warm weather prediction. Remember to use extreme caution when venturing on the open water.(HYPOTHERMIA KILLS) A local fisherman has caught numerous Lake Trout and an occasional Brown Trout in open water. He happened upon a 45'' Musky while trout fishing a few days ago that thumped his 25# scale. That fish will keep your summer dreams alive.
• Bluegills are still being caught but not in large numbers. Small jigs and plastics are still the best bait.
• Lake Trout action on open water has been pretty good using medium minnows and lindy rigs. 30-60 Ft of water is a good place to start.
• Northern Pike should be in the weeds if you take a boat. Try bobber fishing with a large shiner in 14-18 Ft of water.

Last Year Jan.17th The Lake Was Iced Over

36 degree surface water
All main lake landings are open
Is ice time running out

• Ice conditions on the bays and channels are 5 to 7 inches with some soft spots. Use caution on any ice with the warm temperatures. We may be running out time for the extreme cold weather we need to make for safe ice conditions on the main lake. The only benefit I can see is a surplus of Lake Trout and Northern Pike for the summer fisherman. These two species are the heaviest harvest of the winter season. All main lake boat landings are open today. Dartford Bay is still frozen.
• Bluegills are still biting and quite finicky. Plastic have been the bait of choice and spikes are a close second.
• Lake Trout fishing has been good to tough for the boat fishermen. The number of boats continue to go up as the days get longer. 25-60 feet of water with medium minnows will produce fish. Cold water is not a good time to fish alone and you must be very careful.
• Brown Trout continue to show up both under the ice and in the open water.

Ten Day Forecast Not ''Ice-Like"

37 degree surface water
18 Ft visibility
Lake Trout is open

• Ice conditions are not good and fishermen should not take chances on the deteriorating ice we have. Use extreme caution and don't go alone. Stay off the inlet ice on the east end because an east wind could set you 'a sail'. Shoreline ice in the Bay, Beyer's, and the Mill Pond is soft with 5'' to 8'' of ice once you get on.
• Cisco spawning is over and the fish are suspending over very deep water. Hard to target and very spooky.
• Lake Trout are active if you want to launch your boat. Remember the water is very cold and don't take chances. Lindy rig golden shiners or emeralds from 20-60 Ft of water.
• Northern Pike are in the weeds and should bite if you launch a boat. Fish a large bobber in 12-15 Ft of water over the weeds.
• Bluegills are in the shallows but still finicky. Spikes and plastics are still the bait of choice.
• Brown Trout continue to show up in the shallows both under the ice and in open water. Small minnows or small crank baits are the best baits.

We Need Zero Wind and Single Digit Temperatures.

34 degree surface water
Cisco spawn has peaked
Bluegills are finicky

• WHEN THE MAIN LAKE GETS ICE I WILL UPDATE AS THE ICE CONDITIONS DICTATE
  
• Ice conditions are not improving with the warm temperatures. The Mill Pond, Beyer's Cove, and Norton's Bay are the only places on the lake which have ice that you can walk on. The shorelines have some soft spots due to the warm temperatures. Horner's landing is clear and Derrings will probably open back up this week. If you go out in a boat be aware of ice flows with a east wind.
• Cisco are spawning in peak conditions right now and will start to slow down next week. Any glow spoon will work at night and 'day time' spoon color seems to change every day. Remember to pay attention to foul hooked fish. If it's hooked behind the mouth area you could run into trouble when the warden is at the landing. These fish smack the glow baits and turn which causes some of the strange hook ups. If in doubt ----release the fish. The limit is 25#plus 1 fish. Some say 3/4 of a five gallon bucket and you're safe.
• Bluegills are in the bays in good numbers but are very picky. Small jigs and purple plastic have worked for some fisherman. One fisherman was in the store today with his 25 fish from the T cannel and all fish were 7 to 9 inches. He worked most of the day with a small jig and plastic.
• Northern Pike are in Norton's Bay but you must put some time in to be productive. Large shiners are the best bait.
• Walleyes have been caught at night in the Bay but not in larger numbers. Most of the guys are spending a good part of the night and happy with one or two ''eyes''. One 9#+ fish was taken last week.
• Lake Trout season opens Saturday and it looks like the boat fishermen will be the only ones chasing them. Anywhere you find the ciscos you'll find the lakers eating the eggs just laid by the spawning ciscos.