Wausau, WI area fishing report
Joel DeBoer
February 23, 2009
Schofield - Freshwater Fishing Report
Fishing is very good in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area, and with warmer weather on the horizon, the action will only continue to get better! Great time of year to get out on the ice.
The walleye bite has truly been "on fire" in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area. Anglers are catching and releasing many slot fish (20-28 inches). The walleyes are still associating with various structural elements including sunken wood and green weeds. The best depths for the walleyes has been from 5-15 feet, with the presentation of choice being tip-ups baited with shiners or sucker minnows. The night bite is still going strong with anglers catching fish in water as shallow as three feet. In addition, anglers jigging for walleyes are still reporting good success, including bonus perch being caught.
Northern action remains strong in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area with most anglers reporting fish being taken in 4-12 feet of water associated with remaining green weeds. Tip-ups with large shiners or golden shiner are producing fish up to 38 inches, with the chance of these 'gators reaching or exceeding the magic 40 inch mark. Remember, the best northern ice fishing of the season is yet to come as late February into March are trophy northern time in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area.
Bluegill action continues strong, with fish currently relating to the remaining green weeds, both amongst the largest clumps and along edges. Good limits of nice sized gills including some real "bulls" are being caught, with anglers having their best luck with live bait mousies, waxies and spikes.
Anglers in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area are finding that the perch bite is starting to pick up with good limits of nice sized perch being found associated with mud flats. Anglers that stay mobile and can locate these schools are doing very well using wigglers and small tear drop jigs or smaller Swedish Pimples.
The crappie bite in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area, while sporadic at times, has continued to provide good sized slabs for anglers who are willing to drill plenty of holes and remain mobile. Early morning and dusk have been the most productive times, with anglers utilizing their electronics to locate schools of fish suspended over the deeper water of holes and main area basins. Small minnows on tip-downs seem to be producing the most consistently, although jigging amongst your set of tip-downs will draw strikes quickly from aggressive fish.
And remember, the walleye, northern, and bass seasons on most of the waters in the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area REMAIN OPEN throughout the year; and unlike so many lakes further north that have daily walleye bag limits of two or three fish, the walleye bag limit on most of the waters of the Wausau/Central Wisconsin area remains at FIVE (5) fish.
Schofield Fishing Forecast:
Late February through March often holds some of the finest ice-fishing of the season in the greater Wausau area. With spring-like weather on the way, the fishing should only continue to get better!
Target Species:
Walleye, crappie, bluegill, northern pike
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