The cold weather last week limited the number of people who were out, but those that were out met with varying levels of success. The good news about the cold weather is that the main-lake ice appears to be safe (for walking) now, but remain cautious when in open water or mainlake areas, and especially on the ice over deeper water.
Pike are beginning to bite aggressively. We are starting to getting alot of reports of pike 30 inches or better from area lakes. The pattern that seems to be working is to suspend large shiners or small suckers on tip-ups with a spinner harness for a leader in shallow water to mid-depth water near weeds. Okauchee (Stumpy, Icehouse, Bay Five, Tierney Bay, Garvin and the Crane's Nest,) Golden Lake, Nagawicka, Kessus and Fowler have all been conistent producers for people who put in the time.
The panfish bite has started to move out towards deeper water, but many anglers are still catching them in shallow bays and other protected areas. Larger panfish will move out to deep water and suspend, and this migration is probably occurring right. With the warmer weather and better ice over deeper water, expect anglers to start to find schools of fish out deep. Here's my advice: look for them off the ends of the deeper mainlake points. Gills and crappies will both be suspended, but sometimes just over the bottom, and away from and bottom-based cover. Be ready to pickup and move if you don't find some active fish on your camera/flasher pretty quick.
Walleye bite continues on the walleye lakes. 6-10 or 12-18 feet seem to be the hot ranges for water depth. I'd look for them adjacent to current areas or springs. And fish early and late in the day. Jigging is starting to take a few in the evenings, but tip-ups are producing the lion share of the fish right now.
Good luck.
CT
