T_boy
12-08-2010, 01:28 PM
FIRST-ICE FISHING AREA LAKES: Ice fishing is beginning or already underway. Here are the regulations on public waters.
CHICAGO LAGOONS: Closed to all ice fishing. COOK FPD: Ice fish at your own risk on the designated ice-fishing lakes (4 inches is recommended): Arrowhead, Axehead, Beck, Belleau, Big Bend, Bode South only, Bullfrog, Busse main and south (no north pool), Flatfoot (new), Green (new), Horsetail, Ida, Maple, Papoose, Powderhorn, Saganashkee, Sag Quarry east and west, Tampier, Turtlehead and Wampum.
DuPAGE FPD: Unless otherwise posted, it’s ice fish at your own risk on forest preserve waters (4 inches of ice is recommended). Spring Creek Reservoir in Bloomingdale is closed to ice fishing (fluctuating levels). Late-night fishing is allowed at Deep Quarry Lake in Bartlett (fishermen must be out of the preserve by 11 p.m.).
KANE FPD: Ice fishing, at your own risk, is permitted at Lake Patterson at Oakhurst in Aurora and the various ponds at Burnidge in Elgin.
LAKE FPD: No ice fishing is open yet. When it is, it is permitted at Banana, Independence Grove south bay and Sterling, when the ice is uniformly 4.5 inches thick and the area is posted as safe for fishing. Call (847) 968-3235 or go to the ice fishing page at lcfpd.org.
MAZONIA SFWA: Monster Lake is open year-round for open-water or ice fishing. All ice fishing is done at your own risk. The other Mazonia units open after various hunting seasons.
McHENRY COUNTY CD: The McHenry County Conservation District allows ice fishing 8 a.m. to sunset at the Fel-Pro RRR, the Hollows (Lake Atwood and West Lake), Lyons Prairie & Marsh, Pleasant Valley, Rush Creek pond and Stickney Run pond, once signs are posted after 4 inches of ice are formed. Then it is at your own risk.
SILVER SPRINGS SFWA: Ice fish at your own risk on both lakes (Loon and Beaver). The west entrance is closed in winter, the east entrance may be closed temporarily because of icing. WILL FPD: The forest preserve district does not offer ice fishing.
LAKEFRONT PERCH: Arden Katz reported unbelievable perch at navy Pier, though it takes sorting and you have to move the bait. He uses Mini-Mites and spikes. He reported minnows were taking bigger 8perch. Henry’s said Navy Pier is best, but there’s also action (though takes more sorting) at Montrose, Belmont and Burnham. Unfortunately, weather has limited boater access to the big school off Gary Light. Mik-Lurch reported some perch up the river around 092nd and 95th.
CHAIN O’LAKES/FOX RIVER AREA: Triangle said safe conditions for ice fishing have been increasing daily with the cold, but be extremely careful in all areas. Some nice early bluegills are being caught, try your regular backwater areas. Don’t try to venture out on main lake areas at all yet. Hermann’s reported good ice on Nielsen’s Channel at Port Barrington on the Fox River. EARLY ACCESS: By the T Channel, staff at Famous Freddie’s asked fishermen to park in back and be out by 11:30 a.m. when they open, or come in and eat. . . . Granny’s at Spring Lake Marina will have parking and food. Be careful, early ice is tricky there. . . . For Ackerman’s Channel, there’s Port O’Blarney.
DELAVAN/GENEVA AREA, WIS.: Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle said they are walking out to ice fish on Como, while it is just beginning on Delavan (still spotty).
LAKEFRONT: For perch, see top. PIER PASSES: Henry’s now has $6 pier passes.
MADISON LAKES, WIS.: D&S Bait reported ice fishing started on Monona Bay.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: On Tuesday, Minocqua guide Kurt Justice put it well: ‘‘There is fishable ice all over the Northwoods. Ice averaging 2-5 inches with some areas at 6-inches-plus. BUT, as of Monday, there were lakes with open water (Fence, Minocqua, Tomahawk, Big Muskellunge). Most of those skimmed over last night/this morning thanks to single digit cold. Just be careful. We should have a lot better ice come this weekend with the cold.’’ There has been good pike, walleye and bluegill action.
Dale Bowman
CHICAGO LAGOONS: Closed to all ice fishing. COOK FPD: Ice fish at your own risk on the designated ice-fishing lakes (4 inches is recommended): Arrowhead, Axehead, Beck, Belleau, Big Bend, Bode South only, Bullfrog, Busse main and south (no north pool), Flatfoot (new), Green (new), Horsetail, Ida, Maple, Papoose, Powderhorn, Saganashkee, Sag Quarry east and west, Tampier, Turtlehead and Wampum.
DuPAGE FPD: Unless otherwise posted, it’s ice fish at your own risk on forest preserve waters (4 inches of ice is recommended). Spring Creek Reservoir in Bloomingdale is closed to ice fishing (fluctuating levels). Late-night fishing is allowed at Deep Quarry Lake in Bartlett (fishermen must be out of the preserve by 11 p.m.).
KANE FPD: Ice fishing, at your own risk, is permitted at Lake Patterson at Oakhurst in Aurora and the various ponds at Burnidge in Elgin.
LAKE FPD: No ice fishing is open yet. When it is, it is permitted at Banana, Independence Grove south bay and Sterling, when the ice is uniformly 4.5 inches thick and the area is posted as safe for fishing. Call (847) 968-3235 or go to the ice fishing page at lcfpd.org.
MAZONIA SFWA: Monster Lake is open year-round for open-water or ice fishing. All ice fishing is done at your own risk. The other Mazonia units open after various hunting seasons.
McHENRY COUNTY CD: The McHenry County Conservation District allows ice fishing 8 a.m. to sunset at the Fel-Pro RRR, the Hollows (Lake Atwood and West Lake), Lyons Prairie & Marsh, Pleasant Valley, Rush Creek pond and Stickney Run pond, once signs are posted after 4 inches of ice are formed. Then it is at your own risk.
SILVER SPRINGS SFWA: Ice fish at your own risk on both lakes (Loon and Beaver). The west entrance is closed in winter, the east entrance may be closed temporarily because of icing. WILL FPD: The forest preserve district does not offer ice fishing.
LAKEFRONT PERCH: Arden Katz reported unbelievable perch at navy Pier, though it takes sorting and you have to move the bait. He uses Mini-Mites and spikes. He reported minnows were taking bigger 8perch. Henry’s said Navy Pier is best, but there’s also action (though takes more sorting) at Montrose, Belmont and Burnham. Unfortunately, weather has limited boater access to the big school off Gary Light. Mik-Lurch reported some perch up the river around 092nd and 95th.
CHAIN O’LAKES/FOX RIVER AREA: Triangle said safe conditions for ice fishing have been increasing daily with the cold, but be extremely careful in all areas. Some nice early bluegills are being caught, try your regular backwater areas. Don’t try to venture out on main lake areas at all yet. Hermann’s reported good ice on Nielsen’s Channel at Port Barrington on the Fox River. EARLY ACCESS: By the T Channel, staff at Famous Freddie’s asked fishermen to park in back and be out by 11:30 a.m. when they open, or come in and eat. . . . Granny’s at Spring Lake Marina will have parking and food. Be careful, early ice is tricky there. . . . For Ackerman’s Channel, there’s Port O’Blarney.
DELAVAN/GENEVA AREA, WIS.: Geneva Lake Bait & Tackle said they are walking out to ice fish on Como, while it is just beginning on Delavan (still spotty).
LAKEFRONT: For perch, see top. PIER PASSES: Henry’s now has $6 pier passes.
MADISON LAKES, WIS.: D&S Bait reported ice fishing started on Monona Bay.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: On Tuesday, Minocqua guide Kurt Justice put it well: ‘‘There is fishable ice all over the Northwoods. Ice averaging 2-5 inches with some areas at 6-inches-plus. BUT, as of Monday, there were lakes with open water (Fence, Minocqua, Tomahawk, Big Muskellunge). Most of those skimmed over last night/this morning thanks to single digit cold. Just be careful. We should have a lot better ice come this weekend with the cold.’’ There has been good pike, walleye and bluegill action.
Dale Bowman