1/6 Report

[hondavxr]

I just got back from the river. The river is freaking scary, when the ice cracked underneath me I didn't know what to do. One time I even felt it move under my feet. Well, heres the report, my friends and I were out in front of the beach around 40 ft of water. Ice range from 8 inches in some area to 4 inches on other places. Marked fish like crazy when the sun started to set. We did manage two nice thick slab crappies and lost a few more. The funny thing is they were not suspended, but hovering at the bottom. We also caught a few other fish. Overall a great time on the river. Good luck all of you guys. Cracking ice on the lakes is not that scary but cracking ice on the river scares the *hit out of me. Have fun and be safe

[croixeyes]

Thanx for the info Hondavxr,just spent the last couple of days on the big pond.Fishing was a little slower for us this weekend,the perch we found last weekend spent alot of time sniffin,We did manage 7 eyes to bring back and 10 very large perch .Our best sucess came from moving out from the noise of wheelers,snowmobiles and other fishermen.Was wondering how others did on the Croix this weekend.Anyone else venture out?

[hunt4food]

I was out this afternoon. It was slow. 2 nice crappies and about 10 little silvers or shad or whatever they are. 2 walleyes that went about 8" long. By the way....Whoever left the 12" crappie out on the ice should be ashamed of himself. If you are going to keep them, then do it or just throw them back!!

[tommyk]

The ice must be going fast because I was out on the 5th and found ice from 7" to 10". Caught 1 crappie that went 13" and missed a couple more. And despite only catching that one, I most certainly took it home with me. I will spend the time cleaning just one slab over letting the birds have it any day. I can always add to it this week. Will be out there Tue. or Thur. or both.

[hunt4food]

I will probably be out there Tuesday afternoon. I have a Polaris ATP with an aluminum diamond plate box on the back of it. If anybody keeps one fish and decides they don't want it, just bring it to me instead I will add it to the 1 or 2 I usually manage to catch.

[hunt4food]

OK. I was out there last night. I fished in 32' of water. As usual, I maked lots of fish and had lots of follows. I caught 1 tiny Walleye and 1 11" crappie. One of these days they are going to bite. I hope I am there that day!

[croixeyes]

Hunt4food.have you ventured across to wisconsin side ?Im gonna head out there Saturday and give it a shot.Havent been on the river for three weeks now and wondering how the ice is holding up.

[hunt4food]

I have not gone all the way across yet. I like the location I fish. I guess I am too stubborn. I did see a couple of wheelers go across and also a couple go across and North. I still only find 6" of ice out there although I have been told there is more in the main channel?? if I was going to fish the other side, I would just drive over there to North Hudson and take my wheeler from there. I will probably be out there Saturday afternoon or Sunday again.

[croixeyes]

The guys going north are going up to the highline point.There are quite a few crappies up in that area.I wouldnt get to close to the open water yet but you can get around that to get there.if anyone goes up there that hasent been before dont follow the shoreline tight.Alot of springs coming down from the bluff makes the ice iffy.The pocket on the south side of the point is always pretty soft.Hunt4food how much of the ice your drilling rock solid,im sure there is some soft stuff on the top

[hunt4food]

Yes. The top couple of inches or so is "white ice". A few of these cold nights should shape it up pretty well for consistent ATV traffic, but as everyone always says..."ice is never safe".