Folks the bay is locked in with ice from the head of the bay to the light house with an average of 12 to 14 inches. From the light house out to Houghton Pointe the ice is average 10 inches from Houghton over to long island south of the pressure crack running from Houghton over to long island. Past the crack is new ice and is 4 to 7 inches the south channel is still open from the tip of long island to Bayfield. There are guys fishing lake trout and white fish around basswood but the sheet ends on the north end of bass wood the ice is locked in over to Punky bay on Madeline. The fishing reports have been a bit mixed this last week. Trout and salmon are being caught all around the bay from the Ashland side over to Washburn and north up the channel up to Houghton Pointe and over to the tip of long island. The river mouths are also seeing some action for browns and splake with a few Coho’s mixed in. Trout and salmon are also being caught from Bayfield to Red Cliff and around basswood. Most lake trout fisherman are still waiting for the ice sheet to get out to a little deeper water. Perch are also hitting good around the bay find the weed beds and you should get on them check the mud flats around the bay and were the mud and sand flats meet.12 to 30 feet have been the better areas. Walleye have been a little spotty but fish are being caught most fish being caught are around drop offs and humps with a few being caught on the flats. Whitefish have also been coming to the top of the ice some days better than others but fish are being caught 30 plus feet is the ticket. The channel from Washburn to Long Island have been the best areas. Pike have been hitting a little better this past week with a few big fish coming to the ice as well. Stop by River rock for some smoked fish for a great snack on or off the ice.  Stop by River Rock Inn & Bait Shop for all your fishing needs, including, tackle, live bait, beverages, smoked fish from Bodin’s and sandwiches from Good Thyme Restaurant.

Captain Aron