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January thaw slows ice fishing

Lucas Thomas, 10, and Alivia Nord, 10, both of Norway, landed a 27-inch northern pike through the ice in Dickinson County.

IRON MOUNTAIN — Ice fishing conditions deteriorated after days of warm weather and occasional rain, but falling temperatures should start to firm things up again.

“There’s been a lot of water on the ice,” said John Grier at Whispering Pines Outpost in Breitung Township. With temperatures dipping on Friday, anglers were again coming in for bait, he said.

Grier reminded hunters that Michigan’s spring turkey application deadline is Feb. 1.

“They’re catching a few panfish and a couple of average size walleye,” said Fay Whisler at Whisler Outdoors in Florence, Wis. “There’s been a lot of slush on the lakes.”

The Wisconsin Department said there were reports of ice anglers and vehicles going through the ice at various locations around the state.

Catches on northern lakes included walleye, crappies, perch and northern pike, the DNR said. A heavy crust of ice has formed on top of the snow in many northern areas, making it difficult for even deer to maneuver through it.

On Green Bay anglers reported cracks, many of them large and miles long, so people need to know local ice conditions before heading out.

The Menominee River has been producing walleye, crappie, whitefish and a few perch. Anglers were having some success catching whitefish around the mouth of the Oconto River and pike anglers were having success off the Oconto Breakwater.

The Michigan DNR reported the following Upper Peninsula conditions:

Overall: Inland lakes in the region were getting sloppy with a couple inches of slush on top. Colder temperatures should shore the ice back up.

Lake Gogebic: Was producing a good number of walleye.

Menominee River: Most angling pressure has been at the 6th Street Slip where anglers have caught walleye, crappie, whitefish and a few perch when jigging wax worms or minnows.

Little Bay De Noc: Warm temperatures and rain have worsened ice conditions throughout the area. Heavy fog and slush have limited travel. A good number of shanties were pulled before the surface refreezes. Anglers should avoid the area south of Gladstone because of dangerous ice conditions. Some were taking vehicles out on the ice however it is not recommended as several mishaps have been reported. Fishing remains slow. The better perch fishing was near Kipling with wigglers and minnows in 26 feet. There was no good spot for walleye as catches were spotty. Anglers were targeting 26 to 35 feet near Hunters Point, the Second, Third and Center Reefs. They were marking fish but finding it hard to catch them and those actually catching fish were getting undersize walleye and pike. The Escanaba Yacht Harbor also reported high numbers of small northern pike. Whitefish anglers concentrated on the Gladstone area but only a few catches were reported in 28 to 35 feet. Conditions were messy so anglers should be prepared for walking and using portable shanties.

Manistique Lakes: More slush has accumulated on the ice making travel a little more difficult. Good walleye and perch fishing were reported.

Munuscong Bay: Had a lot of slush on the ice. Walleye fishing has picked up and the perch fishing was good off Grassy Island.

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