FISHING WITH THE GUIDES with George Langley - Week of 3/1 to 3/8

 After that final burst of late-winter chill, the temperature is on its way back up this week — we're looking at a warming trend that climbs through the low 40s by midweek and holds there. That's good news for comfort on the ice, but it does mean mornings are your window. Get out early while things are still firm underfoot, and plan to be off before the afternoon sun starts doing its work. Ice remains thick across the area — most lakes are still running 22 to 30 inches — but late-season warming will create unpredictable conditions soon.

The gamefish season closed at midnight on March 1st, and it went out on a solid note. Walleye were cooperating right to the end, favoring low-light windows at dusk and into the first hour or two after dark. The Northern kept anglers busy throughout the day on weed edges, and with the season now closed, that energy shifts entirely to what the Northwoods does best at this time of year — panfish. And the panfish picture looks good.

Perch are still working in deeper mud flats and basin edges in the 10 to 20’ range, with some fish also turning up near weed edges in the 12 to 15’ zone. Keep drilling holes and stay mobile — the schools move, and the folks who are finding them are the ones covering water. Small spoons and jigs tipped with spikes or waxies are your best tools to get down quickly.

Bluegills are holding deep too, often 15 to 20 feet around deeper weeds and soft-bottom areas. Ultra-light line and small plastics or spikes with a slow, controlled presentation are key. The warming trend this week may begin to ease fish up slightly shallower, so it's worth experimenting with your depth if the bite slows.

Crappies remain the most depth-flexible of the three. Look for them at weed edges in 12 to 15 feet, but more so suspending over deeper basins — sometimes 25 to 30 feet down — and they tend to be most active as the light drops toward evening. Tip-downs or deadsticks with small crappie minnows set a few feet off bottom have been producing consistently. Willingness to look at different depths depending on weather and time of day is what’s separating a good day from a great one.

A few practical tips as we move into the heart of the panfish stretch. As the snow gets knocked down on the ice, be aware of the noise you’re making while moving around, especially over shallower water. Keep your presentations light and subtle; late-season fish in warming conditions can get finicky, and downsizing your jig or slowing your cadence often makes the difference when fish are looking but not committing. Glow finishes have been outperforming natural colors in stained water conditions following the recent snowmelt.

While now is a good time to start prepping equipment for the May 2^nd soft-water game fishing opener, there's still good ice and great fishing across the Northwoods. March pan fishing is one of the quieter pleasures of the season — take your time, move with purpose, and enjoy the last stretch of winter before the thaw takes over. And let’s hope that happens sooner rather than later this year. 

Good luck and good fishin'!  

Wisconsin Fishing Information

                                                                                                                           

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