WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
December 29, 2005

With those stockings filled with Lindy frostee jigs, Vexilars, and St. Croix rods and reels, there is no better time than now to get out and try out the new equipment. Its been a slow start to the ice fishing season for me, but as of late I have been getting the chance to test those Walleyes more and more on Winnie. As we head into the heart of Winter, I can hardly wait for the Spring open water. I hope the excitement is building on your end as well. But until then, it will have to be through the ice.

Winter's warmth has made for some less then great ice making days, but the overall ice conditions remain fishable. The warm, consistent weather has made for some consistent Walleye action on many of the area lakes including Winnie and Pokegama.

Winnie is one right now that is proving to be a bite that remains active throughout the daylight hours with the peak action coming from first and last light of each day. Many of the mid-lake humps and bars are producing good catches of Walleyes with an occasional Perch and pike mixed in. It seems that most of the small humps are holding good numbers. If you get to a hump and mark a bunch of small fish or bait, they have shown to be the humps not worth fishing. Keep moving until you find that hump that is filled with larger fish. During the low light hours it seems the the tops of the humps are the most active, but the best mid-day bites are coming not only from the tops but near the edges.

As for Pokegama, the bite has been consistent. The bites are during that short window of both early and late in the day. Structure small in size that tops out in the 20-22 foot range seems to be the magical depth, but those humps that top out in the 30-40 foot range seem to be holding the bigger fish.

So with the great weather that has blessed us the last couple of weeks, please use caution as most of the lakes are only holding 10-14 inches of ice. I would recommend either snowmobile or ATV travel at this point of the season.

Happy New Year. 2006 is the year of getting back on Red lake for those ever-so-sweet Walleyes! The open water bite is just five months away. Get ready, it won't be long!

Sean Colter
member of the NMLOG's
www.seancolter.com