Hey all,

I go to college in Madison and I'm planning on going fishing opening weekend on the Willow Flowage. I've got a house on Pier Lake nearby. Just wondering if there is still ice on the lakes? I haven't been up there since my Spring Break in late march, and we almost had to put the extension on ice auger. Everything is green down here, flowers in full bloom, trees getting leave.

Thanks for the info.

Maybe this will help.

4/28 … Open Water Update
Fishing report for April 29, 2008
Posted by reporter @ 8:57 am
Hi folks. Jeff here. I’m traveling around this week looking for open water to fish on Saturday. Here’s what I found so far: First a list of lakes that I found open and ready to fish: Spider on the Manitowish Chain, Upper Gresham, Sandy Beach, Dead Pike, Little Horsehead, Lynx, Boulder, Mid Lake on the Minocqua Chain, Little Arbor Vitae, Mann, Brandy, Mercer Lake in Iron

County. Next, are lakes that are VERY close, and should be open by Saturday: Manitowish, Rest, South Turtle, Van Vliet, Horsehead, Birch, Little St. Germain. Finally, for you ICE FISHING FANATICS, here are the lakes that have NO HOPE for Saturday without some severe changes in weather conditions: Flambeau Chain, White Sand in Lac du Flambeau, Alder, North Turtle, Crab, Presque Isle, Trout, Big Arbor Vitae.

As you can see, water is going to be at a premium on opening day. Tomorrow I’m going to do some more searching and I will post more lakes and their conditions as I find them. That’s it for now … check out tomorrow’s report for more info. Jeff - Jeff Winters Guide Service


mps