Madison Area Fishing Report: First Ice & Seminar Series Update – December 5th

Happy Friday! Pat is back after the Thanksgiving break with the first solid ice update of the season. We’ve had cold nights and snow, which is finally building fishable ice on parts of the Madison Chain.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER: Early ice varies greatly. Please use extreme caution, check conditions as you go, and call the shop for the latest updates.

In this report:

• Weather: Cold temps are locking things up; looking at highs in the 20s this weekend.
• Shop News: Recap of the Bobby Kendall seminar, upcoming talks with PJ Smith (Winter Trout) and Brian Zubki (Panfish Secrets), plus a charity raffle for Jos’s Gift.
• Gear Check: New Vulture Systems Max Plus sensors and special edition Beaver Dam tip-ups are in stock.

DNR Reminder: Bear and Turkey harvest applications are due December 10th.

🌊 Ice Conditions Overview:

• Cherokee Marsh: ~4-5″ of ice. Bluegill bite is active (lots of sorting required).
• Monona Bay: 2-4″ generally. South Triangle is safer; North Triangle just capped and is sketchy.
• Mendota: Bays are skimming over (Marshall Park, Spring Harbor), but University Bay is open.
• Waubesa & Kegonsa: Mostly wide open with some thin shore ice.
• Stoughton Ditches: Likely fishable.

📅 Upcoming Seminars:

• Next Week: PJ Smith on Winter Driftless Trout.
• Dec 18th: Brian Zubki on Pan Fishing Secrets (In-person only, no recording!).

📞 Questions or Updates? Call the shop at 608-241-4225 or leave a comment below with what you are seeing out there!

#MadisonFishing #IceFishing #FirstIce #FishingReport #WisconsinFishing