Weather: It was a chilly week here in Madison but of course that’s great for making ice! The bitter cold seems to be peaking today with a high of -7º but the warm up is forecasted to be slow through next week with temps predicted to be back in the 20s by next weekend, by which time we should have plenty of ice on the Madison Chain.

Ice Conditions: While there are still some areas where you’re going to want to be careful, we are in a much better place in regards to ice than we were last week and with this bitter cold we’ll be making ice day and night for a while. That being said, always be careful no matter where you fish. Like I’ve been doing for these reports, I’m going to go through ice conditions first and then loop back around for fishing reports.

There were still some pockets of open water as recently as Monday but as far as I know everything is locked up now and most of the lake has 4″ or more of ice.

So let’s start at the top:

Cherokee has has plenty of ice in the Cherokee Park area but do be careful way out near the channel and the area from the island east to the shoreline near Manitowish Ln. had some open water last week but is likely fine for foot travel now.

Most of North Bay has been fishable since mid December and the new ice beyond there is 4-5″ last I heard.

Otherwise the large area of open water that, as far as I know basically extended from there and through the majority of the west basin is locked up and I heard 4-5″ pretty much everywhere.

The area around Governor’s Island is also locked up and folks have been getting out and I hear the same 4-5″ out there.

I was out Wednesday east of Governors Island and had 4-5″ everywhere I went. The heave that goes across that shallow bay looked pretty sketchy and there was a decent expansion crack that headed east from Govs to Maple Bluff so be careful in those areas but generally speaking, if you’re east of Govs all the way to the City shoreline and there’s snow on the ice you should be good for foot travel.

Monona has been a stubborn one this year. I heard the lake finally capped over on Tuesday. Wednesday was a little warm so probably didn’t make too much ice but since then it’s been very cold so I’m sure she’s making ice but if you venture out I would go by foot only and be careful.

Wiicawak and Turville Bays should have better ice but on Wiicawak there was a bunch of open water earlier this week so use caution there, too.

Otherwise most of the Monona Bay has 6-8″ but there was open water in a large area extending out from the discharge north of the Brittingham Shelter less than a week ago so be careful in that area. I’m sure you heard on the news about the car-jacker that put the car through the ice down there. He went through on that thin ice which I heard is about 3-4″ thick.

I’m sure the path back to Upper Mud is passable and I’m sure the ice over there is in good shape but I haven’t talked to anyone fishing over there recently.

Waubesa has at least 8″ pretty much everywhere but always be careful near the trestle on the north end of the lake and around and in the Babcock lagoon.

Basically the same thing on Kegonsa. Be careful near Fish Camp County Park otherwise they’re still running ATVs all over so there’s 8″ or more of ice pretty much everywhere.

Mendota: Cherokee folks have been getting good numbers of Gills with a bonus Crappie here and there but LOTS of small fish so you have to do quite a bit of sorting to get a 10 fish limit.

Warner Bay has had pretty good tip up action or mostly small Pike and maybe a Walleye close to dark.

North Bay has been getting a few mostly smaller Pike and Walleye.

I know folks had been on Marshall Park and Spring Harbor but I’ve only heard one report off Marshall and it wasn’t great.

Other than that, I’ve seen people fishing off Governor’s Island and even out on Dunn’s Bar and Second Point area but I haven’t heard how they’ve been doing.

Monona: Not much happening on the main lake as it’s almost wide open or just skimmed over.

Over to Monona Bay, the south Triangle action has been hit or miss and they’ve been getting good panfish in the North Triangle with decent action on tip-ups for Pike and the occasional Walleye.

Of course it can vary from day to day but for the most part people are having great action for Gills in Monona Bay with a Crappie here and there. Most folks have been concentrated along the Brittingham park shoreline. Also decent action for Bass and Pike down there lately.

Waubesa: I’ve heard some good reports for Gills and Crappie out of the dredge hole with good action for mostly smaller Pike and LMB on tip-ups in the shallow weeds along the perimeter.

Lake Farm has been producing some decent panfish but depends on the day. Tip-up action has also been pretty good over there for Pike during the day with some Walleye being picked up near dark. Definitely give the trestle on the north end of the lake some space as there’s a pretty decent current coming though there otherwise ice on Waubesa is in good shape.

Sounds like they’re getting fish on the south end but both in the shallow bay and along Bible Camp. Last week the Goodland launch was in rough shape but I imagine that’s firmed back up by now.

Kegonsa: I’ve heard about some decent, but spotty action for Gills in the weeds on the South end of the lake. I know folks are running around on ATVs looking for Perch but success rates vary. I have heard about some spotty Walleye action in the Williams Point area.

Area Rivers: Not much happening on rivers in the winter but it is fun to explore the many backwater sloughs along the Wisconsin River in the winter time but do be careful as changes in water levels and springs can make for varying conditions. The fishing typically isn’t as good as you might find right here in Madison but sometimes it’s just nice to get out of town and explore some cool natural areas you might not be able to access the rest of the year.

Trout: It’s going to be too cold to fish for them the next week or so but early Inland Trout Season is open and of course that means only artificial lures may be used and all fish need to be immediately released.

No matter what you’re using, slow and low is the name of the game in the winter and generally speaking this time of year your bite window runs from about 10-2:00.