Monona Bay

Any reports for Monona Bay today or yesterday?

Went out on north triangle Tuesday afternoon and Monday morning. Went to the exact same spot both days (if it ain’t broke…) which was straight out from the boat house. Ice was at least 4” or more where I walked out and back. Smallie’s Monday report has a good description of how the ice differs across the triangle. Did not go anywhere near trestles so can’t speak to those areas.

Typical Monona bay bluegill bite both days, though they were a little more picky today than yesterday.

Lots of guys out. To whoever lost their banana peel, empty waxie tin, and twisted tea can on the ice, shoot me a message with the flavor of the can and we can meet up at my garbage barrel  so you can safely get them back.

Also be careful on John Nolen. 3 of my 4 trips, I saw at least one car that had spun off onto the snow bank.

I'm still eating fish out of here, but I only eat fish once a week at the very most, so I'm well within the recommendations they have put out. I grew up eating PCB fish up in Green Bay, so the PFA's in these fish don't scare me from enjoying a meal once in a while.  They taste just fine.

FYI-  Walleye, crappie, pike, largemouth/smallmouth one meal per month
          Bluegill, perch, pumpkin seed one meal per week. Rat.

Guys, are you eating fish out of here? My son scared me with what he told me. Any worries if I eat a meal or two a month or would you just catch and release here?

Got out on the north triangle today. Probably 10-15 other groups out. South portion of the triangle is 4-7" of foggy ice. North side is 2" of very good clear ice. Expect that to firm up even more over the next few days. I imagine the whole area will be fishable without much worry by the weekend. Hopefully the inbound warm air and rain burns off the snow and otherwise leaves a solid base of ice alone. Who knows. As far as the fish go, it took me forever to find decent water to fish. I'm rusty and not much of a shallow water ice fisherman. I'm getting better though. Once I did find fish, I was able to ice 10 gils in about 35 minutes. Mostly small but a couple of tankers. Fish seemed pretty positive and were engaging with baits pretty actively. I only really used a gold tungsten with spikes. Heard from some others that plastics were working to pick off some larger fish. Tight lines.

FIve or six guys on the main Bay at 1 PM.  

Measuring 3” in the middle of the north triangle. Looks thicker at the edges. 

I might make the trek up there on Wednesday. Being so cold and windy I'll have to resort to the one man flip-over if I do. Thanks to the guys reporting. Tight lines everyone.

Jimmy

Drove past Monona Bay around 11:30 this morning.  6 people out on the North triangles.  Very little snow on top of the ice.  The bay had an open spot about 150 yards south of Brittingham Park.  I would think that has closed up by now.