Significant Snow Cover - 2/15/2021 by Brian Huser, Rock River Bait Box

The big story on area lakes aside from sub-zero temps the past week is the extreme snow depths on area lakes. The ice depth may be safe enough to drive on in most places but the drifts are killers. Everybody was ripping off tail pipes, it looked like somebody came through and scattered a bunch of scrap, car parts across the lake. Many spent the better part of day getting things fixed backed up. As of Monday most of that has been cleared up since. There are snow depths of 12" and on some lakes like out on Lake Kosh where your finding snow banks at an upwards of 3 feet. 1.5 feet seems to be about average on area lakes.. And with the way the wind has been blowing if your out there driving on the lake it's like driving through a snow blinding mirage. ATV/UTV travel is tough right now. If you don’t have a snowmobile you might as well do something else for the day.

The other downside of deep snow cover, the fish are in complete darkness. Aquatic plants that normally rely on the sun's rays to pierce the ice for photosynthesis cannot sustain in these conditions. That means oxygen levels are down in area lakes. Low levels of O2 make fish sluggish and lethargic, plus they can't see anything. The fish are living in complete darkness right now, so a bright or shiny, glow jigs and spoons are the best bet. UV painted lures should be a good choice for many angler’s arsenals right now. More so than anything live bait because more important right now vs. wax worms, or something that’s putting a scent trail into the water for the fish to key on.

Lastly, remember to practice Selective Harvest to limit overfishing of species more prescient due to COVID-19. Do not take the bag limit each day.

Clear Lake

Ice depths overall at 12-15" depths. Clear Lake reports are favorable. Lot of guys finding blue gills, crappies, and perch. Bite remains consistent. But travel remains difficult which makes getting permanents very challenging if not impossible.

Lake Kegonsa

Ice thickness we're hearing is at the 12-15” depth, for the most part could hold a dump truck. There again consistent from the week’s past No open water, 10-12 ice in deep parts of the lake and in 13-15 range in the shallows. Pan fish bite is stable or consistent. 

Lake Koshkonong

Haven't seen much change on Lake Kosh from last week's report. Ice depths are in the 10-18 inch range depending on where you are on the lake,. Snow depths range from just 9" all the way up to 3 foot drifts. Travel is very difficult unless you have a snow machine. No changes in the access points. All still good., they are still the most active on Kosh.

Lake Ripley

Deeper parts of lake now at 10-12" ice depths. Shallow shoreline at 13-15" areas are Hits good to avg. Panfish activity or bites remains consistent. No change in access points.

Lake Waubesa

Ice at 13-15" range for shallow shoreline. Deeper areas at 10-12" range. Fish action average. Access points haven’t changed.

Rock Lake

Ice depths at 13-15" at shallow shoreline. Deeper depths of lake areas now to 10-12.". portables are best bet due to snow depths. Previous fishing action in area still holding true. Access points have not changed.

Whitewater Lake

Ice at 13-15" for the shallows. Deeper area at 8-10" now. Fishing pressure and bite have gotten much better .No new access points have been reported..

Overall, this has been a crazy year, inconsistent bite. I’ve been hearing bite for a few days and then it quickly fizzles out. It’s definitely been at a "Right place at Right Time" scenario, a guy just 20 feet away might not even catch anything.