Willow Beach Ice, Straight out from the park

Did anybody go out lately from Willow Beach towards white fish ground?

What is the thickness of Ice out there??
Or in the area??

Close to shore its probably a foot but out 1k or so it varies less then a foot. Seen 9 inch to 7 in some places. About half is black and rest is white. Walking out you should be good for a while.
Over all is much thinner then last year.

Yesterday (Sunday Feb 26) I was out on ice around 2KM from Willow Beach to some whitefish ground where some permanent huts are (around 60 fow). Did not see any crack. And there were lots of snowmobiles 'flying" around. Ice around shoreline was good, too. Though those whitefish didn't cooperate with me at all (don't think I ever marked any whitefish over there:-) Ended up landing some (over 10) good-sized keeper and jumbo perch in shallower water.

Them white fish moved out. No signs of them around those parts anymore. How was the ice over there? I'm thinking is like 7 at best.


This post has been edited by AndrewK on Feb 27, 2023 - 07:09 pm

Ice is around 8 inch I think

the whitefish definately moved since last week, the perch took over their grounds, 75ft and hitting dink perch...

Last year I was out at willow usually always get into a whittie but it was all perch on the normal grounds. .

They're still around....

Landed 1 and lost another 2 at the hole.

13" jumbo keeping it company.

Thanks for the updates guys. The Willow Beach area used to be good for whitefish in the past.
I remember years ago we used to have .......a." flotilla of boats"......one day I counted over 50 boats.......LOL......and everybody was catching whitefish. They are still in the water .... .....but they are moving more often and they are not hitting our spoons the way they used to.

I remember BEFORE the invasion of Gobies ......catching whitefish was a lot easier. As Gobies took over the lake ........many things have changed . And the habits ......feeding ......and catching whitefish is changed. Now even in the spring opener we go out there and we really have to work hard to find them . There are a few good humps and shoals coming up from 80/90 Ft to 50 Ft ....also a couple of shoals 30-40 Ft ......and DEEP water near. If you find the spots.......whitefish is feeding there in the morning.

But to get them to bite our bait, is not like it used to be!

Haha willow is good for that a nice jumbo mixed in.

Nice work on the whittie. I'm heading out for the first time probably Thursday for the whitefish got a few already fishing the perch. Can't believe it will be March and I haven't gone to target them lol.

Good to hear they still around. I just cant find them. Been popping holes all over the keys there and don't even see any cruising by. But the jumbos seem bigger in them parts so its a nice constellation prize.

yeah I was fishing that area in 50 to 60 fow water where I thought whitefish are but all I marked and caught are perch! Don't think I saw any whitefish. Then on the way back to shoreline, I stopped half way at around 35 fow for a break, and caught some real nice jumbo perch.

There are whitefish out of Willow Beach. But you have to walk out a little further ! Deeper water!