5.0(1 Reviews)Full Day Ice Fishing Trip in Central Wisconsin
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Lakes/Reservoirs/Ponds Fishing
Full day ice fishing on Wisconsin's premier lakes and riversTarget panfish, northern pike, and walleyes with expert guidanceAll skill levels welcome with professional guide Cody Sirny
When winter locks up Wisconsin's waters, that's when the real fishing action heats up. Pro Guide Cody Sirny knows these frozen lakes like the back of his hand, and he's ready to put you on fish from the moment you step onto the ice. We're talking about some of the best ice fishing waters in central Wisconsin - the Big Eau Pleine, Lake Du Bay, Lake Wausau, and countless backwater fingers along the Wisconsin River system. This isn't your average weekend warrior setup either. Cody brings the knowledge, the gear, and the local secrets that separate a good day from an absolutely killer day on the ice.
Your full day ice fishing adventure starts early, but trust me, it's worth rolling out of bed for. Cody's got his finger on the pulse of these waters year-round, so he knows exactly where the fish are holding based on current conditions, weather patterns, and seasonal movements. We'll hit multiple spots throughout the day - maybe start on one of the main lakes for some aggressive walleye action, then move to a quiet backwater for hot panfish bite. The beauty of having access to so many different waters means we can adjust on the fly. If the bite's slow in one spot, we're mobile and ready to find the action. You'll get to experience different types of structure too - from deep basin areas where walleyes cruise, to shallow weed edges where northern pike ambush their prey. Each spot teaches you something new about reading winter fish behavior.
Don't worry about hauling a bunch of gear - Cody's got you completely covered. He brings all the rods, reels, tackle, and electronics you'll need for a successful day. You'll get hands-on experience with a Vexilar fish finder, which is absolutely game-changing for ice fishing. Learning to read that flasher screen is like getting X-ray vision into the underwater world. You'll see your jig drop down, watch fish move in to investigate, and learn to trigger strikes by adjusting your jigging cadence. We use a variety of techniques depending on what species we're targeting - everything from aggressive jigging spoons for pike and walleye to delicate presentations with small jigs and live bait for panfish. Cody will teach you how to drill holes efficiently, read ice conditions for safety, and most importantly, how to stay on fish throughout the day. The learning curve is fast, and even complete beginners will be landing fish and understanding the fundamentals by the end of the trip.
"My 9 year old son and I went ice fishing with sirnys guide service and had a amazing day. Cody was very knowledgeable about fishing the lakes and rivers in wisconsin. we had constant bites and my son was able to catch his first fish. He showed us how to use a vexlar, and had everyting we needed for a day on the ice. The whole experience was priceless to say the least. I'll definitely be setting another trip up this summer. 10/10 i will be recommending him to anyone I come across that is looking for a guide in northern and central wisconsin." - Jake
Crappie are absolutely phenomenal through the ice in central Wisconsin, and they're one of my favorite species to target with clients. These slab-sided fighters typically school up in deeper water during winter months, usually hanging around 15-25 feet deep near structure like submerged timber or drop-offs. What makes crappie so exciting is their schooling behavior - when you find one, there's usually a whole bunch more nearby. They hit light jigs tipped with minnows or wax worms, and the bite can be absolutely electric when you dial in the right depth and presentation. Plus, they're fantastic table fare, so you'll go home with some of the best-eating fish Wisconsin has to offer.
Walleye fishing through the ice is pure addiction, and Wisconsin's central waters hold some real beauties. These golden-sided predators are most active during low-light periods, which makes early morning and late afternoon prime time. They're typically holding in 12-20 feet of water near rocky points, humps, or transition areas where shallow flats meet deeper basins. Walleyes require a more aggressive presentation than panfish - we'll use jigging spoons, blade baits, or larger jigs with minnow heads. When a walleye hits, you'll know it - they slam baits hard and fight with surprising strength under the ice. Landing a 20-inch walleye through an ice hole is a rush that never gets old, and these fish are prized for their incredible taste.
Northern pike are the bullies of the ice fishing world, and central Wisconsin waters hold some real bruisers. These apex predators patrol shallow bays and weed edges, even in winter, looking for easy meals. Pike fishing through the ice is pure adrenaline - they hit with explosive force and fight like crazy in the tight confines under the ice. We typically target them with larger presentations like dead bait rigs, big spoons, or tip-ups with large minnows. The key is fishing near remaining green vegetation or areas with good oxygen levels. When you hook into a 30-plus-inch pike through the ice, you better hang on tight. They're notorious for making long, powerful runs that'll test your drag and your nerves.
American Yellow Perch are the perfect species for newcomers to ice fishing, but don't let their cooperative nature fool you - they're a blast to catch and excellent eating. These striped beauties typically school in 8-15 feet of water over sandy or rocky bottoms. Perch are active feeders throughout the day, making them reliable targets when other species might be finicky. They respond well to small jigs tipped with minnows, wax worms, or even just colorful soft plastics. The bite is usually subtle - just a little
This 20-foot motorboat cuts through Wisconsin's icy waters with a reliable 120hp Suzuki engine, getting you to the hottest ice fishing spots on Big Eau Pleine, Lake Du Bay, and Lake Wausau. Built for serious anglers, she's equipped with GPS navigation and a fish finder to locate those deep winter walleye, northern pike, and panfish hideouts. The boat comfortably handles 2 guests, making it perfect for focused fishing partnerships. Pro Guide Cody Sirny knows these waters inside and out, accessing hidden backwater fingers along the Wisconsin River and pristine lakes that most anglers never see. Whether you're drilling your first hole or you're a seasoned ice veteran, this setup gets you on fish fast. The GPS keeps you on productive spots while the fish finder shows exactly what's swimming below the ice.
Perca FlavescensYellow perch are the bread and butter of Wisconsin ice fishing - they're everywhere and always hungry. These golden fish with dark vertical stripes typically run 7-9 inches, though we catch plenty of jumbo 12-inchers that really bend the rod. Perch are schooling fish that love sandy or rocky bottoms in 12-25 feet of water around structure. Winter is perfect since they group up tight and stay active all day. What makes perch so popular is they're easy to catch, fun to fight for their size, and absolutely delicious - sweet, firm white meat that's hard to beat. Kids especially love them because the action stays steady once you find a school. Here's the key: use small jigs tipped with wigglers or minnow heads, and keep moving until you find the school. Once you locate them, you can usually fill your bucket fast.
Lepomis MacrochirusBluegill are perfect for anglers wanting steady action and great eating. These chunky panfish average 6-8 inches but the big ones hit 10+ inches and really pull. They're built like dinner plates with that deep, compressed body and come in colors from blue-green to olive with those distinctive vertical bars. Bluegill stick to shallow cover like fallen trees, weed beds, and docks, usually in 6-15 feet during winter. They bite year-round but ice fishing is prime time when they school up. Guests love bluegill because they're scrappy fighters that punch above their weight class and make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. They're also perfect for kids since they're not picky eaters. My tip: use small jigs or live bait like waxworms, and don't be afraid to downsize your tackle - light line and small hooks catch more bluegill.
Pomoxis NigromaculatusCrappie are some of the best panfish you'll find in Wisconsin waters. These slab-sided fish typically run 8-12 inches and about a pound, though we see plenty of nice ones pushing 14 inches. You'll spot them by their paper-thin mouths and distinct patterns - black crappie have random speckles while white crappie show vertical bars. They love hanging around submerged timber, brush piles, and weed edges in 8-15 feet of water during winter. Ice fishing is prime time since they school up tight and stay active. Guests love crappie because they're scrappy fighters and make outstanding table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. My go-to tip is to use small jigs or live minnows, but fish them super slow - crappie have soft mouths so set the hook gently or you'll pull right through.
Esox LuciusNorthern pike are the apex predators in our Wisconsin lakes and they show it with their aggressive strikes. These toothy fish average 24-30 inches but we regularly see 36-inchers that'll test your gear. They're built like underwater missiles with that long body and duck-bill snout full of razor teeth. Pike love shallow, weedy bays and drop-offs near vegetation where they ambush prey. Winter ice fishing puts them in 10-20 feet near structure. What gets guests fired up is their explosive hits and bulldogging fights - they're Wisconsin's freshwater sharks. The meat's decent if you know how to deal with the Y-bones. My best advice: use a steel leader or heavy fluorocarbon, and when you feel that strike, wait a second before setting. Pike often grab prey sideways then turn it to swallow - patience pays off with better hookups.
Sander VitreusWisconsin walleye are what most anglers dream about - they average 15-20 inches with plenty of fish pushing 5-8 pounds. These golden beauties have those distinctive glassy eyes that help them hunt in low light. During winter, they stick to deeper structure like rock piles, drop-offs, and hard bottom areas in 15-25 feet of water. Ice fishing is prime time since they're most active at dawn and dusk when the light's dim. What makes walleye special is they're both challenging to catch and absolutely delicious - firm, white meat with no fishy taste at all. They're nicknamed "marble eyes" for good reason and put up a solid fight without jumping around. Here's my best tip: use a jig tipped with a minnow and work it slow along the bottom. When you feel that subtle tick, don't set hard - just lift steady.
5.0 out of 5.0My 9 year old son and I went ice fishing with sirnys guide service and had a amazing day. Cody was very knowledgeable about fishin...
Mosinee, WI