Ice Fishing Wisconsin
From first ice to late-ice panfish bites, Wisconsin's frozen lakes deliver world-class hard-water action. Stock up on injection-poured Country Cave Baits built for the ice — made in Fall River, WI.
Ice Fishing in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is one of America's premier ice fishing destinations. Each winter, hard-water anglers across the Badger State drill through frozen lakes from Lake Winnebago in the south to the legendary Northwoods flowages near Hayward and Eagle River, chasing crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, walleye and northern pike through the ice.
Ice fishing in Wisconsin typically begins at first ice — usually mid-to-late December in the north and January downstate — and runs into March. Early ice concentrates panfish shallow around weeds and timber, while midwinter pushes schools out over deeper basins where they suspend. Late ice brings fish shallow again ahead of the spawn, making it one of the most productive windows of the entire year.
Country Cave Baits' Panfish Collection — the injection-poured Crappie Bug and 1.2 Inch Crappie Slayer — is purpose-built for the ice. Their micro profiles match the tiny forage panfish key on all winter, and our glow colors charge in natural sunlight and glow after dark — a UV flashlight amps the glow up even brighter, deadly in stained water and after dark — drawing strikes from deep, low-light fish that won't chase a larger offering. Made right here in Fall River, Wisconsin.
Best Baits for Ice Fishing
Our Panfish Collection is purpose-built for the hard water — micro profiles, glow colors that charge in sunlight and glow after dark, and soft, durable plastic injection-poured in Fall River, WI.
Panfish creature bait
Crappie Bug
The Crappie Bug is a tiny creature bait with wiggling legs and a soft, buoyant body that hovers naturally on a light jig. Crappie, bluegill, and perch all fall for its subtle, buggy action under docks and around brush piles. It's a go-to ice fishing bait too — jig it through the ice around brush and cribs for slab panfish all winter.
View Crappie Bug
Slab crappie magnet
1.2 Inch Crappie Slayer
Our 1.2-inch Crappie Slayer is a micro tube designed specifically for slab crappie. The tiny ribbed body and flowing tail seduce panfish into biting when the bite is tough. Rig it on a small jig head under a float or tight-line it vertically. It's also a deadly ice fishing bait — drop it through the ice to suspended crappie and bluegill all winter long.
View 1.2 Inch Crappie Slayer
Finesse flicker
3 Inch Split Tail Minnow
A delicate 3-inch split tail minnow that flickers and darts on a drop shot or small jig head. The slim forked tail shimmies on the fall, making it a go-to for pressured bass and finicky feeders.
View 3 Inch Split Tail Minnow
Swim & thump
4 Inch Skinny Paddle Tail
A slim-profile 4-inch paddle tail that swims with a seductive kick on a steady retrieve. Perfect for swim jigs, spinnerbait trailers, or a weighted swimbait hook through grass and around docks.
View 4 Inch Skinny Paddle Tail
Urchin-style tentacled threat
Cave Prickly Star
The Cave Prickly Star is an urchin-style creature bait with a buoyant center ball and dozens of thin, whipping tentacles that quiver on the slightest movement. It stands up off the bottom, taunts pressured bass into striking, and keeps working long after other baits die. Flip it, drag it, pin it to a jig, or throw it on a Ned rig and watch it come alive.
View Cave Prickly StarBlue UV Glow Ice Baits
When the sun drops and the bite goes tough, glow baits keep catching. Our Clear Glitter (Blue UV Glow) color charges in natural sunlight and glows blue after dark. A UV flashlight amps the glow up even brighter — deadly in stained water and after dark.
- Charges in natural sunlight and glows blue after dark — a UV flashlight amps it up even brighter
- Deadly for night crappie, bluegill, and perch through the ice
- Available on the Crappie Bug and 1.2" Crappie Slayer
Green UV Glow Ice Baits
When the water is stained or the sun drops, a green glow cuts through the darkness. Our Emerald Copper, White Glitter, and Green Shiner (Green UV Glow) colors charge in natural sunlight and glow green after dark. A UV flashlight amps the glow up even brighter — deadly in stained water and after dark.
- Charges in natural sunlight and glows green after dark — a UV flashlight amps it up even brighter
- Deadly in stained water, at night, and through the ice
- Available on the Crappie Bug and 1.2" Crappie Slayer
Ice Fishing Techniques
Jig a Crappie Slayer for Suspended Panfish
Locate suspended crappie and bluegill on your electronics, then drop a 1.2 Inch Crappie Slayer on a small jig head to just above the school. Subtle lifts and long pauses trigger strikes from finicky winter panfish.
Tip a Jigging Spoon for Walleye
Thread a 3 Inch Split Tail Minnow onto a jigging spoon and work the deeper breaks and rock bars at dusk. Walleye move shallow to feed under low light, and the minnow profile seals the deal.
Glow Colors for Deep, Low-Light Fish
Our glow colors charge in natural sunlight and glow after dark — a UV flashlight amps the glow up even brighter. Drop them to deep, suspended fish; the glow draws strikes from crappie, perch and walleye that won't move far in cold, dark water.
Tip-Ups for Northern Pike
Set tip-ups baited with a Crappie Bug along weed edges and over deeper holes. Northern pike patrol the shallows all winter and readily eat a small, lively profile suspended under the ice.
Hard-Water Destinations
Wisconsin Ice Fishing Lakes
59 Wisconsin fisheries that produce through the ice — click any lake for an ice fishing guide, species, and recommended baits.
East-CentralLake Winnebago
Winnebago / Calumet County
South-CentralLake Mendota
Dane County
South-CentralLake Monona
Dane County
NortheastGreen Bay
Brown / Door County
NortheastSturgeon Bay / Door County
Door County
SoutheastLake Geneva
Walworth County
SoutheastLake Delavan
Walworth County
CentralPetenwell Flowage
Juneau / Wood County
CentralCastle Rock Flowage
Juneau / Adams County
NorthwestLake Wissota
Chippewa County
NorthwestChippewa Flowage
Sawyer County
NorthwestLake Namekagon
Bayfield County
All 59 Wisconsin Ice Fishing Lakes
Lake Winnebago
Winnebago / Calumet County
Lake Mendota
Dane County
Lake Monona
Dane County
Green Bay
Brown / Door County
Sturgeon Bay / Door County
Door County
Lake Geneva
Walworth County
Lake Delavan
Walworth County
Petenwell Flowage
Juneau / Wood County
Castle Rock Flowage
Juneau / Adams County
Lake Wissota
Chippewa County
Chippewa Flowage
Sawyer County
Lake Namekagon
Bayfield County
Grindstone Lake
Sawyer County
Lac Courte Oreilles
Sawyer County
Lake Superior (Chequamegon Bay)
Ashland County
Eagle River Chain
Vilas County
Minocqua Chain
Oneida County
Torch Lake (Northwoods)
Vilas County
Lake Kegonsa
Dane County
Beaver Dam Lake
Dodge County
Fox Lake
Dodge County
Lake Sinissippi
Dodge County
Lake Wisconsin
Columbia / Sauk County
Devils Lake
Sauk County
Lake Butte des Morts
Winnebago County
Nagawicka Lake
Waukesha County
Lake Tomahawk
Oneida County
Pike Lake
Washington County
Tichigan Lake
Racine County
Silver Lake
Columbia County
Park Lake
Columbia County
Lake Koshkonong
Rock / Jefferson County
Lake Wingra
Dane County
Silver Creek
Dodge / Jefferson County
Lake Delton
Sauk County
Mirror Lake
Sauk / Columbia County
Lake Michigan
Milwaukee / Sheboygan / Door County
Oak Creek
Milwaukee County
Menomonee River
Milwaukee County
Little Lake Butte des Morts
Winnebago / Outagamie County
Fox River
Winnebago / Outagamie / Brown County
Lake De Neveu
Fond du Lac County
Elkhart Lake
Sheboygan County
Crystal Lake
Sheboygan County
Clark Lake
Door County
Root River
Racine County
Mississippi River Pool 7
La Crosse County
Lake Onalaska
La Crosse County
Black River
La Crosse / Jackson County
Half Moon Lake
Eau Claire County
Chippewa River
Chippewa / Eau Claire County
Otter Lake
Chippewa County
Lake Wausau
Marathon County
Big Eau Pleine Reservoir
Marathon County
Wisconsin River
Marathon / Columbia / Sauk County
Lake Minocqua
Oneida County
Kawaguesaga Lake
Oneida County
Catfish Lake
Vilas County
Voyageur Lake
Vilas County
Ice Safety
- ▸Always verify ice thickness — a minimum of 4 inches of clear, solid ice is recommended for walking. New, clear ice is stronger than white or honeycombed ice.
- ▸Never fish alone on early or late ice, and wear a flotation suit or life jacket. Carry ice picks around your neck in case of a fall-through.
- ▸Watch for pressure cracks, moving water, and areas near inlets, outlets, and current — ice is always thinner there.
- ▸Check current conditions with the Wisconsin DNR and local bait shops before heading out. Ice is never 100% safe.
Ready for the Hard Water?
Stock your ice fishing tackle with injection-poured panfish baits built for Wisconsin's frozen lakes. Made right here in Fall River, WI.
Shop Ice Fishing Baits