Outdoor enthusiasts are still reminded to use caution on lake ice as ice depths and conditions can change from one area to another. Anglers are reporting decent catches of panfish on some area lakes. If you put out food for winter birds, consider adding a little sand to the food mix. Birds need grit in their diet to aid digestion and it's one more simple thing you can do to make their winter a little easier. Vehicle access to many area lakes is blocked by drifts pushed up by snowplows.
Many lakes still have slushy sections of ice and anglers are cautioned to use care out on the ice.
Anglers using snowshoes or snowmachines report decent catches of walleye and panfish. Walleye are hitting on sucker minnows and medium shiners in 15 to 30 feet of water. Both jigging and tip ups are working well during afternoon and evening hours. Northern are biting on tip ups with shiners on Anvil Lake and panfish are hitting waxworms in shallow, weedy areas on Pioneer and South Twin Lakes. Perch are biting on wigglers everywhere.