Did you know that you can have a great tan in the winter with out going away on vacation? The sun reflecting off the frozen lakes of Wisconsin is a great way to ward off seasonal affect disorder and actually get a tan. People ask me all the time if I have been on vacation and I tell them that I have been Ice Fishing. This sport have been becoming more popular among men and women and we can help you get started. If you ever wanted to give Ice Fishing a try this is your chance. Some of you have been watching us from afar as we head out on our winter Ice Fishing adventures. This is your chance to learn what you need to know to join us.

We teach you how to ice fish. In this class, you will learn about ice safety, how to start and run a power auger, learn to set up a portable shack, set tips ups, use a jig rod, fish with live and artificial bait, how to use electronics, view life under the ice with the underwater camera and more. The instructors for this class are women and all the equipment is provided.

You will receive information on how to dress and heated shacks are provided to keep you warm. We start with a cup of coffee and learn the basic safety info before we head out onto the ice. The class location is 1 hour north of Madison and 1 hour south of Stevens Point. We are right inbetween Hwy I 39/ 51 and Hwy 90/94.

The cost of the class is $75 and that includes the $25 membership in WI Women Fish for 2012. Our instructors teach a shorter version of this class for the BOW program through UWSP the weekend of February 4th. More information on that class can be found at http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/bow/wihome/events.aspx. Class size is limited to 10 Women. If you would like to gather some  of your friend together and have us bring the class to your area, let us know as that could be a possibility.

• 2012 Club Registration Form and Liabilty Waiver
• 2012 Ice Fishing Class Registration Form

Ok Ladies….here it is..the event you have been waiting for. White Fish fishing in Door County!

Our favorite pro angler Marianne Huskey has offered to show us the world of Ice Fishing for White Fish in beautiful Door County. We will be fishing on Friday afternoon, all Day Saturday and Sunday morning. We will be heading out approx a mile off shore, setting up our portable village and learning the art of catching those tasty White Fish. At some point in the weekend, we may also go hunting for those jumbo Door County perch. For this event you will need some prior ice fishing experience. Be prepared to be self sufficient as all our experienced anglers will be wanting to get in on the action. We will be able to help transport out to the area but if you have an atv or snowmobile bring it with. We may be able to drive on the ice but that decision will be made just prior to the event. We do have some loaner equipment available but you should know how to use it.

This event size is limited to 30 people.  The spots will be filled on a first come first serve basic. I have reserved a block of rooms at the Sand Bay Beach Resort. Check out the web site at http://sandbaybeach.com/. This is a really nice place and they have nice suites that can be shared if you want to share expenses. Please do not reserve a room unless you have been confirmed for this event. Many times we stay at the very basic Hotel / Motel. This time we are going first class, but yet it is still affordable.  This resort is the gateway to the great fishing and our ATVʼs can park right on the beach. Some of the rooms have king bed, loveseat-pulls out into twin sleeper, bar kitchenette (bar fridge, sink, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, dishes, silverware) 4×6 whirlpool tub, breakfast table w/two chairs, bathroom w/oversize shower, and a patio or balcony.

We can only take 30 and my guess is that it will sell out fast. I have been warning people that the events sell out and the last 3 events with a cap limit we had to turn people away. Fish Camp sold out all 50 spots in 1 week. If you are reading this on the web site and you want to attend, send it in today. The cost is $40 per person. This includes the fishing only. Room reservations and food are on your own. Specific gear and tackle recommendations will be send to the first 30 people that register. Once you are confirmed you can reserve a room from the WI Women Fish block.

• 2012 Club Registration Form and Liabilty Waiver
• White Fish on Ice Registration Form

Big Green Lake is one of the deepest Lakes in Wisconsin. It is a very popular pleasure boating Lake in the summer and provides year round fishing opportunities. Due to the water being so deep, ice travel can be tricky and extra caution is urged. Big Green Lake has a nice population of Lake Trout and we would like to go catch some. We have shacks for 20 people reserved for this Lake Trout Outing on Big Green Lake. We will be using Dennis Walkers Guide service. Dennis has a special vehicle and people transporter and gives us a ride out to the heated ice shacks. He provides all the gear to fish for the much coveted Lake Trout which can put up quite a fight.

For this event you do not need any gear but if you want your lucky jig rod bring it. Be sure your rod selection is not the same one you use for blue gill fishing as you will want a rod with a little more back bone for brining those fish in from the deep. We will be fishing in over 100 feet of water. Knowing where you are going on this water is very important so we going with Dennis. We will meet in the morning and spend the day on the Lake. Exact times and meeting location will be sent to those who are confirmed for this event.

This is a good event for newer ice anglers as all the gear is provided and you get the shanty town experience. They are not that easy to catch and its takes some concentration. I will be available to help you as needed. I did this several times last year and had a lot of fun. Cost will be the Guide fee of $45 per person. A tip is also customary. Bring your lunch, a camera and drinks of choice.

As usual you must be a member of WI Women Fish to attend. We can only take 20 for this event due to shack space. I have made the reservation and will hold spots for the first 20 people who send in the forms. I will also keep a waiting list and if you
have to cancel and your spot is filled off the waiting list I will send you a full refund.

• Lake-Trout-Registration-Form
• 2012 Club Registration Form and Liabilty Waiver

Join us for some urban fishing along the beautiful city scape of Milwaukee WI. You may think I’m crazy when I say beautiful city scape, but if you have stood off the pier looking back at the city with the sun going down, you would have to agree with me. If feels like you have a secret shared with only a few, while thousands of people bustle about their day with out knowing the treasure that lies in the deep right off the pavement.

There are several places in the metro area that we like to fish. We had a great time fighting huge king salmon last year at this time. We learned to fish this area with the locals on the pier as well as watching a few videos. We did what we saw on the videos and before long we had our hooks into something that felt like a pickup truck going down the highway. The fish move daily and there are a few spots to pick from.

I will have contacts pre fishing the local spots a few days before the event so I am unable to give a specific location to meet at this time. For those of you on Facebook, if you RSVP to the Salmon Event I can send you a note several days before the event and give you the address of where to meet. That is also a good place to inquire about car pooling if you want to try to share a ride with someone coming from your area. For those of you not on facebook, email me and I can add you to the list and let you know where to meet.

There is no fee for this event, but you must be a member of WI Women Fish. We will meet at 10:00 p.m. ( at a place to be determined) and plan on fishing well all day.

There are links to a video on our facebook page that shows you how to rig up a line to fish for these big fish. The exact fishing location and meeting place will not be posted on the web site but only emailed to those attending. Everyone is invited and it is best to remain flexible. As always safety is a big concern for us and we try to do everything right.

I encourage you to do some research on salmon fishing from shore and you will find lots of tips and tricks to try. We will send out a list of recommended tackle to use. We fish in all types of weather so come prepared. If you are joining us email me to get on the notification list.

2011 Club Registration Form and Liabilty Waiver

Have you read about all of our fishing adventures and wished you knew how to fish? Well here is your chance. We will be giving a Fishing 101 class to show you everything you need to know to have the skill and confidence to get out there and catch some fish.

In this class you will learn how to pick a bait and get your pole set up. How to tie fishing knots, cast, read the water, slip bobber rigs, wolf river rigs, throw crank baits, how to clean fish and much much more…. After this class you will be able to go out and catch everything from blue gills to salmon. We will show how to handle fish, take the hook out, work with live and artificial bait,

There will be multiple instructors on site to help you. You will also receive a fishing rod and reel for you to keep and take home. You will be able to go out the next day and put what you learned into action.

The fee for the class is $100. This includes, a membership in WI Women Fish, all the instruction, lunch and a rod and reel to take home with you. If you are already a member the fee is $75. The class will be held rain or shine as we reserved a shelter at the park.

The date of the class is the same weekend that WI has a free fishing weekend so you do not need a fishing license. Great news if you are coming from out of state. Class size is limited. To register, complete the forms on the web site and mail them in with your fee. We are able to offer a partial scholarships for this class if there is a need. Our funds are extremely limited as all of our operating expenses come from member dues but we never want money to be a barrier for women to get out fishing. Please only request a scholarship if you really need it. We want to help those in need but our funds are limited. Class is filled by post mark dates. First come first server.

One of the goals of our fishing club is to help Women feel more comfortable on the water. This is a first time offered class to help those of you who considered getting a boat but were hesitant to take on the challenge for what ever reason. Maybe you didn’t feel comfortable at the Helm or backing up the boat and trailer in the water. We can change that with our Boating Basics class.

During the class we will talk about anatomy of a boat, boating safety, launching and loading, basic boat maintenance, driving a boat, and more. You will actually get to get in a vehicle and back the boat up in our practice area where the cones will be placed.

Once you feel comfortable we will go next door to the boat launch and actually do it for real. Once on the water you can take the helm, and before long you will catch the boating bug like the rest of us. Whether you want to fish from a boat or take the kids tubing you will get the basic skills you need to get started. The instructors for the class are female veteran boaters who are members of WI Women Fish.

The fee for the class includes a membership in our Fishing Club and lunch. Class size is limited and will be held rain or shine. We have the Park Shelter reserved. Look for the banners. Class fee is $50. To register complete the registration form on the web site and submit it with payment. Fee for members of WI Women Fish is $25. Note: The class end time is approximate depending on how many sign up. We want everyone to leave with a comfort level so they can get out there on their own.

Ever see Grumpy Old Men? Or how about Giddy Old Ladies? Come join us for a new Years Eve celebration you will NOT soon forget. We have rented several fancy sleeper shack ice houses on the frozen tundra of Lake Mil Lac’s MN. These shacks are some of the best out there and placed in an area known to hold big walleye and jumbo perch. These shacks have 6 bunks each, a two burner gas burner, heat, gas lights and yes ladies, even a bathroom. They also have a fan and electric lights so if you have a small portable generator bring it along. We can take possession of the shacks at high noon on Friday, Dec 31st and need to vacate at noon on Sunday, Jan 2nd.

Last year, 6 or us went on a scouting trip to check this out. It was 30 below zero the entire time yet, we fished in our pajama’s.  The shacks are very warm. In spite of the cold snap, we caught jumbo perch and big walleyes and had a great time. We had so much fun we decided make it an official WI Women Fish event. Last year we hauled out atv’s up there and planned to be out and about checking out fishing away from our shack. This year I am leaving mine home and will fish in the area of the group of shacks. You can do what you want, I just found it to not be worth it. Plus at 30 below our atv’s wouldn’t start.

So I want to be straight up with the whole bathroom situation because last year we didn’t know what to expect. Obviously the shack in out in the middle of the lake so there is no real plumbing, but they have made a nice private bathroom with a toilet seat and some fishing magazines. But keeping with our environmental stewardship commitment, what goes in, must come out. They DO provide handy heavy duty plastic bags that go into the toilet, ( otherwise known as a 5 gallon pail with a fancy toilet seat) and every now and again the bag is tied up and brought out the curb for pick up by the caretaker. Think of it as part of the adventure.

There will be 6 bunks in each shack and 12 holes from which to fish. The holes are already drilled and we will have augers to drill extra holes around the outside of the shacks. There is a large table in the center and the holes are around the outside. One handy tip is to PACK LIGHT! Don’t be hauling a bunch of unnecessary items in which to clutter up the place. While you are in your shack be mindful of having your items neatly in your area and not in a mess all over the place or you may infringe upon your shack mates personal space. It may be best to keep a bag of extra items in your vehicle so if you need something its handy.

I can tell you that last year we had a blast and we are all returning to repeat the adventure. Be sure to check out the video on our facebook page where one gal caught a huge walleye right out front of the shack.

Things to Bring: Your own bedding, poles/tackle and bait, scoop, chisel, tape measure, etc. Bring your food and drink, and cookware. Its best to plan on one skillet meals and I will try to arrange a conversation between shack mates so we aren’t all hauling the same things. I found a good way to dress is to wear loose fitting long johns for being in the shack and then if  you want to pull on your out side ice fishing suit just pull it on.

Shack assignments. At the time I am writing this up to put in on the web site we have 17 people interested in attending. I am reserving 3 shacks that hold 6 so that is 18. If you want in, send in your forms as soon as possible. If we we get additional women to sign up I will reserve another shack but if we don’t have enough to fill a shack we will have to turn people away. If you want to be with certain people in your shack You BOTH have to indicate it on your form. If one does and the other doesn’t then its left to chance. Feel free to mingle among shacks. I am going ask that each shack have a “guest hole” so if you have a visiter in your shack there is room for them to sit a spell and drop a line. I will also be setting up several portable shacks out and about our village so feel free to mingle about in the exterior shacks.

The cost of this event is $120 per person. If you would like to attend complete the Sleeper Shack Registration form and send it in with the payment to the address on the form. You must be a member of WI Women Fish to attend. Your 2010 membership will work for this event or you can renew for 2011.  If you have not been a member before you will also need to complete the 2011 Club Registration Form and Liabilty Waiver and submit the $25 membership fee.

Once I have all the registration forms I will send out an email with directions and a list of items suggested to bring. You can then coordinate with the others staying in your shack. Each shack can decide on how you want to do your food, each one their own the entire time or split things up. There is also food available at the bar near the shacks and vehicles can drive about on the plowed roads on the ice. There are even signs. Specific directions will be sent to those attending. The location is approximately 3 1/2 hours northwest of Eau Claire WI. Let me know if you have any questions.

Sleeper Shack Registration

2011 Club Registration Form and Liabilty Waiver

Join us for our annual Petenwell Ice Outing where we try to locate Walleye Crappie and Catfish. We get better every year at this event and we hope that this one is the best yet. We meet at a boat launch ( to be determined based on current fishing information and ice conditions) and head out from there. At times, vehicle traffic is safe and other times we will reach our destination via atv or even on foot. If we need ATV’s, there are enough club members who are equipped that we are able to shuttle gear and members out to the fishing site.

Last year there were fourteen club members who attended and we caught Walleye, Catfish and White bass. The biggest walleye caught was 25 inches and it was caught on a tip down. Dawn out fished everyone and seemed to have the hot hole. Robin also showed us she had the magic touch for cat fish.  We had Keri take some video and it can be seen at http://www.bearsolis.com/.

If you are new to ice fishing and want to attend, we have loaner gear available and extra room in the shacks. There is no cost for this event if you are a member of WI Women Fish. Specific meeting location will be sent out to those interested in attending. We usually meet at 8:00 am and fish all day. Everyone brings what they want to eat and drink and fishing tactics are shared.  This event will be posted as a facebook event and you can rsvp there. Be sure to join our WI Women Fish facebook page. If you plan on attending and do not do facebook, send me an email and I will send you the information via email.  If you are planning on attending this event, please join as a member prior to the event so all on ice time can be spent fishing.

2011 Club Registration Form and Liabilty Waiver

Did you know that you can have a great tan in the winter with out going away on vacation? The sun reflecting off the frozen lakes of Wisconsin is a great way to ward off seasonal affect disorder and actually get a tan. People ask me all the time if I have been on vacation and I tell them that I have been Ice Fishing. This sport have been becoming more popular among men and women and we can help you get started. If you ever wanted to give Ice Fishing a try this is your chance.

Join us as we teach you how to ice fish. In this class, you will learn about ice safety, how to start and run a power auger, learn to set up a portable shack, set tips ups, use a jig rod, fish with live and artificial bait, how to use electronics, view life under the ice with the underwater camera and more. The instructors for this class are women and all the equipment is provided. A Chili lunch and Hot Chocolate will be provided.

Once you know the basics you will feel comfortable joining us on our annual adventures to MN and to Lake Superior. Many women look for other group members to go out fishing with in between club events so this class will give you the confidence you need to go out with friend.

You will receive information on how to dress and heated shacks are provided to keep you warm.  This years class will be held on  Crooked Lake which is about 50 minutes N. of Madison. We are arranging car pooling from Madison so if transportation is a concern just contact me. The cost of the class is $75 and that includes the $25 membership in WI Women Fish for 2011. Once you are a member you will be entered into the drawing for the new Jiffy Ice Auger to be given away in March. Our instructors teach a shorter version of this class for the BOW program through UWSP the weekend of February 11th. More information on that class can be found at http:// www.uwsp.edu/cnr/bow/wihome/events.aspx.

To register for the Ice Fishing 101 class complete the form and send it to the address on the form. You will also need to complete the club membership form and sign the liability waiver. Send the three pages in with the $75 fee. If you are already a member the fee is $50. All forms should be sent to WI Women Fish P.O. Box 447 Oxford WI 53952

Registration Forms

• Ice Fishing 101 Registration Form
• 2011 Club Registration Form and Liabilty Waiver

Win A Jiffy Auger

All members are invited to the Lake Superior Ice Challenge. Last year we had 25 Women trek out on the Cheqamegon Bay in Ashland WI. We are going to repeat the same schedule as last year. Friday March 11th, pre-fish for the event. If you have an atv bring it. It is hard to tell what the ice conditions will be at that time.

Anyone who wants to make it a long weekend can join us for the pre – fishing day. We will try to track down the area where fish are holding so be ready to run and gun. We then return to the host motel and have a little meet and greet in the hospitality suite. Bring some snacks to share in the hospitality suite. Then off to an optional fish fry and one of the local hot spots.

Saturday morning we head out to the hot spots and try to land some smelt, coho salmon, and whatever treasures the great lake will give up to us. This event you need
to bring your own gear but some loaner gear is available. If you need tips ups, jig rods, or shack space just let me know. Sunday the dies hards will fish again so feel free to hang around. Last year some women got caught in a heck of a snow storm on the way home so be prepared for that type of March Madness. This event is open to all members of Wi Women Fish. I will also warn that a friendly poker game could break out in the hospitality suite on both nights.

TO REGISTER: Make your own reservations at the Crest Motel at 1-715-682-6603. Tell them you are with WI women Fish and they will put us all together. Send me an email and tell me if you plan on attending. There will be a fee of $10 – $20 each to cover the cost of the hospitality suite. ( Price depends on how many sign up. The more chipping in the less it is.) Money will be collected there. Bring cash. I will have an idea once people RSVP. The event is list on our facebook page. Please RSVP if you are attending. If you are not on facebook send me an email. Drawing will be held for a Jiffy Auger. All 2011 members will be entered in the drawing.

• 2011 Club Registration Form and Liabilty Waiver