Bluegill and perch action is best during daylight hours. The flats around the islands at the south end produce good catches. Small jigs tipped with plastics, spikes or waxies should take fish.

Get on the lake at public landings in the city of Beaver Dam, at several landings on both east and west shores, and at the south end off Highway G. Avoid open water and thin ice near the three aerators along the east shore. Their locations are posted and marked on most maps.

Last winter, Fox Lake was the best game in town for crappies. I fished there with guide Eric Haataja and Wayne Johnson, inventor of the Fillet King fillet board, and we caught a mess of nice crappies in a couple hours. There was a veritable village of anglers near the islands in the middle of the lake, but Haataja prefers to freelance with a portable locator. Schools of crappies move around a lot here, so either fish near other anglers who are catching fish or use a locator to find your own.

Some anglers prefer live minnows or wax worms, but rocker-type jigs tipped with little plastic tails like Custom Jigs & Spins Finesse Plastics work just as well. The bite is hot for the first few hours of daylight, then tapers off until late in the afternoon.

There is good winter access off the Indian Point landing in the city of Fox Lake and off Chief Kuno Trail on Kuno Point.

Contacts: Phil & Son Tackle, (920) 885-6766; Eric Haataja's Big Fish Guide Service, (414) 546-4627 or www.wibigfish.com.

LAKE WINNEBAGO
Last summer, anglers zeroed in on the perch bonanza on Lake Winnebago, and there's no reason to doubt the perch fishing will be good this winter, too. The largest lake in the state, Winnebago can be intimidating in summer or winter. Fortunately, perch seem to concentrate at the south end and along the west shore, so you can do the same.

Look for other anglers, then drill holes nearby until you locate fish. Perch like to hang out near rocks and other hard-bottomed areas. Try small ice jigs tipped with spikes or wigglers. If the bite slows down, try finessing them with slivers of plastic on the smallest jigs you have.

Wendt's Tavern on the west shore at Van Dyne is a good winter access, or you can get on the lake right in Fond du Lac.

Contacts: Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, (920) 923-3010 or www.fdl.com; Dutch's Trading Post, (920) 922-0311.

DELAVAN LAKE
A perennial favorite among southeast Wisconsin hardwater fans, Walworth County's 2,000-acre Delavan Lake offers an excellent mixed-bag winter fishery. DNR fisheries biologist Doug Welch oversaw a drawdown and restocking of the lake about 15 years ago, and he says perch, crappies and bluegills are all doing well now.

For bluegills, try the weeds on the long bar off Lake Lawn Lodge or the weedflats at the west end. Ice flies and tiny jigs tipped with spikes, mousies or plastic tails should do the trick.

Perch hang out in 40 feet of water off Willow Point on the north shore. Try the same jigs you would use for bluegills, tipped with spikes or wax worms.

Crappies are now the real story on Delavan, Welch says. There are some monster slabs over 14 inches and plenty of smaller but still respectable fish as well. They bite best at night suspended over deep water off Willow Point. Ultra-fine lines are necessary to fool these wary fish. Locals favor a lure called the Hali Jig, but I'd bet an old standby like a Rembrandt would work here, too.

There are several good access points of the north and south shores. Look for the crowds and you should find fish.