There's no telling what you might bring up through the ice when you dip a bait in Wisconsin. Walleyes, northern pike, panfish and more are right at your fingertips wherever you live. Bundle up with several layers of clothing, pack a hot thermos of coffee, and get ready for the action.

Here's a look at where you'll find the state's best hardwater angling this year.

BOOM LAKE FLOWAGE
Oneida County
Anglers in the Rhinelander area have more good ice-fishing on their hands than they can handle. The fishery offers a smorgasbord of northern pike, walleyes, panfish and an occasional largemouth bass.

Walleyes are in the deeper water in the middle of the lake and near fish cribs. They are usually accompanied by big bluegills and crappies with the smaller 'gills closer to the surface.

Northern pike are everywhere. Fish in the 30-inch class are taken, but smaller ones are more common. A Boom Lake pike averages between 25 to 28 inches and if you're on the right part of the flowage, you won't be able to keep a minnow on your hook. The numbers more than make up for the trophy sizes.

Fish cribs in Boom Lake hold plenty of fish throughout the winter.

Use a sonar to locate the cribs and other bottom structure that will be holding walleyes, panfish and largemouth bass. Any green weeds will attract bluegills and crappies and in turn bring in largemouth bass and northerns.

For additional information, contact Mel's Trading Post at (800) 236-6357.

THREE-LAKES CHAIN
Oneida County
There are so many good lakes in Oneida County that picking just one or two is tough. However, if you have to choose, the Three-Lakes Chain is a must.

According to fisheries biologist John Kubisiak, it's Big Lake that walleye hunters will want to be on.

"There's very strong recruitment on the lake with high numbers of walleyes," Kubisiak said. There's a slot limit on the chain with no minimum length limit. Fish 14 to 18 inches must be released, but so far, the slot limit hasn't really resulted in improved sizes. The chain-wide limit is three walleyes with one over 18 inches, although some lakes have a two-fish bag limit to accommodate tribal spearing.

Black crappies made a strong showing in Fourmile Lake during the 2007 fisheries sampling. Other good crappie lakes are Big Fork, Little Fork, Medicine and Big Stone.

Yellow perch are doing well in Big Stone. Good numbers and nice sizes can be taken through the ice on jigs and minnows.

Northern pike in Laurel and Medicine lakes average between 19 and 20 inches. The population density is low, Kubisiak said, and the largest pike during the survey was 30 inches and was found in Medicine Lake.

Bluegills and pumpkinseeds are where you find them. Any of the lakes offer at least a fair population of panfish.

The lakes total 7,626 acres with 106 miles of shoreline.

For more information, call the DNR in Rhinelander at (715) 365-8919.

VERN WOLF LAKE
Kenosha County
Vern Lake is the jewel of the Richard Bong State Recreation Area. It's small at 115 acres, but it's a great place for a family getaway on the ice.

The best fishing is near the fishing pier where the water reaches 11 feet deep, according to park manager John Meyer. The rest of the lake is from 4 to 6 feet deep and a hard freeze will drive the fish to the depths.

Etham Davis of Jalensky's Sports and Marine in Kenosha would tag the lake as primarily a panfish lake.