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***Eagle River, Wis. (VILAS COUNTY) -- as of January 12, 2009:

EDITOR'S NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO REPORT ISSUED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2009.

REPORTS WILL RESUME ON THEIR NORMAL SCHEDULE ON MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2009.

(Head): Strong northern bite continues with very good to excellent action

for crappies, bluegills and perch, and walleye hitting best in the evening,

in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area.

Ice anglers just keep pounding northerns in the Eagle River area. Fish 15

feet of water or less in and around the weeds. Use large shiners or

northern sucker minnows under a tip-up. All day bite.

Very good to excellent all-around panfish bite in the Eagle River area.

Mixed bag on sizes, but some very nice fish are being taken.

Fish crappies over mudflats in 25 feet of water. The crappies are

suspending two to four feet over structure. Use a small jig tipped with a

waxie or crappie minnow; or run a rosie red under a slip bobber.

Bluegills are hanging in and around the weeds in 15 feet of water or less.

Use a small jig, tipped with a waxie, spike or crappie minnow.

Perch are locating off of steep break edges or weedlines in 30 feet of water

or less. Use a small jig tipped with a waxie, spike, wiggler or crappie

minnow.

Walleye are providing good action in the Eagle River area. Fish steep break

edges in 25 feet

of water or less. Use a medium shiner or walleye sucker under a tip-up.

Evening bite is best.

(Report for the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce based on Creative Brilliance

interview with licensed guide Mat Hegy of Guides Choice Pro Shop).

Contact info for Eagle River:

* Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail:

info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org

* Guide's Choice Pro Shop, 715-477-2248

* George Langley, Eagle River Fishing Guides Association, 715-479-8804.

e-mail: fishing@eaglesportscenter.com

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***Some outdoor activities and events coming up in Eagle River, Wisconsin:

***** Fri.-Sun., Jan 16-18, 2009: 46th Annual World Championship Snowmobile

Derby in Eagle River. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315;

715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org

-- Sat.-Sun., Jan 10-18, 2009: 23rd Annual Women on Snow. Over one hundred

women enjoy a wonderful, exciting, and fun week snowmobiling in the Eagle

River area. All women are invited to participate in this yearly event.

Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail:

info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org

- - Fri.-Sun., Jan. 23-25, 2009: Wild Eagle Lodge Ice Fishing School.

Premier, affordable lodging, meals, world class ice fishing, as Eagle River

fishing guide "Muskie Matt" provides hands-on expert instruction. Eagle

River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail:

info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org

***** Fri.-Sun., Feb. 13-15, 2009: 4th Annual Labatt Blue USAdult Pond

Hockey Championship in Eagle River. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce;

800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web:

www.eagleriver.org

- -Sun., Feb. 15, 2009: Wild Eagle Lodge Ice Fishing Jamboree. 8am-5:30

pm. $10 entry fee. Children under 12 free. Food and hot drinks available.

Multitude of prizes. Lots of fun on the ice. Eagle River Chamber of

Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web:

www.eagleriver.org

***** Sat.-Sun., Feb. 21-22, 2009: 19th Annual Trig's Klondike Days at

Northern Pines High School in Eagle River. Wisconsin's most varied winter

festival and event. Family oriented and geared towards wonderful fun, area

heritage and history, and education, for all ages and tastes. Outdoor

events and competitions galore, just a few of the events include horse

pulls, dog sled rides, and chain saw carving; fabulous food, Native American

exhibitions, Native American/local/regional arts and craft shows, featuring

beautiful handmade items for sale; live music and entertainment, a fully

authentic period Voyageur encampment manned by expert re-creators. Join the

thousands who enjoy this marvelous, affordable, family oriented event each

and every year. Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400;

e-mail: info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org

Eagle River, The Snowmobile Capital of the World®, was voted number one

People's Choice as "Best Wisconsin Town for a Snowmobiling Getaway." (Also

ranked in "Best Town for a Fishing Getaway" and "Best Town for a Boating

Getaway.")

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*EAGLE RIVER WISCONSIN

Excellent snow base, with more snow predicted this week. Our groomers have

been doing a great job, smoothing out the trail. Indeed the trails were so

smooth this morning, it looks like the white frosting on a cake! Shiny,

even. All three of our groomers are working at night to make sure that

sledders have a super ride. At times some of our signs are knocked over

or disappear. If you ever come across any hazards on the trails, please

call 715-479-1411 and let us know. We want to keep the trail totally safe.

Groomer drivers want to advise that their equipment is heavy and cannot move

off the trail, so it is up to riders to stop and let them by. Also if you

come up behind the equipment, be patient a bit,, and they will pull over

when a space is available.

Catfish Lake Loop and Eagle Lake Trail have frozen slush. There can be some

rough conditions, so be aware. That goes for all lake trails in the Eagle

River area.

Plenty of ice on the lake trail, but there is also a ton of snow on top of

the ice. This causes snow in the middle of the top snow and bottom ice to

warm up and melt. If you encounter slush drive through it. Do not stop.

You might get stuck. There are land trails to take you in the same

direction. 10E will take you the same way as the Catfish Lake Loop. Trail

13N, 17N will take you the same way as the Eagle Lake Trail.

There is a section/E. Buckatabon Rd that has been plowed so that a logger

can get wood out of there. Forestry officials are saying it should only be

a week. Be aware that there is equipment out there.

Come up and enjoy "The Eagle River 500" - - the 500 mile trail network that

numerous area snowmobile clubs, groom and maintain through beautiful forests

and across frozen lakes. Load up the sleds and start the truck. We'll see

you on the trails.

Eagle River Snowmobile Trails website: www.snowmobileeagleriver.com;

recorded trail update: 715-479-5185; Eagle River Chamber of Commerce and

Visitors Center ; 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; web: www.eagleriver.org

Important upcoming snowmobile events in the Eagle River, Wisconsin area:

-- Fri‹Sun., Jan. 9-11, 2009: Loadmaster Classic Vintage Weekend at the

Eagle River Derby Track.Eagle River Chamber of Commerce; 800-359-6315;