SHAWANO LAKE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Even with a weekend warm-up on the way, some people are still taking to the frozen surface of Shawano Lake.
But longer days and even some sunshine are taking their toll on the ice.
Fishing was good Tuesday morning on the spot about a quarter-mile off the Shawano Lake County Park shoreline.
“We’re getting some sunfish, and some crappies, and we have a few in the pail. Naturally, my buddy’s doing better than me. So that’s the way that goes,” said Ed Erickson, Gillett.
“Oh, there we go. We’ll let this one go back in the lake, we’ll catch him again next year,” said John Retzlaff, Town of Wescott.
Retzlaff says it’s been a good season on the lake too.
“Ice conditions have been fantastic. Not a lot of snow, so you could get around, where you couldn’t the last couple of years. The ice is really good out here,” he said.
“The lake itself is in good shape, with about 16-18 inches of ice,” said Stan Vertz, Hacker Bait and Tackle.
Vertz says a weekend warm-up could soften ice at the landings, and shorten the season.
“The way it’s acting now, and the way it is deteriorating a little better around the shorelines, I’d say two weeks,” he said.
The conditions coincide with a Department of Natural Resources deadline. All fishing shanties must be removed from waters south of Highway 64, by Sunday. That includes Shawano Lake.
“Can’t stress enough to get your shacks off right away. Before the weekend, I would,” said Vertz.
Meanwhile, ice fishing continues.
“The ice will hold up for quite a while yet, it’s just the landings you got to watch out for. I drove out today, and I’ll probably drive out for the next few days here, but then when we get toward the weekend here, it’ll probably be time to switch to four-wheelers,” said Retzlaff.
Fishermen are urged to get their shanties off the lakes, as soon as possible.
Anglers are allowed to use portable shelters after the deadline if the conditions allow.
