OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Anglers are enjoying time on a Fox Valley lake, but getting to that “perfect spot” may be a challenge.
“Four ATV bridges. They’re marked with road barrels. They got reflectors on them. You can’t miss them,” said John Nourse, Otter Street Fishing Club Board Member
It bills itself as the biggest ice fishing event in the country.
The 16th annual “Battle on Bago” tournament kicked off Friday morning.
Thousands are expected to take to the ice of the Lake Winnebago System, but changing ice conditions have many concerned about travel on the frozen surface.
It bills itself as the biggest ice fishing event in the country.
The 16th annual “Battle on Bago” tournament kicked off Friday morning.
Thousands are expected to take to the ice of the Lake Winnebago System, but changing ice conditions have many concerned about travel on the frozen surface.
From the smaller ATVs to the larger UTVs, anglers took to the Lake Winnebago ice. Battle on Bago is here.
“Battle on Bago is huge! Thousands and thousands of fishermen come from all over the states,” said Nourse.
Nourse is not only a fan of the tournament, he works with the Otter Street Fishing Club to keep ice travel in the Oshkosh area safe.
“Right by our landing, by Merritt Street, we have about 10 inches. Out in the main body, I’ve heard anywhere from 12-16 inches out there. So, it’s good out there, but you got to get there, that’s the problem,” he said.
He says ATV bridges help machines cross the ice cracks.
“We are very safety conscious, and we got a lot of good people out there helping us out,” said Todd Reuss, Battle on Bago Board Member.
Reuss says truck travel is not recommended for the tournament. He expects 7-10,000 people for the two-day event.. He says Battle on Bago doubles as a fundraiser, generating more than $2 million in net proceeds.
“We got 50 clubs that come here, and help us out. That’s where all the money goes. It goes for Kids and Conservation, for DNR projects, kids fishing. Any needs that fall under that category work,” said Reuss.
But, with the tournament just hours old, The Oshkosh Fire Department was called to the ice at Menominee Park.
“We had a four-wheeler that went through. There were two people on the four-wheeler. One of them did go in the water. We checked them out, and they were fine. Cold. Very cold, but okay. It was in a very unsafe location,” said John Holland, Oshkosh Fire Department Public Information Officer.
Holland says a second ATV broke through the same area on Thursday.
“Make sure you know the ice conditions, and know where it’s safe, and not safe to be,” he said.
John Nourse agrees.
“Bottom line is we want everyone to go out on the lake, and come back safe,” he said.
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