Open water at Calumet County Park on Lake Winnebago, February 15, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
CALUMET COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Dangerous ice conditions continue along the eastern shoreline of Lake Winnebago.
Officials say recent high winds cracked and shifted some of the floes leaving open water.
“Overall, it’s been an extremely strange year for us,” said Adam Backus, Calumet County Parks Director.
Adam Backus says in his 10 years at the park, he’s never seen anything like the current season.
“The lake is very unpredictable this year, as far as the ice conditions are concerned. This time last year, I was looking out, and saw several hundred shacks out my window in my office. And you don’t see anything, and open water, and we already have some ice shoves happening. So it’s definitely a different time,” said Backus.
Backus says those shoves appeared at the Calumet County Park landing two days before the sturgeon spearing opener. On Thursday morning, ice blocks continue to lumber through open water near the shoreline.
A couple miles to the south, Stockbridge Harbor Fishing Club member Scott Broehm says the launch site there is very dangerous.
“I don’t see anybody going out there any more,” said Scott Broehm, Stockbridge Harbor Fishing Club Member.
“With the landings the way they are, they’re starting to bust up, and the open water. The ice has way too much room to move. And if it shifts while you’re out there, there’s no way you’re going to get off,” he said.
With open water up and down this shoreline, Adam Backus says the ice season on this part of Lake Winnebago may be over, before it really even started.
“Unfortunately, I think that’s the reality. I know a lot of the local guys didn’t even go out this year, didn’t attempt to go out. They made that decision, that they hope for next year,” he said.
Sturgeon Spearing continues until February 25.
Experts remind everyone that the ice is never considered to be 100-percent safe.
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