LAKE WINNEBAGO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The calendar may show it’s the third week of January, but experts warn conditions on Lake Winnebago’s eastern shore are still not completely safe.
About 25 yards off the Quinney Landing, Mark Ecker and his cousin Adam Ecker tested Lake Winnebago’s frozen waters Monday morning. In this spot, they found about six inches of ice. But a walk 75 yards out shows a different story.
“We drilled a couple of holes, and we found four and a half inches, was the least we found. The most we found was about four inches of ice, four inches of water, and four inches of more ice,” says Quinney Fishing Club Plow Committee President Mark Ecker.
The Quinney Fishing Club monitors conditions at three landings in the area. members say there was open water in the area about a week ago.
“Definitely not as good as it should be for the time of the year. I mean, four and a half inches was the lowest. We found up to seven, six, seven, but definitely not worth traveling out here yet I don’t think,” says Quinney Fishing Club Member Adam Ecker.
A recent winter storm brought enough snow to open some snowmobile trails in the area, but fishing club members recommend keeping the sleds off Winnebago.
“I wouldn’t advise them to drive on the lake at all right now, until we get some colder weather for a couple of days,” says Mark Ecker.
Ecker says there may be another issue. Sturgeon spearing season begins on February 8th, which is less than three weeks away.
“I’m thinking they will be out here with ATVs, and snowmobiles, but it will be interesting, if we make it with vehicles, the first weekend,” he said.
Club members say this week’s forecast for warmer weather won’t help make ice.
“Yeah, we go from one extreme to the next,” says Adam Ecker.
Experts warn the ice is never 100 percent safe.
They say it’s a good idea to check conditions with area bait shops before heading out.
