SHAWANO LAKE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Following recent relatively warm weather, colder temperatures are moving in, and some people are taking to the ice in parts of the Northwoods.
On the eastern end of Shawano Lake, ice augers are cutting through the frozen surface at Cecil Bay. About a dozen anglers are doing some Monday morning fishing.
“It’s slow and cold, and the wind picked up a little bit, made it more cold,” said Rod Barkhaus, Bonduel.
Barkhaus tells FOX 11 there are about seven inches of ice covering about 10 feet of water below.
“The ice is popping. I can never quite get used to that sound of the ice cracking. But it’s making ice when it’s doing that, so it’s a good thing.”
Fishermen say ice started forming on the 6,200 acre lake a few weeks ago. At Hacker Bait Shop nearby, Owner Stan Vertz tells FOX 11 the recent warm windy weather helped form current ice.
“It cut the snow pack down on the lake, and it was just what we really needed. Not the damage that it did, but just the ice itself. It leveled out, melted the snow pack and now, she’s making ice.”
A few anglers were spotted near the Shawano Lake County Park Landing. Experts say this time of year, people should walk onto the ice, and use a chipper bar to check conditions along the way.
“A couple of good hits, you don’t go through, that’s walkable. Use common sense,” said Vertz.
Back on the ice at Cecil Bay, some anglers say fishing is starting to pick up.
“Jigging for some bluegill, and I got a couple tip-ups set for northern. We got a few northern, a few bluegill so far. Not killing them. But it’s fun. Better than at work,” said Brandon Barkhaus.
Anglers are asked to check with area bait shops for conditions before heading out. Experts remind people, no ice is ever considered 100 percent safe.
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