Fishing boat on the Fox River in De Pere, December 28, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — With about 1.4 million anglers taking to the lakes and rivers each year, fishing is a tradition around Northeast Wisconsin.
With the warmer temperatures, some are still able to get out in their boats, but those conditions are having an impact on some area businesses.
Days before the start of the new year, and open water is all around at the mouth of the Fox River in Green Bay.
“I grew up around here. This is the first time, I’ve seen no ice this time of the year,” said Steve Labs, Truly Wild Guide Service Owner.
About 10 miles upstream, at Voyager Park, a boatful of anglers tests their luck below the De Pere Dam. Carter Steen is fishing from shore.
“I personally think there should be some ice out here. We should definitely be starting ice fishing. But it’s just too hot, and too much rain to keep the ice on the river,” said Carter Steen, Green Bay.
“This is the worst weather we ever had in December for ice fishing, because ice fishing brings in millions and millions of dollars in our local economy, because more people can ice fish, and have access from ice fishing than they do on a boat. So, it’s really hurting a lot of businesses. Hotels, restaurants, businesses like mine. It’s not a very good thing,” said Jeff Tilkens, Smokey’s on the Bay Owner Bait Shop Owner.
Tilkens says, for the first time, he plans to close for two months. He says he will re-open in the spring. Meanwhile Steve Labs says he hopes January will bring much colder conditions.
“Hopefully, by the end of the month, we might have some ice on the Bay of Green Bay. Otherwise it’s going to be into February, before we have safe ice to be perch fishing, or whitefish fishing up in Door County, where everybody wants to be,” he said.
The season of fishing comes with dangers. Experts say ice is never considered to be 100-percent safe. They say it’s a great idea to bring a charged cell phone with you, and let others know where you’re going to be.
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