Portions of central to northern Wisconsin received anywhere from 2 to 6 inches of snow in the last week, but most of the southern half of the state only received a trace to an inch or so of snow. In most areas, the snow was not enough to reopen snowmobile trails, and trails only remain open in the most northern Wisconsin counties, according to the Department of Tourism Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). The new snow did improve conditions for cross-country skiing across northern and some portions of central Wisconsin, but only a few locations in southern Wisconsin were still reporting fair to good ski conditions.
The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation [www.birkie.com] (exit DNR) is reporting that the Birkebeiner Ski Trail should be in very good to excellent condition for this weekend’s 36th American Birkebeiner ski race. The forecast is for cold and cloudy weather with some snow flurries in the Hayward area on Saturday. Birkie officials report that the race will have a Main Street finish in Hayward, as cold weather has improved the ice conditions on Lake Hayward. Officials report more than 7,000 skiers have registered for the race, which is the largest cross-country ski race in North America and is part of the Worldloppet series of 15 international races, attracting elite skiers from around the world.
Spearers on the Lake Winnebago system harvested 1,293 sturgeon as of Feb. 18. Spearers on the Up River Lakes registered 64 juvenile female fish, which exceeded the 90 percent harvest trigger, causing the Upriver Lakes season to close on Feb. 18. The Lake Winnebago season remained open as of Feb. 19. Spearers need to harvest 58 more adult females to reach 90 percent trigger closure, or 121 adult females to reach the 100 percent closure trigger on Lake Winnebago. At the current harvest rate, the season on Lake Winnebago could remain open for several more days and may go into the upcoming weekend. Officials counted 6,853 shanties on Lake Winnebago system for the opening day last Saturday.
The cooler weather of the last week firmed up the ice surface on many improving access for ice anglers, who have been out in force, but fishing success has been a bit erratic. In the north walleye continue to provide the most consistent action. Northern pike success has only been fair. Panfish action has been generally slow, with just a few nice perch and crappie being caught.
Ice fishing continues along the south shore of Chequamegon Bay from Ashland through Washburn, with some northern pike, perch, smallmouth bass, trout, and smelt reported. On Green Bay, perch fishing continued to be generally slow, with fish spread out and anglers moving a lot to stay on top of the most active fish. Anglers continue to report success for whitefish and some walleye.
Warm weather and some rain last week caused the Mississippi River stage to jump more than 2 feet, and as of Feb. 16, the river was at 10.01 feet at Prairie du Chien. The high water has created difficult ice fishing conditions for anglers, with unsafe ice conditions along shorelines and on sloughs with current. The ice went out below the Genoa dam on Feb. 11, and some walleye anglers were already fishing from boats below the dam.
Last week’s warmer also brought the onset of skunk breeding and male skunks have been on the move in search of receptive females. Skunks remain in their dens during cold winter weather, oftentimes huddling with other skunks to keep warm. They may lose as much as 50 percent of their body weight during winter and then generally emerge to breed sometime between mid-February and mid-April.
A three-minute audio version of this report can be heard by calling (608) 266 2277.
A new report is put on the line each week.
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NORTHERN REGION
Ashland DNR Service Center area
Ice fishing continues along the south shore of Chequamegon Bay from Ashland through Washburn and out to Long Island. Some northern pike, perch, smallmouth bass, trout, and smelt have been reported. Remember that ice conditions can change rapidly on Lake Superior; always use caution when venturing out on the ice and check with local bait dealers for more detailed ice conditions. At this point most of the snow pack on the ice disappeared after the recent warm weather. Caution must ALWAYS be taken seriously when venturing out on Lake Superior ice. Water currents around the islands such as the south channel near Long Island can make ice very dangerous for traveling on. In the Bayfield area, anglers were catching Lake Trout "bobbing" (jigging 1 ounce to 3 ounce beetle jigs tipped with cut herring on wire or heavy no stretch line) in 180 - 200 feet of water. Many people have been "Bobbing" for lake trout along the ice road from Bayfield to Madeline Island. Whitefish action has been variable with some good and some bad days. The use of Swedish Pimples and Buckshot spoons tipped with a lake shiner head have worked the best. Target Whitefish in waters of 40-80 feet. The Long Island area seems to hold the best Whitefish numbers taken by local fisherman this year.
Big Bay State Park - The cross-country ski and snowshoe trails have succumb to Mother Nature’s warm spell in early February. Trails are in good to poor condition with the loss of snow pack. The Woods Trail is good condition while the Bay View and Point Loop Trails are in poor condition. The Woods, Bayview and Point Loop trails are open to classic skiing "only" while the Lagoon Ridge Trail (good condition) and the Boardwalk (fair condition) are packed and designated for snowshoes and hiking. Please stop at the park's contact station for more information on were to go within the park for your designated activity.
Copper Falls State Park - Although unseasonably warm temperatures were experienced last week, the ski trails at Copper Falls State Park survived and are in good to very good condition. Trailed were groomed and tracked on Friday, Feb. 13, with the exception of the Cascades Trail. Over the weekend a couple was fortunate enough to see a pair of Timberwolves while skiing. Wolf tracks are common along the ski trails throughout the season as the trail provides a firm base for the wolves to walk on. For those that have never seen a wolf track, the size of the track can be quite impressive. Ski trails at Copper Falls are groomed for classical skiing only and are very scenic. Hiking and pets are not allowed on ski trails within the park. Visitors are also reminded that the Cascades trail, the trail around Copper and Brownstone Falls, is closed for the season for hiking as a portion of the trail is designated ski trail. For those wishing to hike, walk a pet, or snowshoe; the Red Granite Falls Trail remains open all season for those users. Pet owners are reminded that pets must be leashed at all times. Snowshoeing is very popular on this trail. Winter camping is also an option for those willing to brave the elements at Copper Falls. Camping during the winter months offers peace and solitude. Sites 1 through 5 will be plowed throughout the winter months.
Hayward DNR Service Center area
The American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation is reporting that the Birkebeiner Ski Trail should be in very good to excellent condition for this weekend’s 36th American Birkebeiner ski race. The forecast is for cold and cloudy weather with some snow flurries in the Hayward area on Saturday. Birkebeiner officials report that the race will have a Main Street finish in Hayward, as cold weather has improved the ice conditions on Lake Hayward, the final stretch of the 50 kilometer Birkebeiner race and 54 kilometer Birkie Classic race. Officials report more than 7,000 skiers have registered for the race, which is the largest cross-country ski race in North America and is part of the Worldloppet series of 15 international races, attracting elite skiers from around the world.
Tuscobia State Trail - Snowmobile conditions were poor as of Feb. 16; however, conditions were good for ATV use.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - Cooler, more seasonal temperatures in the last week have firmed up the ice surface on most lakes and ice depths are currently in the 18 to 22 inch range. Last week's thaw took care of most of the snow that was on the ice and there's just an inch or two of new snow on top of a rather slick surface. Both ATV and vehicle travel has been good to most areas on the lakes, though there are many rough spots due to frozen ruts. While the weather was nice and anglers were out in force, fishing success has been a bit erratic in the past week. Walleye continue to provide the most consistent action and some fair catches 11 to 15-inch fish were made in the late afternoon hours. Sucker minnows fished in 8' to 12' of water, along the deeper break lines and mud flats has been the most productive method. A few of the smaller walleye have had mayfly nymphs in their stomachs and it seems these fish have moved near the mud flats to exploit this common forage item. Northern pike success has only been fair with the nicer weather, with most anglers reporting just enough action to keep them interested. While most northern pike anglers have been getting just a fish or two per trip, a few nice pike in the 28 to 32-inch range have been reported. Panfish action has been generally slow, with just a few nice perch and crappie being caught. Crappie anglers have had an especially tough time finding fish lately and they've moving around quite a bit trying to find active fish. Both the crappie and perch also appear to be utilizing the mayfly nymphs as food, so anglers may want to adjust their tactics a bit to capitalize on this.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest - As of Feb. 18, cross-country ski trail conditions remain good. Trails have been cleared of down trees and large woody debris that fell during the warm and windy weather last week. The Escanaba Ski Trail green loop was regroomed this week. The track is very firm and there was about an inch of new snow to help cover debris. High winds this week were a factor along lake, but the majority of this trail is narrow and sheltered from winds. Still over a foot of snow in the woods and cold temps should make for good skiing this weekend.
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NORTHEAST REGION
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County - Perch fishing continued to be slow off Potawatomi State Park. The few that have been caught were spread out and most anglers that were finding perch were moving a lot to stay on top of the most active fish. Anglers have been using jigging raps tip with wax worms, minnows have also been used with some success reported. Ice conditions off of the landing have deteriorated watch for pressure cracks; there has been reports of a truck braking through on Friday. Anglers have been also been fishing out of stone quarry park with limited success for walleyes and perch. Larsons Reef has also been producing some walleyes and whitefish. Anglers have been doing very well on the walleyes here over the last few weeks. At Little Sturgeon Bay, perch and whitefish seem to dominate the action with limits of whitefish being caught in 30 – 40 feet of water. The best action has been coming on small jigging raps and spoons tip with waxwarms. Most anglers have been fishing off Henderson’s point. Please use caution when crossing shoves with the last week’s warm spell and recent snow shoves are hard to identify.
Peninsula State Park – As of Feb. 18, there was approximately 6 inches of snow on the ground, with 4 inches of wet snow falling on Wednesday. All cross-country trails were rolled on Wednesday, and will likely be tracked on Thursday as colder weather arrives. Conditions fair to good, with a thin base. The sledding hill is open. Snowmobile trails remain closed. Snowshoe and hiking trails are icy and packed.
Potawatomi State Park - Ski trails were groomed Feb. 16. The groomer reports they are in generally good condition, both for skate and stride skiing, with a few exceptions. The area near the warming shelter is quite worn and the portions of the Red and Black Loops adjacent to open fields no longer have much snow. People are skiing today and more snow is predicted later this week. Snowmobile trails remain closed. A truck went through the ice on Sawyer Harbor this weekend. No one was hurt. The truck was retrieved the next day. Anglers are reminded to use extreme caution on the ice. The Coast Guard ice breaker was breaking a path through Sturgeon Bay late last week.
Wautoma DNR Service Center area
Sturgeon Spearing on Upriver Lakes closed on Wednesday due to Spearers reaching the 90 percent harvest cap. Lake Winnebago still remains open. All area snowmobile trails are still closed, and cross country skiing conditions are poor. Nordic Mountain reports excellent downhill skiing conditions and has 14 runs open. This Saturday and Sunday, Nordic Mountain will be holding Winterfest weekend. They will have a variety of games and competitions, including scavenger hunts, and cardboard box races. Contact Nancy at 920-622-3957 for more information.
Hartman Creek State Park - Cross-country ski trails were in fair condition as of Feb. 18. The area received about 4 inches of very heavy, wet snow Tuesday night. Trail grooming will not begin until this Friday, February 20. Temperatures are supposed to plummet Wednesday and Thursday with minus 20 degree wind chills and windy conditions. The last time trails were groomed was about 4 weeks ago and since that time, this is is the first snowfall since then.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center area
The 2009 Upriver Lakes Sturgeon Spearing Season closed Wednesday, Feb. 18. The Lake Winnebago season remained open as of Thursday Feb. 19. The System-wide harvest total was 1,293 as of Feb. 18. Spearers need to harvest 58 more adult females to reach 90 percent trigger closure, or 121 adult females to reach the 100 percent closure trigger on Lake Winnebago. At the current harvest rate, the season on Lake Winnebago could remain open for several more days and may go into the upcoming weekend. Spearers on the Up River Lakes registered 64 juvenile female fish, which exceeded the 90 percent harvest trigger, causing the Upriver Lakes season closure to be enacted. The season on Lake Winnebago has not reached a closure trigger yet and remains open to those persons with a Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing license. This is the third year of the lottery fishery on the Upriver Lakes which has been very successful. There were 4,031 people who submitted applications for the 2009 Upriver Lakes sturgeon spearing lottery, up from 2,795 in the inaugural year 2007, and 3,902 in 2008. Spearers are drawn to this high quality fishery as the success rate averages over 60 percent, whereas the success rate on Lake Winnebago averages only 13 percent. During the course of the year the Upriver Lakes are a nursery ground for juvenile sturgeon, but in the winter thousands of adult sturgeon from Lake Winnebago join these juveniles for a short stay prior to finishing their spawning run up the Wolf and upper Fox rivers come spring. Adult female sturgeon don't begin spawning until they are in their 20s, and then spawn only once every four years, while males begin spawning in their late teens/early 20s with about 60 to 70 percent of the adult male stock spawning every year - hence the much higher proportion of male sturgeon in the sex ratio of the Upriver Lakes harvest compared to the harvest from Lake Winnebago. The Upriver Lakes sturgeon spear fishery was first initiated in 1952, put in place to replace a set-line fishery there that was closed at the time out of concerns about illegal sturgeon harvest on set lines. Upriver Lakes spearing seasons were held annually from 1952 to 1957, with no limit to the number of spearers on the three lakes (Lakes Butte des Mort, Winneconne, and Poygan). Also at this time spearers could spear both Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes in the same season. Concern about excessive harvest in these first six years led to holding seasons on the Upriver Lakes once every three years, then later every five years. In the year 2000 an unlimited fishery on the Upriver Lakes produced a harvest of 2,169 in two days, emphasizing the need for a restricted fishery there which in turn gave rise to current lottery fishery in place since 2007. The illegal set-line harvest of juvenile lake sturgeon that took place from 1932-1951 was severe enough to be noticed in size distributions of sturgeon system-wide in the 1950s through the 1980s. There was an entire group of fish nearly missing from the population in those decades. Many of the large 150-plus-pound fish we are seeing in the harvest the past few years were the first juvenile fish afforded protection from the excessive illegal set-line harvest beginning in 1952.
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SOUTHEAST REGION
Kettle Moraine State Forest –Lapham Peak Unit – Cross-country ski trails are generally in poor condition, except for the 1 kilometer man-made snow loop. That loop has snow and skate lanes are in fair condition. Track is set but it is in marginal condition. Other trails were last groomed Feb 14. Some sections are skiable, but there is a lot of glare ice and some bare spots. Snowmobile trails are closed.
Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit - As of Feb. 17, forest received approximately 2 inches of snow on Saturday, Feb. 14, which improved the conditions of the cross country ski trails. Greenbush ski trails are in good condition. Trails have been groomed for skating and classical skiing; skiers should be aware some sections of trail are icy. For more information call the trail hotline at (920) 467-2099. Zillmer ski trails are in fair to good conditions; all loops were renovated on Saturday, Feb.14. Because of the recent warn temperatures, sections of the trail are icy - skiers should plan ahead and use caution in these areas.: The snowmobile trails are closed. When there is sufficient snow cover, the state forest 60-mile trail network is groomed on a regular basis by the Greenbush Trail Blazers, New Fane Kettle Riders and the Kewaskum Sno Chiefs Snowmobile clubs. For more information call the snowmobile trail hot line for Sheboygan County and the State Forest at (920) 892-7455
Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit – The southern unit received only about a quarter inch of snow on Feb. 18. As a result, ski trails remain in very marginal conditions. Some sections are skiable, but there is a lot of glare ice and some bare spots.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Ozaukee County – In Port Washington shore anglers have been catching occasional brown trout. Spawn sacs have taken fish at the power plant discharge, and spoons have caught fish off the rocks at Rotary Park. Flows and water clarity on Sauk Creek are good, but steelhead fishing has been slow.
Milwaukee County – In Milwaukee, some ice has formed again in the river under the Hoan bridge. In McKinley Marina there is still sufficient ice for foot travel, but fishing there has been slow. The Menomonee River near the MMSD offices is muddy, and fishing there has been tough. However, further upriver on the Menomonee and in the canals, there have been some browns and rainbows taken on crankbaits. There is some construction going on at Riverfront Ramp, but one lane remains open to boaters.
Racine County – In Racine a few anglers have been open water fishing near the Pershing boat launch, and brown trout have been hitting both spoons and spawn. The Root River is open, and stream flows and water clarity are good. Steelhead have been taken on spawn in Lincoln Park downstream of the Root River Steelhead Facility.
Kenosha County – In Kenosha anglers continue to ice fish near the boat launch, and they have been catching browns on spawn or jigging with tube jigs and wax worms. Open water can be found near the Holiday Inn, and anglers there have been taking occasional browns and rainbows on spawn sacs.
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Blue Mound State Park – Cross-country ski conditions were still good for skate skiing as of Feb. 15. Ski trails were re-groomed but track has not been set. There was still 100 percent snow coverage on the wooded loops. Trails were not icy and there was very little debris.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Mirror Lake State Park – There were still some good cross-country ski conditions as of Feb. 15. The northwest loop was good for skating except the north end by the lake, and the first downhill at the start of the loop. Hastings and Fern Dell loops were good, except for some icy hills.
Dane County – Ice fishing has been off and on this past week on Dane County Lakes. Bluegills have been biting some days on Waubesa off of Goodland Park and off of the Green Lantern. It depends on the day, but fishermen have been getting some 7-9 inch fish. Some reports of good crappie fishing south of Hog Island before dusk have received. Perch fishing has been very slow on Waubesa and Monona, but some anglers are having good success on Mendota off of Fox Bluff and Mendota County Park. Walleye fishing has also picked up on Mendota. Ice conditions are still very good on all the lakes with ice thickness ranging from 12 to 20 inches. Some of the bays and inlets opened up with last weeks thaw. All Dane County snowmobile trails remain closed. Last weeks thaw brought back a few migrants that are still around, including lots of Canada Geese, a few flocks of robins, and a few red winged blackbirds. Deer are still herded up and can be seen in good numbers in fields feeding prior to storms.
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WEST CENTRAL REGION
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
Willow River State Park – As of February 17, outside the park office you could rake leaves and maybe even cut the longer grass. This is normally the last two weeks of the prime skiing season. Daylight lasts longer and the really cold days are over, but there is a lot of bare ground in the open areas of the park. An inconsequential snowfall is predicted Tuesday night and Wednesday. With trails unsuitable for skiing and not open to hiking, it has been very quiet in the park. People asking about hiking the ski trails have been very cooperative about the skiing only restriction since we are still in a snow season. As soon as we resume skiing there will be reports on skinnyski.com as usual from groomers and skiers. The Willow River Nordic skiers may continue to train following the American Birkebeiner race on February 21 assuming there is skiable snow after then. Training is not likely the week following the race. There is still ice on the road down the hill from the service building. The ice fishing reports have been better for panfish. Little Falls Lake is back down to its normal level since normal temperatures have returned. Apparently the water on top froze smooth and ice skating is reported as very good. The deer are eating well; no skinny deer here. The deer don’t know how to deal with a hard winter.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Skunks are on the move! Striped skunks remain in their dens during cold winter weather, oftentimes huddling with other skunks to keep warm. Skunks also lower their body temperature from about 100F to 90F for short periods while in their dens in order to further decrease heat loss. Striped skunks may lose about 50% of their body weight during winter. The warmer weather and onset of the breeding season means males skunks are on the move in search of receptive females and food. Skunks generally breed sometime between mid-February and mid-April. The gestation period ranges between 60-75 days and litters average between 5-9 young.
Crawford County – The snowmobile trails throughout the county remain closed. If or when the trails reopen non-resident snowmobile trail passes are available at the Holiday Gas Station and the Crawford County clerk’s office. As of Feb. 16 the Mississippi River stage is at 10.01 feet. Last week the river was at 7.6 feet but the warm weather and some rain last week caused the river to jump up over two feet. It appears that the river might settle down somewhat as pools further up river are starting to drop. The high water has created difficult ice fishing conditions for anglers. Much of the main channel is starting to break up. Below LD # 9 at Lynxville the ice is out and the river is open down past Frenchman’s Landing. The ice conditions in all the back waters of both the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers are still in good shape however access it a problem. Unsafe ice conditions exist along shorelines and on sloughs with current. Ice fishing this week was disrupted by the high water. Access to most areas is difficult as an additional 2 feet of water entered the Mississippi River system. Traditional shoreline access points are now unsafe to use. Cold Spring’s ice condition took a beating this past week too. Access can only be made from the south end by the handicap fishing area. The area around the channel is open as is the boat landing. Bluegill and crappie action at Cold Spring was fair this week. Cold Spring is considered inland water, not boundary waters. Different fishing regulations are in effect there and non-residents must possess a non-resident fishing license. Fishing on Sturgeon Slough has slowed as current is now moving though that area. McGregor Lake (aka Sturgeon or Horseshoe) is difficult to access with the high water so few are venturing out there. Fishing on the Ambro Slough has been difficult for most anglers because of access problems. The high water has made the north boat landing (USFWS landing) unsafe to use. There is open water and very thin ice in that area and travel is not recommended. Anglers are having a hard time crossing over the Ambro Slough from the DNR boat landing. The DNR boat landing is broken up and access is dangerous. Some anglers have found access to Mud Slough and Tilmont Lake. Both places have seen limited bluegill crappie action. Anglers have been avoiding Gremore Lake because it too has been very slow and recent surveys by DNR fisheries show little or no oxygen in the northern part of the lake. The “bottom end” of Gremore Lake near the Ambro Slough/Big Lake produced some bluegill and crappie, but like other areas action was spotty and access difficult. Fish Lake, Little and Big Missouri and the Doubles have not seen much fishing pressure because of the high water. The Fennimore Cut and Spring Lake were slow. As of Sunday Feb. 15, the boat landing at Gordon’s Bay below LD #9 is open. Walleyes were biting pretty good late in the week, however during this past weekend action slowed. Walleye anglers are urged to check their safety equipment prior to heading out onto the water. Coyote continue to have good action even though a lot of the snow has melted. Rabbit hunters are finding hunting conditions deteriorating to some degree because of the snow melt. Many bald eagles have returned to the Mississippi River, although not in large numbers. A few Eagles have been hanging around the open water of St. Feriole Slough. There has been a substantial amount of snow loss in the county this past week. Turkey and deer have been sited out in open fields feeding. Some reports of turkey gobbling already coming in. Song birds like chickadees, juncos, goldfinches, and several species of wood peckers are still actively coming to bird feeders, but like the deer and turkeys many song birds are finding additional food now that the snow is beginning to melt.
Vernon County – The ice went out below the Genoa dam on Feb. 11. Some walleye anglers were fishing from boats below the dam. A few large fish were caught over the weekend and most anglers are releasing the larger pre-spawn females.
Black River Falls DNR Service Center area
Black River State Forest – Cross Country Ski Trails are not in usable condition. ATV and Snowmobile trails continue to be closed on the Black River State Forest and Jackson County. Trails are extremely icy in areas and would represent a safety issue if open. Unfortunately the area only received about 2 inches of snow Feb. 18. About 6 inches of substantial snowfall is needed to be able to open the trails again.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park – As of Feb. 16, cross-country ski trails are considered closed due to icy conditions brought on by the recent warm weather. Snowshoe conditions on the island trails were fair to good. Fishing action on Perch Lake and in the north campground bays has been good with crappies and a few small bluegills being caught. Anglers were reporting generally good ice conditions in the backwater areas. The park does not monitor ice conditions. The Cornell flowage water levels fluctuate throughout the year and we urge caution when venturing onto the ice. Vehicle passes are required year round. Species of birds seen or hears include: goldfinches, ravens, crows, phoebes, northern juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, red headed and pileated woodpeckers, great horned and barred owls, and blue jays.
Lake Wissota State Park - As of Feb. 18, cross-country ski were in fair condition. Trails were groomed Feb. 19, but the park did not receive enough snowfall to set a track. A few areas that are out in the open have very little snow as the wind has blown the snow off of the trail. Skiers will find the wooded trails in much better condition.
Last Revised: Thursday February 19 2009
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