Temperatures continued to be well above normal and ice conditions continued to deteriorate on lakes across Wisconsin this week, with reports of open shorelines and holes in the middle of some southern Wisconsin lakes and of numerous vehicles going through the ice on northern lakes. Recreational safety specialists are urging people to pay special attention to ice conditions if they venture out onto lakes this weekend. They say no one should drive vehicles out onto lakes, even lakes that vehicles have been driven on previously, because vehicle traffic can actually contribute to ice weakening.
With no significant snowfall in the last week, Snow Conditions (Exit DNR) ranged from about 2 inches at Wausau to up to 10 inches still on the ground in the far north. The northern tier of counties were still reporting snowmobile and cross-country ski conditions ranging from fair to good.
Fishing success has improved on some northern lakes, but many lakes have areas of slush. Bluegill and crappies were biting very well in weedy bays in 4 to 9 feet of water. Crappies were hitting on small minnows on a bare hook or small jig. Northern pike were hitting best at sunrise to mid-morning and then again late in the afternoon toward dark on tip-ups with large golden shiners. Walleye continue to also bite best toward evening and again after dark in water depths of 15 feet or less, but success has been mixed.
Ice conditions on the Lake Winnebago system are varied, from open water to 8-10 inches. A few anglers are getting out but fish bite has been very slow with a few white bass being caught on Lake Poygan. Sheltered bays on Green Bay have ice cover but the bay itself remains open. Anglers were having success with perch at on the frozen bays and a few anglers were fishing for northern pike at the entrance of Sawyer Harbor. Lake Michigan tributaries are open as are some harbors, and open water anglers were having some success for brown trout and steelhead.
Ice conditions on southern lakes is highly variable. Ice fishing pressure has still been heavy on some lakes, but anglers have not been able to get onto other lakes because of open water along the shoreline. Some southern lakes are completely unsafe. Anglers are being urged to remove permanent shelters if they have not already done so. In spite of warnings anglers who are venturing out were picking up perch and northern pike and some excellent bluegill action is still being reported.
The main channel of the Mississippi River has reopened, as have the lower Wisconsin, Rock and Crawfish rivers. Boaters were again fishing the Mississippi with some success for walleye and sauger, and some bluegills continue to be caught from Mississippi River backwaters.
Bald Eagle Watching Days will be held this Saturday and Sunday in Sauk City and Prairie du Chien. A recent survey found almost 250 eagles roosting along the lower Wisconsin River, but because the river is open, eagles are much more scattered than normal and are not as concentrated near the dam. A highlight of the weekend will be the release of rehabilitated eagles at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. More than 1,000 pairs of bald eagles nested in Wisconsin during 2005, up from just 100 pairs in the early 1970s.
This weekend is also a full moon. The January moon is commonly called the wolf moon because gray wolf females go into breeding conditions in late January. At this time wolves are more vocal at announcing the location of their territories or defended areas. Howling activity will reach its winter peak in February. Coyote, the little cousin of the wolf, will be breeding at about the same time, and their yapping, howling, barking calls can be heard throughout the state. A night with a full moon is a great time to dress warm and go for a walk to enjoy the midwinter sky, and perhaps hear the howl of wolves or coyotes providing background music.
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