Kimber Schultz, of Menomonee Falls, was pleased to see the early catch-and-release trout season open January 6, 2024.
The regular catch and keep season begins May 4, 2024
“It’s peaceful, it’s not crowded, and very few anglers are out because it’s generally really cold, but fishing is sometimes a lot better all-round as Zack, my husband found out with a 17-inch brown trout,” she said. “Sometimes the fish can be a really hungry. The water can be a little muddy and the fish don’t see me as easily.”
While trout fishing may be limited with temperatures near zero, these temperatures excited ice anglers who have been waiting for this kind of weather.
It would have been much better if the cold came before the snow because snow insults the water from freezing and making as much ice.
Wally Banfi, at Wilderness Fish and Game in Sauk City, hopes ice fishers approach ice fishing very cautiously.
“Be careful. Safety first. Three to five inches of really good ice will support a person, but four to eight inches for a small group of people in one region,” he recommends.
Banfi suggests shallow lakes rather than venturing out, going with two people, using a spud bar (ice chipper), and talking to locals about the ice conditions.
“Wearing a float suit is a great idea, too. There just isn’t very safe ice around. The snow being that deep will hinder things by insulating,” he said.
The wind will help blow away some of the snow so cold can get down to the ice/water surface in time.
Some ice fishing contests (fisherees) continue to be held, but without any ice fishing. Prizes are awarded in various fashions. Interesting!
Kate Mosley, at Kate’s Bait near Governor Dodge State Park, said it’s a wait and see. “A lot of people are loving the snow for snowmobiling and snowshoeing in areas, but watch out for down limbs on the trails resulting from the heavy, wet snow that fell first,” Mosley said. “The snow was a “stopper” for a lot of people, no doubt.”
Remember last autumn, or any autumn? We just had to go out and look at things. Winter can be the new “autumn” giving all sorts of new and wonderful looks at the country.
White is the new color. Snow is the new sculptor, burying items in part or total. Wet, sticky snow hangs on vertically, too. The countryside is white, top to bottom, except for the evergreens. Take advantage as is done in with autumn, look small, and at vistas, too. Photographs, mental memories, next year’s cards or riding on sleds, snowmobiles, skies, and snowshoes.
Maybe try rabbit hunting. Wisconsin is home to three “rabbits” but only two can be hunted.
In the early 1900’s, white-tailed jackrabbits, a type of hare, were released in Wisconsin to add to the excitement of rabbit hunting. By 1950s, jackrabbits began disappearing to the point that few exist, if any, are seen by hunters or hikers. Jackrabbits are now protected, so do not shoot them. Snowshoe hare season is open year-round with an unlimited bag limit, while cottontail hunters are limited to three animals per day.
Like white-tailed deer these “rabbits” are referred to as bucks and does and oddly, the jackrabbit does are larger than a jackrabbit buck.
The other white-tail (deer) seasons have all but closed except for some extended archery hunting. The totals for those seasons and the bucks registered are as follow: Grand total: 292,355 deer and 146,849 bucks; Nine-day 175,091 and 85,859; Youth 7,886 and 3,967; Archery 35,306 and 21,318; Crossbow 53,954 and 32,954; Four-day antlerless 7,066 and 18; Holiday hunt 6,238 and 12; Muzzleloader 6,814 and 2,721; and Extended archery and crossbow 31 and 12 deer.
The lack of ice has allowed bald eagles to fish in all the open water resulting in fewer birds concentrating below dams. Look for that to change with the recent cold spell.
When out and about, make a point of checking with neighbors, particularly seniors who may be in need of some help to stay warm, getting out for staples, and shoveling sidewalks.
This is winter; enjoy the outdoors even if it’s through a window or stepping out the door for some fresh air.
