SHAWANO LAKE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Winter-like weather continues to linger in parts of Northeast Wisconsin, including Shawano Lake, where ice still covers most of the 6,200- acre body of water.
On the eastern end of the lake, Dan Brokiewicz tests his luck on the frozen surface.
How thick is the ice?
“Oh, there’s a good 20 inches of ice yet out here,” said Dan Brokiewicz, Bonduel.
Brokiewicz says Monday morning’s luck below the ice is productive too.
“Panfish. Crappies, bluegills, sunfish, and if you hit it right, you’ll do pretty good,” he said.
The owner of Kuhn’s Bait and Tackle Palace says ice conditions on area lakes typically start to deteriorate in late March.
“The shorelines are starting to go away a little bit, like right directly at the boat landings. But they walk off to the side a little bit. Some of the boat landings are holding up. The south shore ones usually always hold up longer because they don’t get that sunlight,” said Cory Kuhn, Kuhn’s Bait and Tackle Palace Owner.
Kuhn says Shawano Lake eventually flows into the Wolf River, and all that winter runoff blasts through the gates at the Shawano Dam nearby.
“The Wolf down here just finally opened last week. But there’s still ice along the shores and some of the bays might be ice covered. Plus the water is not going to warm up, because it’s still all ice above the dam yet,” said Kuhn.
Kuhn expects the area walleye run to begin in a week at the earliest. Back on Shawano Lake, Dan Brokiewicz pulls another bluegill out of this hole.
“There’s something about catching a fish through the ice, and I believe they taste better too with the cold water,” he said.
But he admits his luck on the ice will run out soon.
“It all depends on the weather. If we get rain, instead of snow, that takes a toll on it. Or, get warm weather and wind, that takes a toll on it. But maybe if we’re lucky, it’ll stay until July,” said Brokiewicz.
Experts warn no ice is 100 percent safe, and it’s a good idea to take a charged cell phone with you before venturing onto the ice.
