Ice anglers may want to remove ice fishing shelters before deadlines
MADISON ? With very a mild winter and many southern lakes having poor ice conditions, state recreational safety specialists are cautioning that anglers may want to remove their ice fishing shelters prior to established deadlines.
The first of a number of deadlines for ice anglers to remove ice fishing shelters from inland and boundary waters was this week, when all ice fishing shelters had to be removed from Wisconsin-Iowa boundary waters by Monday, Feb. 20. This earlier date, affecting the Mississippi River south of the Minnesota-Iowa border, is set to correspond with Iowa regulations.
The deadlines for the other two boundary waters are March 1 for Wisconsin-Minnesota boundary waters and March 15 for Wisconsin-Michigan boundary waters.
For inland Wisconsin waters, ice fishing shelters must be removed daily and when not occupied after the first Sunday following March 1 for waters south of Highway 64 and after the first Sunday following March 12 for waters north of Highway 64. For 2012, those dates are: Sunday, March 4 for waters south of Highway 64; and Sunday, March 11 for waters north of Highway 64.
But this year, with poor ice conditions on many lakes, safety specialists say anglers may not want to wait until the deadlines. Open water has been appearing on an increasing number of southern lakes, and many shorelines have thin ice, making access for removing shelters treacherous.
Failure to remove a shanty or ice fishing shelter by these deadlines could result in a forfeiture of $263.10. Additional costs may be incurred if the DNR must arrange to have the shanty removed or if the shanty or ice fishing shelter breaks through the ice and must be recovered and disposed of.
After these dates for removing ice fishing shelters from a frozen lake or river, an angler may continue to use a portable shelter but must remove it daily and when it is not occupied or actively being used.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Schaller ? 608-267-2774
