While game fishing season closed on Sunday, the pan fishing season remains open, says Shawano Conservation Warden Clark Delzer. He does advise those still hoping to get out on the ice to be wary.
“Definitely feel free to go after some of those perch on Shawano Lake,” Delzer said. “Just a reminder, that ice is getting pretty thin. I was out earlier last week, give or take 10 inches depending where you are on the ice. I wouldn’t take any machines out there at all. That’s kind of a gamble this time of year, and not a gamble worth playing.”
Delzer adds the ice shanties were required to be pulled from the ice on Sunday. Even though fishermen are still allowed on the lake, they need to be pulled daily.
Waupaca County Conservation Warden Mark Schraufnagel explains he can’t remember a time where more shanties have already been pulled from area lakes.
“Monday was always the day we would roar around and check all these lakes and make sure the shanties are off,” said Schraufnagel. “Fortunately, everything that I’ve seen around here came off. Most of them were off two weeks or better ago, so very unusual winter for us here.”
DNR license sale Wednesday
Licenses and permits for hunting, fishing, trapping, and more will go on sale beginning Wednesday through the DNR’s Go Wild system, GoWild.wi.gov. The system was introduced in 2016 and secures licensing information electronically for hunting, fishing, as well as boat, ATV, and UTV registration. Though the licenses purchased for the 2016 license year remain in effect through March 31, licenses purchased on or after March 8 are valid immediately for any open season.