SHAWANO LAKE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – As the new year kicks off, ice continues to form on some area waterways.
At 6,200 acres, Shawano Lake is one of the largest bodies of water in the state. And right around December 1, experts say the surface typically begins to freeze.
“We had ice, like around deer season starting, and I thought oh my God, we had like three inches of ice, and I thought we should be good,” said Cory Kuhn, Kuhn’s Bait and Tackle Palace Owner.
But the owner of Kuhn’s Bait and Tackle Palace says 2022 was far from typical.
“Then snow, and we had them high winds, and then that opened the lake right up,” he said.
A few weeks later, Kuhn says enough winter weather has returned to cover Shawano Lake with about seven to nine inches of ice. He says on the east end of the lake, Cecil Bay has about 12 inches forming. ATVs, and some pickup trucks were spotted along with numerous fishing shacks there Monday morning.
“That’s where you’re seeing some vehicles drive there, because there’s that much more ice there,” said Kuhn.
On the west end of the lake dozens of anglers took to the frozen surface.
“Down on this end, it’s a little iffy. I know it’s a little thicker by the island, and over toward Cecil, it’s quite a bit thicker over there. It varies over here. You can run from six to eight inches. It’s definitely check as you’re going. I would,” said Derek Krull, Nichols.
“I probably wouldn’t risk it with the trucks yet, but later in the season, I think there will be a lot more ice. Hopefully we get a little cold snap coming back and then we should be pretty good,” said Jack Johnson, Navarino.
Johnson says when it comes to fishing, the bite was slow, but steady. Meanwhile Cory Kuhn says changing weather conditions are expected to have an impact on the ice.
“Right now, with no snow cover, because the snow all melted off, it’s really slippery. You better have ice cleats or something, or you’re going to take a couple diggers,” he said.
Experts remind people the ice is never considered to be 100 percent safe.
