Contact: DNRPress@wisconsin.
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds anglers that ice shanty removal deadlines are approaching.
Permanent ice shanties, or those not removed daily, must be removed from all state waters by March 15. Early deadlines such as those for inland and boundary waters are:
Wisconsin – Iowa boundary waters by Feb. 20
Wisconsin – Minnesota boundary waters by March 1
Inland waters south of Highway 64 by the first Sunday following March 1
Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Superior and inland waters north of Highway 64 by the first Sunday following March 12
Wisconsin – Michigan boundary waters by March 15
Anglers can continue to use portable ice shanties after these dates, so long as they are removed from the ice when they are not actively in use and at the end of each day.
As these deadlines approach, it’s important to remember that no ice is ever 100% safe. The DNR does not monitor ice conditions, so anglers should check with local fishing clubs and bait shops for current ice conditions.
Owners having difficulties removing their shanty should seek help from their local fishing club, vendors and other anglers.
The public should report any shanty owners not taking responsibility for removing their shanty to the DNR Violation Hotline by calling or texting 1-800-TIP-WNDR or 1-800-847-9367.
2/10/21 - Reported by Wisconsin Fisherman
The bluegill bite has slowed down a little bit however with that comes the Northern Pike Pre spawn. The pike get very active this time of year and are biting large shiners. You might get lucky and catch one of the giant 40 incher that are in several Washburn Co lakes. There is about a month left before the big game fish season closes up for the north part of the state. Crappies are still biting minnows and small jigs with waxies. You can find them in deep holes sitting suspended in about half the water column. Check out the YouTube-Wisconsin Fisherman for local videos!
1/18/21 - Reported by Jim Stroede Guide Service
1/18/21 - Reported by Pioneer on Long Lake
1/11/21 - Reported by Pioneer on Long Lake
1/7/21 - Reported by the Long Lake Chamber of Commerce
1/4/21 - Reported by Pioneer on Long Lake
12/28/20 - Reported by Pioneer on Long Lake
12/21/2020 - Reported by Pioneer on Long Lake
12/17/2020 - Reported by Wisconsin Fisherman
12/14/2020 - Reported by Pioneer on Long Lake
12/11/2020 - Reported by Long Lake Bait, Tackle & C-Store
10/20/19 - Reported by AAA Sports
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 31, 2020
Contact: Jake Swanson, DNR assistant wildlife communications specialist
Jacob.Swanson@wisconsin.gov or 608-235-4829
Fall Hunting And Trapping Season Forecasts Highlight Hunter Opportunities, Notable Changes To Limits And Zones

Archery and crossbow season begins Sept. 12. Check the DNR website for a full list of upcoming season dates.
Photo Credit: iStock/Ricardo Reitmeyer
MADISON, Wis. – Hunters and trappers across Wisconsin are in the final countdown to the fall season openers. To help get ready, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has pulled together the 2020 fall forecast series, which details everything Wisconsinites need to know ahead of the game.
Forecasts can be found at the links below and on each corresponding species page.
2020 Fall Deer Hunting Forecast
2020 Fall Upland Game Bird Hunting Forecast
2020 Fall Migratory Bird Hunting Forecast
2020 Fall Bear Hunting Forecast
2020 Fall Furbearer Hunting and Trapping Forecast
More information on hunting, including regulations and season dates, is available on the DNR website. For more updates throughout the fall hunting seasons, follow the DNR on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
8/6/20 - Reported by Wisconsin Fisherman
8/6/20 - Reported by Wild Country Guide Service

7/3/20 - Reported by Wisconsin Fisherman
The water temp has been heating up and fish are starting to transition to deeper structure like rock bars, fish cribs, and deep weeds. A leach or minnow on a slip bobber should produce a variety of fish. The target depth for that set up is about 12-16 feet deep. The Northern pike have been aggressive on spinners and shallow diving crank baits in shallow bays and weed edges. Crappies are still hanging around and hitting on minnows and small crank baits like the Rapala Countdown. Walleyes can be caught with a number of techniques like jigging with sucker minnows or Lindy spinner rigs. Be safe out there and catch some fish!
6/10/20 - Reported by Wisconsin Fisherman
The bite has been heating up with most fish up in shallow weeds or even on beds! Slip bobbers and leaches are working for just about anything right now! With the temperature heating up the fish should be moving to deeper jumps and points. You can still fish them deeper with the slip bobbers too and be effective! The bass are starting to hit too water baits like fake frogs and buzz baits. Stay safe and be aware of each lakes fish size limits and local laws.
3/4/20 - Reported by Wisconsin Fisherman
For more videos from Wisconsin Fisherman, subscribe to his channel on YouTube.
3/2/2020 - Reported by the WI DNR
Ice anglers are reminded that the last deadline in a series of March dates to remove permanent ice shanties from state waters is Sunday, March 15. Shanties must be removed from waters north of Highway 64, which includes all of Washburn County, and all other outlying waters by the end of that day. Earlier March deadlines covered inland and boundary waters. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is urging anglers not to wait until the deadlines as possible warming temperatures and early spring rains could complicate removal.
Deadlines to remove shelters help eliminate spring shoreline litter and boating dangers this spring. Abandoning the shelter or burning the shelter atop the ice does not satisfy the deadline. The debris then goes into the waterbody, impacting water quality.
After the shanty removal deadlines pass, anglers can continue to use portable ice fishing shelters if they feel the ice is safe - as long as they remove their shelters daily and when they are not actively used. Remember to consult with local fishing clubs, bait shops and outfitters who know the local ice conditions. Permanent shelters, meaning those normally not removed daily from the ice, must be removed from the ice no later than the specified removal date for that water body.
2/12/20 - Reported by Wisconsin Fisherman
For more videos from Wisconsin Fisherman, subscribe to his channel on YouTube.
12/23/19 - Reported by AAA Sports
This nice warm weather has the snow settling on most of the lakes. Good ice on Bashaw; they are actually on Bashaw with four-wheelers. and catching some nice northern. Lots of pan fish coming out of the Yellow River across from Tony's in Spooner. Landings are not plowed off on Spooner, but guys are walking out and getting decent northern. We had a nice walleye come in from Trego flowage. Our thoughts are that after this warmer weather is over the cold weather will give us some really good ice. There are quite a few people out fishing, just know where you're going!! It's still archery season so time to finish filling those empty tags and also turkey hunting until after the new year. WE ARE OPEN ALL DAY ON CHRISTMAS DAY...
11/18/19 - Reported by AAA Sports
The hunt is on!! In just a few days, the Northwoods will be full of the mighty deer hunter. Are you ready? Deer call...gun cleaned...ammo...orange clothes...heater...deer drag...LICENSE!! We will be open until 9:00 on Thursday night and open at 5:00 on Saturday morning. Hot coffee, rolls and doughnuts!!!
10/1/19 - Reported by AAA Sports
For those of you wondering how the Spooner Lake draw down is going, the answer is "very slowly". They started the drawdown on Sept 3 and the proposal was to take it down 3'. As of today, Oct 1st, Spooner Lake is down a little over a foot. we've had lots of rain. Most lake home owners had pulled their boats, pontoons and docks out of the lake by Labor Day.
A few brave souls left these items intact and have been able to enjoy the lake throughout September and catching some nice fish in the process. Musky fisherman are hitting the lakes hard.
FALL HUNTING...Bear hunting has been going on for the past month and there have been some nice bruins. Archery season has been on for 2 weeks but is just starting to get going as the leaves start to fall, and the temps are going down. There have been lots of pictures of successful geese hunters and this past weekend duck season opened.
9/9/19 - Reported by Jim Stroede Guide Service
9/2/19 - Reported by AAA Sports
Fishing over the weekend was good; cooler temps must make the fish hungry. We still have leeches for probably another week yet. We have walleye and northern suckers. No musky suckers yet; call ahead if you're looking for them and we'll let you know the status. Bear season opens this Wednesday. Archery season opens on September 14th. We will be starting dock work in the next week. If you need help pulling your dock, boat or pontoon out of the lake, give us a call. Fall colors will be here before you know it...where did summer go?!?!
8/19/19 - Reported by Jim Stroede Guide Service
8/12/19 - Reported by Jim Stroede Guide Service
8/7/19 - Report by WI DNR
A family of rare Franklin's ground squirrels is settling into new digs here before its long winter hibernation begins, thanks to team work by active and retired DNR conservation biologists, a Northland College professor and his students, and private property owners. The partners trapped and moved the rare squirrels from a private property in Douglas County where they were causing problems and released them on another private property in Washburn County where the landowner had been actively restoring habitat for rare native species historically found in the area. To read more, click here.
8/6/19 - Reported by Kyle Tyree "The Wisconsin Fisherman"
8/6/19 - Reported by AAA Sports
The hot weather has the fish going deep, fishermen (and women) are adding split shot to their lines for the crappies and sunnies. For the game fish, people are using more deep diver such as Rapala DT series. Bass seems to like the scented worms and almost anything that looks like a frog. Chatterbaits have been selling well too.
7/22/19 - Reported by Jim Stroede Guide Service
7/9/19 - Reported by AAA Sports
Fishing has really picked up the past few weeks. Gills are biting on the waxies and crawlers. Walleye on the leeches using a lindy rig. Few northern coming in from using the old stand by, red and white daredevil. Bass like the worms this year and chatterbaits. Don't forget our monthly fishing contest, $10 in store credit for the largest fish in each category...all sizes from perch-muskie. Coffee's on at 6:00 AM!!
7/8/19 - Reported by Jim Stroede Guide Service
6/10/19 - Reported by Jim Stroede Guide Service
6/11/19 - Reported by AAA Sports
The fishing took off this past week with the arrival of those warm days. Depending on the lake the crappies and gill were just getting on or off the beds already. Bass fishing has been really good ( look at the pictures on our website!) Northern and walleye sucker minnows continue to be at a shortage. We have shiners and they do well if you have an insulated aerated bucket. We have leeches by the dozen except for regulars which we have by the 1/4 pound also. Pontoon rentals are filling up fast. The dock crew finished the last of the docks over the weekend.
5/20/19 - Reported by Jim Stroede Guide Service
Fishing around Washburn County has been improving here lately. We’ve been on a good crappie bite on a couple of lakes. Fish are shallow and looking to spawn along shorelines with scattered wood. It’s important to remember not to over harvest when fish are so bunched up in a tight area. Walleyes are playing hard to get where I’ve been fishing, we’ve caught a few on jigs and minnows but it’s been tough overall. The musky season opens on Saturday, we’ll be looking for a big bite that day for sure. Good luck and good fishing!
5/13/19 - Reported by Long Lake Bait, Tackle & C-Store
1/14/19 - Reported by Kyle Tyree "The Wisconsin Fisherman"
1/6/19 - Reported by Long Lake Bait, Tackle & C-Store
Ice conditions on Long Lake are coming in at anywhere from 7" - 12" with a few spots reported at 4" (on the back side of Kunz Island). The lake snowmobile trail has been marked. Fishing has slowed since the cold snap after Christmas. Reports of panfish hitting at about 21' and a few nice sized walleye and northern have also been caught.