Wisconsin Fishing Reports & Outdoor Report for March 8, 2018

[Rick]

A couple of late winter snow squalls moved through earlier this week dropping from just a few inches to up to 8 inches across most of the state. A number of trails were groomed and cross-country ski trail conditions ranged from good and excellent in the north to fair in central Wisconsin to poor in the south. Snowmobile trails remain open in about 20 mostly northern counties and range from excellent to poor on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR).Northern lakes still have 18 inches to 2 feet of ice, but travel is difficult with over a foot of crusty snow and with the current warm-spell conditions may be slushy. Ice shanties must be removed from inland waters north of Highway 64 by March 18 this year, but with 10-day forecast showing temperatures above freezing, it might be a good idea to consider removing them. The ice on central and southern Wisconsin lakes has begun to deteriorate fairly quickly. Game fishing is closed on most inland water, but anglers have still been getting out for late season panfishing. Anglers on the northern and central lakes report that panfish are coming out of the mid-winter lull and starting to bite.

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