Wisconsin Fishing Reports & Outdoor Report for January 17, 2019

[Rick]

The snow drought has continued yet another week with only flurries and some far north lake affect snow reported. That could change if a snowstorm forecast for Friday into Saturday arrives and finally brings some snow to southern Wisconsin. That storm will be followed by cold temperatures just in time for the lunar eclipse on Sunday night.Snowmobile and ski trails remain open mostly in just the northern tier of counties but conditions are still being reported good in some areas despite the lack of new snow on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). A few state properties have been able to groom ski trails on the Cross-country ski trail conditions page of the DNR HSOforum.The lack of snow has made for some good hiking conditions on the Black Trail at Whitefish Dunes State Park.Photo credit: DNRIce reports continue to be highly variable with many lakes in southern and central Wisconsin still having areas of open water. A reminder that no ice is safe ice and that couldn't be more true this year with the warm ups. The colder weather should help firm up ice conditions. Ice fishing activity has picked up but many anglers report lethargic and finicky fish. Those anglers have been having success report nice catches for panfish and northern pike.

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