Ice anglers finally able to get out on Green Bay

Better late than never.

That’s the word from avid ice anglers who are finally able to do some offshore exploration on Green Bay’s vast waters.

The Dyckesville to Chaudoir’s Dock stretch, Lime Kiln Road to Sherwood Point, and the entire Sturgeon Bay shoreline are among the favored areas, where everything from whitefish and walleyes to perch and pike swim. Throw in some bonus burbot, smelt or brown trout, and you never can be quite sure what will strike your bait.

Ice thickness, as always, varies widely. Some spots already had 6 to 12 inches earlier this week, but others — areas where wind kept breaking up ice, especially — had just two to four inches of coverage.

The 15-day forecast shows mostly teens and 20s for highs, with a chance for a few thawing days later next week before snow moves in at month’s end.

If you’re new to the ice fishing game on Green Bay, the best advice is to hire a reputable guide or head out with an experienced friend. If you want to go it alone, at least hit a local bait and tackle shop for advice and areas to steer clear of.

Even with new equipment and evolving techniques, the basics are these: there’s ice that needs to be drilled through, and baited hooks that need to get into the fish zone for the species you’re targeting.

Staying warm is a big plus, so dressing in layers and using handwarmers — or a heated shelter — will keep you out there longer, increasing your chances of hooking up.

Closer to home, area inland lakes are giving up fair numbers of panfish and the Ahnapee and Kewaunee Rivers are producing a few trout and northern pike.

Canada Show

The decades-old tradition of the All-Canada Show returns to the Green Bay area at the Oneida Radisson Conference Center this weekend.

If you’ve ever wanted to hunt or fish Canada, it’s a perfect opportunity to get out and meet some of the characters that call the provinces north of here home.

New this year, there will be a historical display on Canada’s early fishing, gold mining and forestry industries.

Show hours the rest of the weekend are 3-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. There’s no charge for children 17 and under, and there’s also free admission for veterans Sunday. Check out the exhibitors and seminar speakers at www.AllCanada.com.

Buy duck stamp

As a standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon continues, the National Wildlife Federation is urging Americans to show their support for protecting wildlife habitats and public lands by buying Federal Duck Stamps.

Established in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt, the Malheur NWR spans 187,000 acres (292 square miles) and is home to one of the largest freshwater marsh ecosystems in the western United States.

The occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge follows multiple unsuccessful state-level and Congressional efforts to privatize public lands, which are currently accessible to all Americans.

Today, ninety-eight cents of every dollar spent on Federal Duck Stamps go directly to purchase vital habitat or acquire conservation easements for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

All duck hunters must buy one every year as a contribution to wildlife conservation in America and other outdoor enthusiasts buy them to support wildlife and habitat. They’re available at some post offices and sporting goods stores, or you can buy an Electronic Duck Stamp online.

Since 1934, more than 300 national wildlife refuges, including at least one in every state, were created or have been expanded using Federal Duck Stamp revenue, totaling more than 6.5 million acres.

Hunt update

The bow and crossbow deer seasons remains open through the end of the month in the Brown County Metro Subzone, but are closed in Kewaunee and Door counties.

Also ending Jan. 31 are the gray and fox squirrel and Zone A ruffed grouse hunting seasons.

The winter crow season opens Sunday. Raccoon and red and gray fox hunting ends Feb. 15, while the cottontail rabbit season leaps into an extra day this year, ending Feb. 29. Coyote hunting is open all year.

Ski and hike

Point Beach State Forest (920-794-7480) will hold a candlelight hike and ski from 5-9:30 p.m. Jan. 30, and Whitefish Dunes State Park (920-823-2400) will have a night ski, hike and snowshoe event the same night.

Peninsula State Park’s night ski and hike is Feb. 6 (920) 868-3258 and Newport State Park’s candlelight ski, hike and snowshoe Feb. 13 (920) 854-2500.

Kevin Naze is a freelance outdoors writer. Email him at wildtimes@wizunwired.net.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press Gazette: Ice anglers finally able to get out on Green Bay