It’s About That Time: Remove Your Ice Shanty

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – March is the month when the ice begins to melt and thin, leading to permanent ice houses needing to be off of the lakes.

In Wisconsin, permanent ice shanties should have already been removed from Iowa boundary waters. That deadline was February 20th.

Permanent structures need to be removed from Minnesota boundary waters by March 1st and inland waters south of Highway 64 by March 2nd.

The deadline for Michigan boundary waters is on or before March 15th.

Lake Michigan, Green Bay, Lake Superior and inland waters north of Highway 64 need to have ice shanties removed by March 16th.

The DNR says anglers can still use portable ice shanties after these dates as long as they’re removed when they are not actively being used.

Ice fishing in general right now needs to be monitored though.

No ice is ever safe ice.

With the mild temperature in place and rapid spring melt underway, ice is weakening and rivers and streams are swelling.

This causes ice to break apart. Both on rivers and lakes.

With winds expected to become gusty today and Friday, this will also start to shift ice sheets around and may cause it to break, heave or shove on shore.