Why might less ice on the lakes, for less time, be a problem?
Wisconsin winters are often thought of as long and cold, but for those who love ice fishing, those cold temperatures mean they’ll have the ice cover needed to fish on the lakes. As conditions change, ice cover and the ice fishing season are changing too, and people are noticing. Hear from two ice fishing enthusiasts about their experiences heading out on the lakes to fish.
Explore the story
Questions to consider
According to Tom, when does the ice fishing season start? What do you need before you can ice fish, and how has that changed in more recent years?
Tom talks about enjoying being outside in winter. What are winter conditions like where you live? Have you noticed any changes over the recent years and have those changes impacted what you do (or don’t do) during winter?
How does not having ice on the lakes impact ice fishers like Tom and Norma? How might it impact the fish or other plants or animals that live in or near the lakes?
On the map
Madison, WI
The ice-over and ice-out records for Madison lakes come from people’s observations, and are based on rules that have been passed down through oral tradition.
In their words
“I think the length of time the ice is on Madison lakes is getting less. I can’t say that for sure, but it would make it real difficult to ice fish if it didn’t freeze over.”
– Tom Marchant
For educators
Access the educator guide for this story for extension activity ideas, discussion questions, a background information essay, and standards supported.
Production credits
Producer
Finn Ryan
Videography
David Nevala
Editing
David Nevala
Photography
David Nevala
Music
Asche & Spencer
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Essay
Evan Murdock
Web Design
Charles Barrows
Web Development
John Vieth
Special Thanks
Norma Marchant
Tom Marchant
Robert Weimer
John Magnuson, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Educator advisory cohort for 2024 updates
Illeana Alexander
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission
Odanah, WI
Darien Becker
Welty Environmental Center
Beloit, WI
Dolly Ledin
Education Chair, Wisconsin’s Green Fire
Madison, WI
Lisa Johnson
UW Climate Leadership Team and Dane County Extension Horticulture Educator
Madison, WI
Leigh Kohlmann
Retired Middle School Educator and Independent Science Education Consultant
Oakfield, WI
Lynn Kurth
John Muir Middle School
Wausau, WI
Victoria Rydberg-Nania
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Portage, WI
Cathy Techtmann
University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension Environmental Outreach and Community Development Institute
Pence, WI
Julie Uram
Nature At The Confluence
South Beloit, IL
Sarah Wright
Eagle School
Fitchburg, WI