Though you’ll still need to avoid recent ship traffic areas and other spots where there was open water a week ago, the arrival of Arctic air means much of Green Bay is finally able to build solid ice.
Below-zero low temperatures are in the forecast the next five mornings. Even as temperatures warm up later next week, the daytime highs are still expected to stay below freezing the next two weeks.
As always, check locally for the latest conditions and areas to avoid. North Shore Bait in Oconto is among the most trusted sources on the west shore, and Howie’s Tackle in Sturgeon Bay is a go-to on the Door County Peninsula.
On the inland scene, the bitter cold has left those without heated shelters waiting for better conditions. Once the front passes and things begin to warm up and stabilize, look for an improved bite. High pressure and strong cold fronts tend to make fish less aggressive, and they’ll often move deeper.
Meanwhile, the bow and crossbow deer hunts continue through the end of the month in many farmland and metro units, including Brown and southern Oconto counties. Brown has already produced about 3,300 whitetails in all seasons since mid-September, while southern Oconto has seen more than 7,100 registrations and Marinette’s farmland zone more than 7,300.
The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is participating in Winter Salt Week, a national education and outreach effort set for Jan. 26-30.
Every winter, road salt helps keep drivers and pedestrians safe. But once the snow melts, that salt does not disappear. It washes into rivers, lakes and groundwater, where it accumulates year after year and contributes to long-term water quality problems.
Salt pollution has become a growing concern in cold-weather regions. Elevated chloride levels can corrode infrastructure, harm fish and aquatic life and threaten drinking water sources. Once salt enters the water system, it is extremely difficult and costly to remove.
“Salt use is one of those issues where small changes can make a real difference,” said Jessica Schultz, Executive Director of Fox-Wolf. “We all want safe winter travel, but we also need to recognize the long-term impact excess salt has on our rivers and lakes. Winter Salt Week is about sharing smarter approaches that protect both public safety and water quality.”
The week will feature a series of free, live YouTube events daily at 12:30 p.m. More information and event registration are available at https://wintersaltweek.org/.
The bipartisan Great Lakes Fisheries Research Reauthorization Act was recently signed into law by President Trump. The legislation reauthorizes $15 million annually through fiscal year 2030 for the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center, which expired last September.
The center uses program funding to conduct research on invasive species such as Asian carp and sea lamprey, conduct surveys for sport fish management and monitor impacts of harmful algal blooms on fisheries. The Great Lakes fishery is valued at about $5.5 billion, critical for recreational anglers, commercial fishers and coastal communities.
The Kewaunee County Lakes Association’s 22nd annual banquet and fundraiser is set for Saturday, April 11 at Beverly Gardens just south of Hwy. 29 on Pine Grove Road, northeast of Denmark.
Tickets are $50, and include a year’s membership, a chicken and ribs dinner, and a chance at door prizes. There will be numerous raffles.
Proceeds are used to preserve and protect the county’s five major inland lakes. For more info, contact Phil at (262) 501-9627 or email kewauneectylakes@gmail.com.
The first Fish Tales talk at Crossroads at Big Creek Learning Center in Sturgeon Bay is set for 7 p.m. on Jan. 22. Karen Murchie, Director of Freshwater Research at the Shedd Aquarium, will present “Where the Suckers Swim,” a program about movement of white suckers from spawning in a creek to where they distribute after in the waters of Green Bay.
The fish are implanted with acoustics tags.
Zoom and Facebook links will be available. To participate online, visit https://doorcountylibrary.org/event to access the link.
Ever wonder how birds stay warm in winter? Get a little insight from a short (3:36) video that features amazing videography and a rarely-seen behavior at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-do-birds-stay-warm-in-the-winter.
Want to see some interesting data on collared whitetail buck movement during the rut? Check out https://widnr.widen.net/s/qb9gscwlwv/inside-the-rut-tracking-buck-behavior-in-wisconsin.
The All-Canada Show runs Jan. 22-25 at the Oneida Casino. Learn more at https://www.allcanada.com/all-canada-show/green-bay/.
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