Ice fishing season wrap up

By JUSTIN LIBERTOSKI

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LAKE GOGEBIC — With the weather getting warmer as the calendar moves farther into March, ice fishing season is coming to a close.

The late start to winter had a lasting effect on the conditions of the ice out on Lake Gogebic.

Brian Berquist, recruitment chairmen for Walleyes For Tomorrow Lake Gogebic Chapter and a member of the Lake Gogebic Volunteer Fire Department Ice Rescue Team, said, “It took awhile to be able to get out there and test the ice this year.”

Once the weather cooperated and the ice was finally able to form, fishing picked up.

Walleyes are being caught in 6 to 10 feet.

Perch fishing has been slow this year, however, the perch that have been caught have been good sized, according to Berquist.

In terms of the overall ice conditions throughout the season, Berquist said, “Ice conditions were really volatile this year. It was decent ice, then it was bad ice.” The unseasonably warm start to winter played a part in that. “We never had really great ice in the beginning that lasted throughout the whole season,” he said.

Like other businesses affected by the slow start to winter, the Gogebic Lodge was no different, however once the ice started to form, business picked up.

Berquist said it was a short-lived season, but good while it lasted.

He said there were several ice rescues this year, but there were no fatalities on the lake as far as ice break-throughs this year.

The conditions on Lake Gogebic Saturday did not stop the Maple Ridge Motel from holding its 11th annual Hog-a-Thon, with a lot of people out fishing.