Anglers enjoy free fishing over weekend in Wisconsin

Thousands of anglers took advantage of Wisconsin's third annual winter free fishing weekend Saturday and Sunday.

Ice shacks and snowmobiles dotted the Gile Flowage on Saturday morning, where temperatures in the mid-20s were welcome, but a stiff south wind wasn't.

There was some slush on the flowage on top of a solid ice base.

Brad Strand, of Ironwood, fishing with a group of a half-dozen fishermen, had landed a small walleye as the tip-ups were being set up in around 24 feet of water.

They were using minnows and small chubs for bait, hoping to land a lunker walleye.

Although they were fishing for walleyes, members of the group, sheltered from the wind, were swapping trout fishing tales from the spring and summer months.

Tom McGrath, of Ironwood, said they had considered fishing on Lake Superior out of Saxon Harbor, but the ice blew out there on Friday afternoon.

The Saturday scene at Gile was repeated across the state.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says ice fishing is a growing sport in the state, with around 590,700 residents now participating, up from 479,900 in 2000.

Improved fishing tents, gas- and electric-powered augers and sonar equipment that allows anglers to pinpoint fish are some of the innovations that are getting more people out onto the ice.

"There's a lot of innovative equipment out there that makes ice fishing more comfortable, particularly in extreme winter conditions," said Justine Hasz, of the Wisconsin DN. "But all you really need for fun during the hardwater fishing season is a pole, a bucket and some bait."

Other popular ice fishing spots are the Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior in the Ashland area and the Turtle Flambeau Flowage near Mercer.

Wisconsin anglers will have the same opportunity to visit Michigan's lakes for free next month. Michigan's annual Winter Free Fishing Weekend is scheduled for Feb. 14-15.