ALTOONA, Wis. (WEAU) – Mother Nature granted a wish for some outdoor enthusiasts this week: Bitter cold, which means anglers are no longer on ‘thin ice’.

Thursday afternoon, WEAU meteorologists say the wind chill was down at -20 degrees. But some ice fishers say they’re willing to brave the cold because it’s about time old man winter arrived out on the lake.

“People that have big permanent shacks have been waiting a long time to get enough ice to hall them out here,” says Eau Claire resident Dale Bilderback.

Bilderback was out on the ice on Lake Altoona, because the icy cold temperatures mean “gone fishing” for him.

Over at Buroker’s Taxidermy Bait & Tackle in Eau Claire, the bitter cold means business.

“This is good weather for ice fishermen,” says Michael Buroker, owner of the shop. “Some people have ice shanties out here with furnaces, chairs and television all the comforts of home on Lake Altoona.”

Buroker says anglers stop by his shop to buy bait and to find out if the ice is safe to go on.

“A lot of people are asking if others are driving on the ice and all I can tell them is what other people are doing. I’d never recommend personally if it’s safe if there’s 12 inches,” says Buroker.

And the Wisconsin DNR says it agrees. Since there’s no official rule book saying that the ice needs to be so-many-inches thick, it says anglers need to be educated at all times, much like Bilderback.

“I drill a hole, then I can measure the ice to see how deep it is,” says Bilderback

WIth the ice nearly 14 inches deep where Bilderback was fishing, those out on Lake Altoona say it’s safe to go out on the ice with their shanty and truck.

“My wife is much happier knowing that there’s a lot more ice. She worries about me falling through,” says Bilderback.

The DNR says the thickness varies, depending on where you are on the lake and you should still take caution on the ice.
---
More on Buroker Bait and Tackle