USDA Forest Service Lakes Accessible During WDNR Free Fishing Weekend | Price County Review

Rhinelander, Wis. — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Free Fishing Weekend is scheduled for Jan. 15-16, 2022. Anglers will be able to fish in open-season waters, including lakes in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, according to a WDNR press release.

Fishing licenses and trout and salmon stamps are not required for this event; however, all other fishing regulations apply, such as limits on the number and size of fish you can keep and the release of certain species of fish (depending on the season). Anglers may not fish the spring trout ponds during this free fishing weekend.

For more information see the WDNR Trout Rules and the 2021-2022 Hook and Line Rules.

Winter activities warrant safe practices in cold weather. The public is urged to practice the following safety tips in cold weather and on ice:

• Find out before you go. Do not travel to unfamiliar areas and do not travel at night or in reduced visibility.

• Check the local weather forecast for the destination and dress warmly in layers.

• Don’t go alone. Go out with friends or family. Take a cell phone if available and make sure someone knows where you are and when you need to return.

• Heed all barriers and signs and avoid closed roads and trails.

When traveling near or through frozen bodies of water:

• Check with local sporting goods stores or guidebooks for ice reports

• Avoid entrances, exits, narrows or other areas of moving water that can create thin ice.

• Look for clear ice, which is generally stronger than ice covered with snow or bubbles.

• Bring basic safety equipment: ice tongs or picks, a cell phone in a waterproof bag or case, a life jacket and a piece of rope.

More information about the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is available on the forest’s website and through social media on Facebook and Twitter.