Walleye, bluegill, crappie and perch are biting on a variety of baits. Anglers are urged to exercise extreme caution as the ice is still considered unsafe on many area waters. Anglers in the southeast are still catching brown trout in the ice-free areas of the Milwaukee Harbor and both browns and rainbows can still be caught in the deeper holes along the Root River. Snowmobile and cross-country ski trails remain closed as there is not enough snow to groom trails in most areas. The light snowcover does make it easy to find and view wildlife, however.
Many deer still remain in the fields and winter birds are beginning to show up at feeders.
Eagles can be seen along the Wisconsin River below the Prairie du Sac dam and on the Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien. Wild turkeys are very visible against the snow-covered fields and hillsides in the coulee region of southwest Wisconsin. If you decide to feed birds during the winter, it's important to stick with it as the birds come to depend on the feeder as a food source. It is illegal for anglers to leave lines unattended. Ice thickness averages about 8 inches.