The Winter That Never Was.
By Bret Clark 
The ice forum was a buzz with count downs to the first steps on ice. In Northern WI I was predicting Thanks Giving Day 2011 would put people on Mid Eau Clair for shallow water walleyes. Here at home in Mid West WI. I was hoping for the end of November 2011. Then it happened, or should we say, didn’t happen 
Here in the La Crosse area we were starting to wonder when winter was really going to happen then, December finally rolls around, and first ice reports start coming in along the Mississippi river backwaters. Not the thickest ice at 2-4inches but, Cool beans, first ice is treating everyone pretty good then, Ole Man Winter had other plans. First ice in the La Crosse area kept the community holes a buzz. Chilled nights and warm days put the ice on hold keeping what good ice there was busy…what the heck, there was a need to stretch legs and go for a walk 
Then it happened, or should we say “didn’t happen”.
Winter comes charging in, darn cold nights and a stiff North wind blew in with a vengeance….oh my Lord, can it be? Please Ole Man Winter let it be 
Wind burned cheeks and a grin on anyone’s face being held back by snot sickles after snow blowing the driveway….well you are living proof of a person that loves winter….and that was me 
Frost was going into the ground and the air made your eyes water.
Then it happened, or…………
Hitting mid January with great ice conditions made for some space and the crowds could move out with a little work. The snow made travel a little tough but with some effort our crew did get away from the packs. It didn’t take long however to figure out the pannies were not in a normal feeding pattern for us. We struggled but yet had some good days and some others that were well….not so good.
Then it happened………..
The weather started to break, winds laid down and the sun started to pop out once again. It felt great and we were not complaining at the time. Some new territories were covered along with some good scouting done and new techniques learned while paying attention to others. Tip Ups were taking big pike which Tom got me in on, perch were being taken on deadsticks, that was a blast Mike And a tough bite started to get better. But like I mentioned, the weather made a break, who would have thought it was for a warming trend already!
Then it………….
What in the world, temps well above freezing in February 2012. The flippin’ ice is turning soft on top because it can’t hold back the water any longer. I’m making rivers in my gravel driveway to divert water from the shop…..we are talking the end of February. The winds of course kick back up as March rolls in. The last trip to the ice armed with tip ups and jig sticks only proved I can still get to the ice crossing a log Not even 2 weeks into March…….boat landings are a bustle, open water as far as the eye can see, hardly even a sheet of ice afloat, winter? What winter? 2011-2012….The winter that never was!
I mentioned it earlier this year and I’m going to say it again…..if any of you happen to cross paths with Ole Man Winter….kick him square in the man berry’s for me 
Thanks for listening to my woes
so now it is time to say hellow to open water season.
