This year’s mild winter has led to a slow start for the ice fishing season in the Northern Lower Peninsula.
Local bait shops say they have less people coming in to pick up gear.
They say the ice is starting to get thick enough, but the continued wet snow is not helping.
This time last year the season was already in full swing because of the cold temperatures.
Shops say they’re hoping to see the ice thicken up soon before it’s too late.
"What we’ve been seeing is a lot of people looking at gear. They are scared of the ice and a lot of people use equipment, four wheelers, snowmobiles," ProMark Trade Post owner Andrew Hieple said. "It just hasn’t been safe."
Bait shops hope they have a longer season that lasts into March.
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