Four ice anglers fishing on the bay of Green Bay just south of Little Sturgeon were rescued Friday afternoon. The Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department responded to the emergency call around 4 p.m. off Lime Kiln Road in the town of Gardner. BUG Fire Chief Curt Vandertie said the fishermen were stranded on thin ice that broke away and was surrounded by water.
A Nasewaupee Fire Department airboat was used along with the U.S. Coast Guard to rescue the four individuals. Vandertie said with the wind conditions and current temperatures that were almost 60 degrees on Friday, the ice fishing season should be over for the season. The scene was cleared shortly before 5:30 p.m. All ice shanties are required to be off the ice this weekend, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
