Ice rescue teams getting ready for spearing season

OSHKOSH - It's on dry land now, but come Saturday the Oshkosh Fire Department's air boat could be called into service.

"We expect a lot of people to be in the bays, but you never know some of the people that are not familiar with the ice and the situation around here may wander out into areas that are not stable at all," said Oshkosh Fire Department Battalion Chief Rick Krumenauer.

Krumenauer says if they are needed, divers and the air boat can be on Lake Winnebago in just a matter of minutes.

"Everything is all pre-staged and ready to go, the crews are already dedicated and they know who will be operating the boats that day and we know who our divers are," he said.

With the less than ideal ice conditions along Lake Winnebago, rescue crews aren't the only ones ready to spring into action.

Don Herman of "Sunk? Dive & Ice Rescue" in Oshkosh is also ready for the sturgeon spearing season. Normally Herman and his crew of four use winches and a modified pickup truck to pull out cars and trucks that fall through the ice. But with the lack of ice this year, even Herman had to make contingency plans.

"I'm getting ready to do all portable stuff, our pickup will stay on shore and we will go out with four-wheelers if some mishap happens," said Herman.

Jerry Mortimer of Neenah spent Wednesday morning fishing on Asylum Bay on Lake Winnebago. Mortimer used a sled to haul his gear and a pop-up tent. But just a few hundred yards from his spot, we spotted a few cars taking their chances.

"I would never take a car, four-wheelers it should be thick enough for but even that is questionable," said Mortimer.

It's those risk-takers emergency personnel say they are most concerned about.

"Those that come out once or twice a year for sturgeon spearing or those types of things that could cause some problems," Krumenauer said.

And it's why rescuers will be ready come Saturday morning.