Podcast Summary: Short Wave – "Spring ice is thawing earlier in lakes. What does that mean for life below the surface?"

Date: March 2, 2026
Hosts: Emily Kwong, Burleigh McCoy
Guest Experts: Zach Feiner (Fisheries Biologist, University of Wisconsin), David Van Lan (Longtime Fisher)

Episode Overview

In this episode of NPR's Short Wave, hosts Emily Kwong and producer Burleigh McCoy dive into how climate change is causing ice on lakes to thaw earlier each spring, and what these shifting patterns mean for the aquatic life—and human recreation—below the surface. Through a firsthand ice fishing trip in Wisconsin with biologist Zach Feiner, they explore the cascading effects on fish populations, biodiversity, and local traditions, highlighting both ecological research and personal connections.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Changing Landscape of Lake Ice

• Delayed and Shorter Ice Seasons:
  • Burleigh reports that, in Montana, the lake wasn’t safe enough to walk on until mid-January, much later than usual, impacting traditional ice fishing (01:00).
  • Ice fishing seasons have shortened significantly, with longtime fisher David Van Lan noting:

    "We've lost a good six weeks off of our ice fishing season since I started back in the 1980s. We used to start in December, end in April. Now we start in January, end in March."
    — David Van Lan (02:07)

• Impacts on Community:
  • Ice fishing is a major industry (1.7 million fishers in the US), and a shortened season affects livelihoods, recreation, and local economies (01:42).

Ecological Consequences Below the Surface

• Disruption to Annual Rhythms:
  • Earlier or unpredictable thaws upset timing for aquatic ecosystems.
    • Zach Feiner explains:

      "The timing at which the lakes thaw in the spring has gotten really variable... from one year to the next is a two month difference."
      — Zach Feiner (05:15)

• Domino Effect in the Food Chain:
  • Earlier/more variable ice melts lead to:
    • Algae blooms timing shifts
    • Disrupted zooplankton populations (key food for young fish)
    • Mismatched timing can result in lower survival rates for fish like walleye (05:47–06:19)

  • "All those events start to get scrambled up and mistimed. So then your food web gets delinked or decoupled, and ultimately you end up with not having enough food around to feed small fish."
    — Zach Feiner (06:09)

What This Means for Fish Populations

• Walleye as a Case Study:

  • Walleye, sensitive to these changes, spawning in spring—if food webs and temperatures are off, populations decline (05:38–06:34).
  • Some lakes require artificial stocking to maintain walleye populations:

    "There's a lot of lakes where walleye have declined really significantly, and now the only reason there are walleye in there is because we have to stock them."
    — Zach Feiner (10:28)

• Shift Toward Warm-Water Species:

  • On the fishing trip, the group catches bluegill and crappie—warm-water fish that are likely to fare better as waters warm (09:43, 10:09).
  • Conservationists and recreational fishers may have to shift their focus:

    "Maybe you decide to go fish for something else. Right. That might be more resilient to harvest, like a largemouth bass or bluegill that are more of a warm water fish."
    — Zach Feiner (11:59)

Cultural & Personal Impacts

• Tradition versus Adaptation:
  • The potential cultural loss is real; asking fishing communities to switch target species is significant:

    "If you have this traditional connection to walleye, maybe that's a harder change to accept or to deal with."
    — Zach Feiner (11:27)

  • Emily draws a humorous yet poignant parallel:

    "There's so much sensitivity for these species that a difference that could seem small to us is actually life or death to them."
    — Emily Kwong (07:03)

• Local Action:
  • While individuals can’t stop global warming locally, they can make responsible choices:
    • Change fishing and harvesting practices
    • Advocate for aquatic habitat protection (11:59–12:44)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Changing Seasons:

  “We’ve lost a good six weeks off of our ice fishing season since I started back in the 1980s.”
  — David Van Lan (02:07)

• On Ecological Tipping Points:

  “All those events start to get scrambled up and mistimed. So then your food web gets delinked or decoupled…”
  — Zach Feiner (06:09)

• Personal Reflection:

  "There's so much sensitivity for these species that a difference that could seem small to us is actually life or death to them."
  — Emily Kwong (07:03)

• Resignation and Humor:

  “Did you ever get any walleye?”
  “I did, but not the way I wanted... I had it with some fried cheese curds, so no walleye. I'll just have to go back and maybe it'll be for a different kind of fish.”
  — Emily Kwong & Burleigh McCoy (12:44–13:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:24–02:29: Ice fishing season recap & impact on communities
• 05:07–06:34: How thaw timing changes disrupt food chains and walleye survival
• 07:39–08:51: Adapting lake life and ecology to diminished ice
• 10:28–11:08: Stocking fish and sustainability concerns
• 11:59–12:44: How communities can respond to ecological shifts
• 12:49–13:00: Burleigh’s walleye confession and fried cheese curds story

Conclusion

This episode illuminates the complex, cascading consequences of earlier spring ice thaws for lakes: less fishing time, disrupted food webs, declining walleye, and a community confronted with cultural changes. Through humor and a personal lens, Emily and Burleigh make the science accessible—reminding listeners that while climate change is a global issue, its effects and solutions are deeply personal and local.