Anglers Looking
North for Ice Fishing Opportunities
DES MOINES – The warmer than usual weather
over the past week has removed ice cover from a number of lakes
and caused the remaining ice to be unsafe. Anglers should call
their area DNR fisheries office or local bait shop for the latest
information on ice conditions before heading out.
"The recent above normal temperatures have
not been kind to ice anglers," said Mick Klemesrud, spokesman for
the DNR. "Clear Lake and Spirit Lake still have pretty good ice,
but lakes just to the south, like Beeds Lake, have opened up
substantially."
Little Wall Lake, in southern Hamilton
County, had up to 6 inches of ice as recently as last week, but is
now about 40 percent open water. Even Rice Lake, in Worth and
Winnebago counties, had areas with open water.
"That is a bit of a disappointment,
especially around the holiday season when a lot of people have the
time off and want to spend it ice fishing," Klemesrud said.
"Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and we’ll see good ice
conditions return soon."
The best scenario would be a number of clam
nights and temperatures in the single digits. That would allow the
lakes to freeze over again, and increase the ice thickness.
"The cold nights will add to the thickness
of the remaining ice, but will also hide the areas that were
previously open water. We always urge caution and safety when ice
fishing and that is especially true now because anglers could be
on 6 to 8 inches of ice one minute, and very little ice the next,"
Klemesrud said.
Anglers should check the ice often by
cutting test holes or by using a spud bar, carry some rope or
other device that could be used to rescue someone. It would also
be a good idea to wear a life jacket.
The Lumberman’s Association and other
sources have tabulated ice strength figures and what load it can
support, based on ice in good condition.
- 1 inch of ice – not
safe;
- 2 inches of ice – one
person on foot under good conditions;
- 3 inches of ice – group
in single file or spread out;
- 4 inches of ice –
general use;
- 5 inches of ice –
snowmobiles;
- 7-1/2 inches of ice –
car (2 ton gross);
- 8 inches of ice – light
truck (2-1/2 ton gross);
- 10 inches of ice –
medium truck (3-1/2 ton gross).
Blue ice is stronger than clear ice. Clear
river ice is 15 percent weaker than clear lake ice. Use caution
around clear or honeycombed ice and stay clear of dark spots in
the ice.
