(Area) Cold temperatures have added to ice depth on lakes and ponds, but the Iowa DNR cautions that ice is not uniform across all water bodies.
Fisheries Biologist Bryan Hayes points there are several examples of activity on the water keeping certain areas open. “There’s been some water fowl activity so at one time Lake Anita had a big area open between the dam and the beach. The water fowl and the geese were keeping that area open, but most of that has now iced over.”
That means the area that has recently iced over isn’t nearly as safe as areas that have had ice for the the last 6-8 weeks. “You have to watch out for that. Even though it’s been cold and really cold. You can’t just go any where out there. You have to take precautions and check the ice. That ice is never uniform all across the water body.”
Hayes says ice is never 100% safe, but admits the recent frigid temps have likely extended the ice fishing season for another few weeks.
