(Lewis) The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says although the ice may appear safe and thick enough for people to walk on, with the rollercoaster of temperatures lately, the ice conditions are variable.
Bryan Hayes, DNR fisheries biologist says there are about six inches of ice in most area lakes and ponds and four inches is the minimum. However, Hayes says there is no such thing as 100-percent safe ice.“We’ve had areas of open water that refroze and we had areas where the ice thickened,” said Hayes. “Ice fishermen will not find uniform ice.
“Before you step on the ice, make sure it’s safe, use caution and be aware of the ice conditions,” said Hayes.
Other item safety tips include:
*New ice is stronger than old ice
*Ice fishing is a social activity; don’t go out alone. If the worst should happen, someone would be there to call for help or to rescue.
*There could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed, so check ice thickness as you go out.
*Avoid off-colored snow or ice. Its’ usually a sign of weakness
*The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process
*Safety items in the bucket should include Ice picks, about 50-feet of rope and a floatation seat cushion for use in case of a rescue.
