While you might be hoping for a return to warmer weather, one group of Iowans is enjoying the cold temperatures. Mick Klemesrud of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says 2008 has been a great season for ice fishing.
Klemesrud says the season started early and looks like it is going to go late, and people he’s talked to say it has been one of the best ice fishing seasons for number of days and fish caught. The D.N.R. is responding to the colder conditions by extending the deadline for allowing ice fishing shelters out on public waters.
Klemesrud says normally the deadline is February 20th, but they’ve extended the deadline to March 1st. Klemesrud says the shelters will have to be moved off earlier if it does warm up. While the ice is think in most areas, Klemesrud says ice that has snow covering it can be dangerous.
Klemesrud says the snow can prohibit the ice growth and protect the ice. And he says snow weighs down the ice, so if you cut a hole, the water rushes up. Klemesrud says in northeast Iowa someone was walking on a snowdrift on the ice when he fell through. The water wasn’t that deep so the person got out quickly. Klemesrud says you should always take the proper safety precautions when ice fishing.