DNR urges caution on early ice

The Department of Natural Resources is reminding residents to be cautious of early ice conditions on all of Wisconsin’s waterbodies.

Whether you’re ice fishing or snowmobiling, those eager to take advantage of winter activities should stay alert to the rapidly changing ice conditions.

The DNR doesn’t monitor ice conditions, but they are monitored locally.

Tim Anderson is the owner of the Hayward Bait and Bottle Shoppe. He says that he does an ice fishing conditions report every Friday. He did an ice check on the Chippewa Flowage with Tatum Treland-Schlapper of Treeland Resorts last week.

“There was about four and half inches of ice out there. About 30 feet out from the shoreline. Had a little bit of snow cover. So you’re base, your bottom two inches of the ice was beautiful crystal clear ice with no snow mixed in. Then the next two inches you could see some cloudiness in there, and that’s where the snow got mixed in on the ice grove. And that top half inch, three quarters of an inch had a little bit of snow crust and a little bit of ice,” says Anderson.

Anderson says that the snow acts as an insulator, and slows the growth of the ice. He checked other local lakes last weekend and found that the ice was thicker on lakes without snow, being closer to about 4 inches of ice.

He says that residents can watch for ice updates on the Hayward Bait and Bottle Shoppe Facebook page. He also recommends watching updates from Kyle Tyree, owner of the Wisconsin Fisherman Guide Service, who also posts ice condition updates on the Wisconsin Fisherman Facebook page.

With ice conditions changing each day and varying depending on the body of water, Anderson says the best thing you can do is check the ice yourself.

If you do check ice conditions, make sure to bring a spud bar, wear warm gear and a life jacket,  bring a charged cellphone, carry a couple of spikes and light rope in case you fall in, and let others know where you’re going.

For more tips visit the DNR’s Ice Safety webpage.