MINNESOTA, USA — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources issued another warning Thursday about poor ice conditions statewide, telling the public that the recent combination of wind, rain and warm weather means "few, if any, areas of the state have the ice thickness necessary" for ice fishing.
"What we always say is it's important to look at the weather conditions and not the calendar," DNR Ice Safety Coordinator Nicole Biagi said, "when it comes to ice fishing and getting out on the ice."
The DNR intentionally released its new warning ahead of New Year's, which is often a popular time for people to travel north.
"Usually this time of year, people are out ice fishing, people are even out with wheelhouses this time of year around the holidays," Biagi said. "This year is just not a normal year and people need to remember that, and be patient for that new, strong ice to form. Hopefully, if we get some cooler temperatures in the New Year here, we'll get some good ice soon."
The DNR does not measure specific ice thickness on each lake. However, the agency reports that central and southern Minnesota lakes are largely "open water" right now and that "ice farther north has deteriorated as well."
In Beltrami County, Sheriff Jason Riggs said his deputies have responded to roughly seven ice rescues since late November alone, mostly on Upper Red Lake. That includes a mass rescue of 35 anglers on Dec. 17, a near-catastrophic plane landing on Dec. 19 and a rescue of three men on Dec. 21 after their ATV and trailer broke through the ice. On Thursday morning, the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office received another report from Upper Red Lake of a father and son falling through the ice on an ATV.
On nearby Lake Bemidji, first responders even needed to save a deer who had almost fallen into the water.
"Be, just, sure of what you're getting yourself into when you're getting out there. Don't go out unprepared," Sheriff Riggs said. "Continue to use ice picks, wear a float coat or life preserver, and have the ability with you to contact someone... Don't go into locations that are uncharted. Utilize resorts. Utilize guides to point you in the right direction."
Riggs said that typically, a lake like Upper Red Lake would have plenty of ice built up by New Year's.
"This is not a normal year," Riggs said. "I don't know that I've seen it quite this warm, certainly not seen a lot of rain like this. With those factors, it's just one of those bizarre years."
As a rule of thumb, the DNR says you shouldn't walk on any ice less than four inches or snowmobile on anything less than five inches. The agency has included guidelines for all ice-related activities on its website.
Nicole Biagi, the ice safety coordinator, said it's also important to remember that not all lakes are made the same.
"Of course, we say no ice is safe. But it's important to understand the lake and the specific hazards," Biagi said. "Measure the ice, and check it as you go, and have the right safety gear with you if you think it's safe enough to go out on."
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