Mild conditions might make winter a little easier to endure, but it's also creating dangerous conditions on the ice.
Even a few days of colder conditions might not be enough to allow for ice fishing in some areas. Ice conditions along the shore can also easily deteriorate in warm spells.
Related: Why fish don’t freeze in the winter
"Ice depths are not uniform on any body of water and there is no such thing as safe ice," said a post from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "There are many factors that impact ice formation making some locations thinner than others. With the warm weather, ice conditions can change a lot in one day."
DNR authorities recommend you verify the ice thickness for yourself, and test it often.
The Iowa DNR offers updates on fishing and ice conditions on waterways across the state - click here.
Outdoor News offers fishing and ice condition updates across Illinois - click here. They also recommend checking with bait shops near your planned fishing location for condition updates.
East Moline firefighters planned their annual ice rescue and cold water emergency training for January 27 through January 29, 2015 at Butterworth Pond, at 21st Avenue and Archer Drive.
"This area is one of three ponds that we have located in the city, as well as the Mississippi River, which always has yearly potential for cold water and ice rescue emergencies," said East Moline Fire Department Battalion Chief Curtis Frerichs. They've already had one emergency this winter, Frerichs said, and their department holds special training to keep rescue crews prepared.
Muscatine firefighters recently reported unpredictable conditions on the ice there, especially on the Mississippi River, prompting them to recommend staying off the river altogether.