IOWA, USA — After a brutally cold start to January, the end of the month was ushered in by unseasonably warm temperatures, rapidly melting snow and depleting ice conditions across the region.
Thinning ice has canceled several ice fishing tournaments throughout our area, including those at Hannen Lake, North Liberty, Belvidere and Lake Meyer, have been canceled.
Right now, Joe Larscheid, Fisheries Bureau Chief for the Iowa DNR, says Iowa is losing more ice than it's gaining.
"The better ice conditions are up north, the further north you go," Larscheid said. "The further south you go, it's really questionable. You gotta be careful out there right now."
The blizzards that moved through in early January dumped several inches of snow on top of frozen lakes, ponds and streams.
"And when you have snow on top of the ice, it doesn't produce good ice," Larscheid said.
It creates a sort of insulation that can prevent solid, thick ice from forming.
Overnight temperatures across much of the region have stayed above freezing. That, coupled with recent rain, has chipped away at the ice that did start to appear.
The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of strong ice for fishing and at least five for ATVs and snowmobiles. But Larscheid says he wouldn't recommend venturing anywhere without at least six inches.
He also says to keep watch for ice pulling away from the shore.
"That's the biggest sign as we start to lose ice," Larscheid said. "The ice will get darker. As it starts to really get weak, it becomes very dark. And so when you see dark patches, that's indication that water is going through the ice. Dark ice isn't as good as hard, clear ice."
Larscheid recommends starting off at the shore and punching a hole in while it's still shallow, to properly test the thickness. If it's up to par, go out a few more feet and try again. If at any point you start to question the safety of the situation, he says it's better to just leave, rather than risk it.
Fishers should also check the weather, bring a friend, bring proper equipment, tell someone where they're going and go where there are other people, rather than being the first person out on a frozen body of water.
You're also encouraged to check out the Iowa DNR's weekly fishing report, which includes ice measurements for specific locations across the state. The reports are released each Thursday. You can click here to sign up for the free report to be sent straight to your email.
Larscheid joined The Current on News 8 to discuss this winter's ice fishing conditions and where he's seeing the most dangerous spots across Eastern Iowa. You can watch his full interview in the above video.
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