Outdoor enthusiasts are making their way onto area lakes to do some ice fishing. But recent warmer temperatures has Nebraska Game and Parks officials urging anglers to be very careful before heading out.
“The first ice of the season and the last ice are the two most dangerous times to be out, but they are the best times to catch fish,” says spokesman Greg Wagner. “When we’ve had a cold frigid spell and then a warm spell the early ice should be regarded with extreme caution.”
He says anglers need to remember the 4-6-8 rule before heading out. “It takes four inches of good solid clear lake ice to support one person with light gear, six inches of that ice will support a bunch of anglers in a group and eight inches for snow machines.”
Wagner advises anglers to never go alone and make sure you wear your life jacket. He also recommends drilling test holes every 30 feet. He says for skaters in takes 5-6 inches of ice over a continued area for conditions to be safe.
He says now is not the time for skaters to venture out onto the ice. Game and Parks also urges anglers to be prepared for changing conditions as the weather forecast calls for more bitterly cold temperatures in the next couple of days followed by a warm up next week.