Time Running out for Ice Houses

With warm weather chewing away at the ice layer, it’s possible the ice may not be safe for that long for either of those two zones.

This 50–some–degree warm stretch has most of us celebrating.
Unless you’re an ice fisherman, that is.

Much of our part of Minnesota requires permanent ice houses to be off the lake by March 7th.

If you’re north of the east-west line formed by Highway 10, east along 200 and east on 2 to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, you’ve got until March 21st.

But with warm weather chewing away at the ice layer, it’s possible the ice may not be safe for that long for either of those two zones.

Safety officials warn that you should take into account the effects of wind, rain and other factors, which can change conditions on a day to day basis.

Anglers out on Big Detroit Friday weren’t reporting much in the way of catches, but said the ice appeared to still be thick in the middle of the lake.

The shoreline is where ice usually deteriorates first, said Sheriff Todd Glander, but it’s important to take into account day-to-day alterations in conditions from wind, rain and temperature fluctuations.

Anglers in North Dakota can keep houses on the ice until March 15th.