On Thin Ice: Ice Fishing Stalled On Devils Lake

The current cold snap could significantly heat up business on the ice in Devils Lake.

Anglers and guides have been on thin ice, literally, all season.

That’s after a warm start to winter is keeping the ice thin, and anglers away.

But if Mother Nature keeps her chilly grip on the region, fishing fans should be cheering from their ice houses soon.

There aren’t as many people ice fishing on Devils Lake as normal.

Fishing guide Jon Dircks says, “If I had to throw a number out there I’d guess half the people that are here by this time aren’t here yet.”

They’re staying away because unprecedented winter warmth is keeping the ice thin.

“I do not remember ice being this thin this late in the year,” Dircks adds.

Ice on Devils Lake is anywhere from 7″-14″ thick.

Most of the ice is too thin to support pickups.

Dircks explains, “A lot of people don’t want to come up here unless they can drive their vehicles.”

This thin ice is endangering one of Devils Lake’s marquee events, the annual Fire Department fishing tournament, according to Devils Lake Fire Chief Jim Moe

Moe says, “About a week ago we were talking about what our alternate plans were going to be.”

More than 4,000 people pack the ice for the tournament. The ice isn’t nearly thick enough to support a crowd that size

“With that many people out there, to do it safely,” Moe explains,  “We just would be comfortable with 18″.”

Last year, trucks were able to drive out here on the ice on Devils Lake by mid–December.

This season the ice is so thin, trucks likely won’t be able to come out here for another two to three weeks.

Dircks assures that, “As soon as people can drive out it’s gonna get nuts.”

Guides say the current cold snap could be a saving grace.

Below zero temperatures can add an inch of ice per day on the lake.

Business is already picking up.

And hope springs again, that the biggest ice fishing tournament of the year will go on.

“So we did have some contingency plans out there that could work if we don’t have the tournament,” Moe says, “but I’m believing that the chances of having the tournament are better and better every day.”

The Devils Lake Fire Department will test out the ice this weekend to see if it will be thick enough to hold the tournament.