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With temperatures in Washington County dipping below zero, the ice on lakes and ponds is starting to thicken, and soon wintertime anglers will break out their poles for some ice fishing. Lake Darling Fisheries Biologist Chad Dolan says ice fishers should always check the thickness of the ice before venturing onto the frozen surfaces. He reminds people ice doesn’t freeze uniformly, so even though it’s three inches in one spot, it could be two inches in another. Ideally, the ice should be around four inches thick before it’s safe for a person to stand on it for extended periods without having it break. If people are considering driving vehicles onto ice, Dolan recommends at least five inches for snowmobiles and ATVs, 8-12 inches for small cars or trucks, and 12-15 inches for larger trucks and SUVs. He emphasizes no ice is safe ice, so venturing onto it should always be done with caution.

Dolan says there are several good places for ice fishing in Washington County, including many spots at Lake Darling, as well as Clemons Creek and Crawford Pond. He recommends using small bait, such as a teardrop jig with spikes. He says it’s a good idea to keep moving if the fish aren’t biting. He explains, “If you are not having luck in a particular spot or hole that you’ve drilled, don’t spend a ton of time there, move. And that’s kind of the key to ice fishing, no luck then move and try somewhere else.” He also recommends target areas such as submerged structures or brush piles that tend to serve as fish habitats, or areas of particularly deep water. For more information about ice fishing, listen to the In Touch with Southeast Iowa interview with Dolan at KCIIRadio.com.