One week into January and ice fishing is still on hold for anglers in southeast Iowa. Inconsistent temperatures have made it difficult for ice to build in a majority of the area’s lakes and ponds. 

On the first day hike last Monday, Lake Darling in Washington County was entirely ice-free. On January 3, the lake was about 30 percent ice covered, but above freezing temperatures ate away at the ice pretty quickly. 

In Keokuk County, Lake Belva Deer has a small percent covered by a thin layer of ice, which varies in thickness by day as well as time of day. There is still a significant amount of open water. 

For more information on southeast Iowa’s lakes, ponds, and rivers, call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319-694-2430.