With consistent, colder weather on the horizon, Iowa anglers are reminded of safety tips for when the ice gets thick enough to walk on.  

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recommends a minimum of four inches of clear ice for fishing and at least five inches for snowmobiles and ATVs. If venturing out, remember that no ice is 100 percent safe, new ice is stronger than old ice, don’t go out alone, let someone know where you are going and when you will return, and check the ice thickness as you go out. 

Additionally, anyone thinking of walking on the ice is reminded to avoid off-colored snow or ice and that a blanket of snow slows the growth of ice and could hide potential hazards. Ice has been growing in the northern two-thirds of the state, but it could be a few weeks before it gets thick enough in southeast Iowa.