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IOWA -- The storm that ushered in winter last week brought with it cold temperatures covering most area lakes with a layer of ice. Since most lakes froze after the snow storm, there is a good chance for rapid ice development.

That is good news for the ice fishing crowd who have spent most of December looking at green grass and open water. As a reminder, a minimum of four inches of quality ice is recommended for fishing and at least five inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.

“Ice fishing is one of our great winter sports and is really a fun, social activity best enjoyed with a group of friends,” said Joe Larscheid, chief of fisheries for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Early ice offers an excellent chance for success.  If fish are finicky, plan to cut a series of holes and spend 15 minutes at each hole targeting active fish. Make sure to use small baits and light line.

Getting the equipment ready should also include ice safety tips.

“Now that we have ice, we need to go through our mental safety check list.  Go with a friend and be sure to cut some test holes for ice thickness as you go out,” Larscheid said.

Safety tips on the ice:
- There is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice.
- New ice is usually stronger than old ice.
- Ice fishing is a social activity, don’t go out alone. If the worst should happen, someone would be there to call for help or to rescue.
- There could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice recently formed, so it would be wise to check ice thickness as you go out. 
-  Ice thickness is not uniform on any body of water.  Things like current and springs slow ice growth. Rocks, trees or docks that poke through the ice like will conduct heat and make the ice around it less stable.
- Avoid off-colored snow or ice. It is usually a sign of weakness.
- The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process.

Other safety items to include: Ice picks, about 50 feet of rope and a throwable floatation seat cushion for use in case of rescue.

Information provided by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.