CONTRIBUTED PHOTO For those who don’t get enough fishing in during the warmer months, ice fishing can be one way to beat cabin fever during central Iowa winters. Pat Jorgensen of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said there are several tips ice fishers should know before trying to land a monster.

Winter has a solid grip on central Iowa, and despite a recent warm spell of weather, ice fishing will likely be an option for cabin fever-stricken outdoors enthusiasts in coming weeks.

“I always recommend fishing with someone else,” said Iowa Department of Natural Resources Recreational Safety Officer Pat Jorgensen, whose area of focus covers Marshall County. “The reason for that is you want to go in pairs or in groups in case you run into trouble, fall through the ice, there’s somebody there that can help you or get help.”

Jorgensen said being cognizant of possible hazards is key when fishermen take to their ice houses or haul a tent, heater, ice auger and their fishing gear onto a frozen lake or quarry.

One piece of safety equipment he recommended was an ice pick.

“There are actually ice picks that are designed for ice fishermen,” he said, adding those ice picks usually come with a cord connected to them. This allows ice fishers to dig or get out from under the ice if they fall through.

“A 5-gallon bucket is always good,” Jogensen said, adding the bucket can help in cases of ice breaking in shallow water. A fisher can stand on top of the bucket in such an instance, he said.

Another piece of gear Jorgensen recommended was a flotation device.

“Wearing a float coat, a personal flotation device… or a life jacket is always good,” he said. “It wouldn’t hurt to carry along a safety throw-bag with a rope in it, you can throw to somebody if they fall in the water or if you fall in the water.”

While the DNR doesn’t consider any ice to be “safe,” Jorgensen said there are some guidelines ice fishers can follow to help ensure their safety.

“Four inches of ice is good for one or two people,” he said, adding 5-6 inches in generally considered acceptable for all-terrain vehicle or snowmobile use on the ice surface. “I would recommend 18 inches of ice before anyone would try and drive a (full-sized) vehicle on it.”

He said seasonably warm weather of late has caused the ice to weaken throughout the state.

“With this January thaw that we’ve had, and the rain, a lot of the ice on our lakes and quarries are not the best right now,” Jorgensen said. “They’re honey-combed, they’ve been rained on, they’ve had about a week-and-a-half of temperatures above 32 degrees.”

He also said ice with vegetation sticking out from under the water or sitting just below the surface can cause weakened ice.

“Clear ice is the best, it’s going to be the strongest,” Jorgensen said.

Some ice fishers may bring alcohol such as beer along with them as they try to entice a monster fish to bite their lure, and Jorgensen said there are a few rules to know concerning alcohol.

“You’re allowed to consume alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine coolers… in public places such as public parks, unless otherwise posted,” he said. “Hard liquor, such as whiskey or schnapps, you cannot consume in a public place.”

He also said once a person gets back into a vehicle, whether an ATV, snowmobile, truck or car, getting charged with operating while intoxicated and having an open container in a vehicle can become a possibility.

“You’re allowed to consume alcohol while you’re out there on the ice fishing or while you’re in the ice house, but once you get in your vehicle, then operating while intoxicated, OWI comes into play,” Jorgensen said. “Operating while intoxicated does apply to driving out there on the ice, and that’s the .08 state (blood alcohol) limit.”

Jorgensen, an ice fisherman himself, said ice fishers love what they do, even though it can be hazardous and caution must be taken.

“People want to get out, people love to fish and they want to keep fishing,” he said. “Ice fishing’s a good way of targeting pan fish in areas you might not fish in the summer months.”

For more ice fishing information, go to www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/Fishing-Tips-How-Tos/Ice-Fishing