Fishermen braving the cold

As fall progressed into winter boat sightings on Don Williams Lake diminished. And along with the boats, the fishermen.

Then the water froze over and fishing picked up - ice fishing that is.  Tanner Scheuermann, Boone County Conservation Director, said that since the first of the year he is seeing on average, about five to six ice shacks on the lake daily.

“We even had some brave souls out there the weekend when the temperatures were well below zero.”

The cold then tempered a little, which brought even more fishermen to the ice. Sunday, Jan. 7, some bundled up in coveralls and fished out in the open, foregoing their ice shacks. Rob Schmidt and Scott Thompson of Ames, said they were out for the first time this year.They admitted they are just fair weather ice fisherman, going out maybe a half dozen times a year, staying on lakes within the state at nearby Hickory Grove Park, Big Creek and Okoboji. 

According to Scheuermann, the ice had reached a safe thickness of at least six inches in most places. “We recommend that at least four inches of ice be present to accommodate ice fishing for those on foot; five to six inches for those using an ATV or snowmobile to transfer gear across ice; and 12-plus inches for those using a pickup to transfer gear across ice.”

Read more in the Jan. 17 issue of The Ogden Reporter.