WATERVILLE, Minn. -
MN anglers don't let a little ice stop them from catchingthat perfect fish, but what about a historic drought?
The DNR says lake levels are down about 1–2 ft, which ondeeper lakes won't make that big of a difference.
Mackenthun says, "Our shallower lakes which are morelikely to winterkill are probably going to be just that much moresusceptible."
Scott Mackenthun with the Minnesota DNR says it will reallydepend on what our winter looks like.
Mackenthun says, "If we have a harsh winter with a lotof snow and it makes a lot of ice, gets particularly cold, that can bedifficult."
Mackenthun says the biggest issue with the drought is that wedon't have tile lines running from agriculture fields and rivers aren't reallyflowing into lakes.
Mackenthun says, "Without those sort of connectionsometimes that will limit the fresh water, so again if it is a harsh winter, itcould be difficult just because the water isn't moving."
But Mackenthun says the situation is by no means dire, andmost anglers probably won't even notice a difference...
Something everyone venturing out on the ice should alwaysworry about though: making sure it's thick enough.
Mackenthun says, "Just really be careful, sometimes it'snot the best to be the first out there."
Ice needs to be at least 4 inches think before it is walkable, and with temperatures expected to exceed 50 degrees this weekend, that couldtake awhile.
Mackenthun says, "Give it some time, it's not worth itto go out to catch a few fish and lose your life."
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