Ice may be unsafe for fishing, Game and Fish warns

Thanks to recent warm weather, many locations for ice fishing across the state may no longer be safe.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking anglers to use extreme caution before venturing out on the ice.  However, with each passing warm day, the news gets better for those anglers anxiously waiting for open water on their favorite lake or reservoir.

Ice file photo courtesy Marc Samsom under CC BY

Anglers who've been fishing on any of the 26 waters covered under the special winter ice fishing provision are reminded that the liberalized regulations on those waters only apply when fishing through the ice. The special winter ice fishing provision allows anglers to use up to six poles on those waters during the ice covered period. When lakes and reservoirs included in that provision are no longer ice covered, the regulation on those waters reverts back to the use of two poles.

While it is likely that upcoming cold snaps may improve ice conditions, it is possible that unsafe ice thickness will prevail on many waters. Anglers are forewarned that ice thickness can vary from safe to unsafe conditions on the same water. Warmer weather coupled with freezing-thawing temperatures and wind can also contribute to unsafe ice thickness.

Remember that regulations require removal of ice fishing shelters before the ice melts.

fish, weather, Wyoming Game and Fish