With temperatures reaching the 40’s this week, those ice fishing should be aware of the formation of soft spots in the ice.

DNR Conservation Officer Jeremy King says following some safety tips can make the sport safer for everybody. “I would suggest that you carry a set of spikes with you, in case you do fall through, you can use them to climb back out. Always use a buddy system, or at the very least let somebody know where you’re going. If you don’t have ice picks and you fall through, car keys can be used to help you crawl your way out of the ice.”

The DNR reports that lakes in the Southwest District of the state currently have between 6-8 inches of ice. They add that five inches is enough to bring a snowmobile onto the ice, but they don’t recommend bringing a car out until there is at least ten inches of ice.