03-05-2007, 06:22 PM
Recent snow fall - and the threat of more to come - could make access on many North Dakota lakes nearly impossible in the coming weeks. With that in mind, anglers shouldn't wait until the last minute to try to remove fish houses before the mid-March deadline.
State law requires that permanent fish houses are removed from North Dakota waters by midnight March 15, and variable weather conditions this time of the year can make it difficult to even get to a fish house, said Nancy Boldt, boat and water safety coordinator for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
"Access on some lakes could be restricted because of the snow, especially in the central and eastern parts of the state," Boldt said.
Anglers should exercise caution when venturing onto a lake because of uncertain ice conditions beneath the snow. "People just can't judge ice conditions with all the snow on the ice," Boldt said. "It is important to check ice thickness, because you won't be able to see cracked, weak or even open water areas."
Warm weather and high winds this late in winter can rapidly deteriorate ice conditions, Boldt mentioned, causing shorelines to weaken. "Also, ice thickness not only varies statewide, but can even fluctuate on the same body of water," she said.
Portable fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily, Boldt mentioned.
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State law requires that permanent fish houses are removed from North Dakota waters by midnight March 15, and variable weather conditions this time of the year can make it difficult to even get to a fish house, said Nancy Boldt, boat and water safety coordinator for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
"Access on some lakes could be restricted because of the snow, especially in the central and eastern parts of the state," Boldt said.
Anglers should exercise caution when venturing onto a lake because of uncertain ice conditions beneath the snow. "People just can't judge ice conditions with all the snow on the ice," Boldt said. "It is important to check ice thickness, because you won't be able to see cracked, weak or even open water areas."
Warm weather and high winds this late in winter can rapidly deteriorate ice conditions, Boldt mentioned, causing shorelines to weaken. "Also, ice thickness not only varies statewide, but can even fluctuate on the same body of water," she said.
Portable fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily, Boldt mentioned.
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