We get asked daily if the lake is frozen and thankfully....it is continuing to freeze more and more every day.

""David"" wrote a comment to our Happy New Year entry and left a web site to go to for those of you going out on the ice; anywhere and anytime. http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/ierd/ice_safety/safety.html
It is worth looking over. Below is just one excerpt from the article.

* Never go out on an ice cover alone, and never go out on the ice if there is any question of its safety.
* While you are planning the outing, obtain the record of air temperature for the past several days and continue observing air temperatures while the ice will be used to support loads.
* Always let someone know of your plans and when you will return.
* When you arrive at the water's edge, visually survey the ice. Look for open water areas, and look for signs of recent changes in water levels: ice sloping down from the bank because the water dropped, or wet areas on the ice because the water rose and flooded areas of the ice that couldn't float because it was frozen to the bottom or the banks. (If the ice is snow-covered, look for wet areas in the snow.)
* Listen for loud cracks or booms coming from the ice. In a river this can mean the ice is about to break up or move; on a lake larger than several acres such noises may be harmless responses to thermal expansion and contraction.
* Look for an easy point of access to the ice, free of cracks or piled, broken ice.
* If you are taking a vehicle or other equipment on the ice, go out on foot first. Vigorously probe ahead of yourself with the ice chisel. If the chisel ever goes through, carefully turn around and retrace your steps back to shore, and try again some other day.
* Near shore, listen for hollow sounds while probing. Ice sloping down from the bank may have air space underneath. This is not safe; ice must be floating on the water to support loads.
* After getting on the ice, others in the group should follow in the leader's steps, but stay at least 10 feet apart.
* Only after you have learned the characteristics of the ice cover should any vehicle be taken on the ice.

As the ice fishing season begins for 2007, we hope everyone has a great time, gets the big one But Mainly....stays safe