Environment Ministry urges anglers to check ice thickness

Winter has just freshly been born for another season and already the Environment Ministry has had reports of people out on ice to fish.

Prince Albert-based conservation officer Rich Hildebrand confirms they’ve heard of anglers venturing out onto the ice, specifically near the Rafferty Dam.

“We understand people want to go out and enjoy the fishing but there’s definitely risks when you get out on the ice so make sure it’s safe before you do so,” said Hildebrand.

He said the main sections of some of the bigger lakes will still be wide open while some bays will have developing ice. As a reference, Hildebrand suggested ice be about 10 centimetres–or four inches–thick before it can safely be walked on. To take a snowmobile on, the ice should be roughly 20 cm–or eight inches–and to drive a vehicle on, ice should be a minimum of 30 cm–or 12 inches–deep.

“People need to be sure. Check it before you go out,” he cautioned.

While a variety of factors can lead to different ice conditions at lakes around the province, Hildebrand was pretty confident no lake in the province would have ice that’s a foot deep at this point.