Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Issues Lake Thin Ice Warning
Maple Grove angler Mike Enghusen is putting the breaks on driving on lake ice after the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office issued a thin ice warning.
Officials say the recent warm weather has created poor ice conditions, causing multiple vehicles to go through lake ice.
In a social media alert Wednesday morning, the Sheriff’s Office said “local ice conditions are bad and getting worse.” It noted that the water patrol responded to multiple calls for ATVs and snowmobiles breaking through the ice on Lake Minnetonka.
Enghusen drove his truck out to the French Regional Park boat launch on Medicine Lake to check on conditions and no further. He says he’s going to be cautious and not drive onto the lake for now.
“With the warm weather and rain and everything, no I won’t go out, not at all,” said Enghusen.
Enghusen says he hopes to be out on the ice next week for the last weekend of the walleye and northern pike fishing season.
View of a fish house on Medicine Lake
The Sheriff’s Office urged anglers to remove fish houses from lakes.
“With the cycle of melting and refreezing, ice houses are at risk of becoming stuck in the ice, and vehicles remain at high risk of going through the ice,” said HCSO Major Shane Magnuson. “We cannot recommend highly enough that anglers begin to remove their ice houses now rather than wait for the mandatory removal date.”
The mandatory removal date for Hennepin County lakes is March 6.
Here are the DNR’s recommendations for ice thickness:
5″ – 7″ Snowmobile or small ATV
7” – 8” Side-by-side ATV
9” – 10” Small car or SUV
11” -12” Medium SUV or small truck
13” Medium truck
16” -17” Heavy-duty truck
20”+Heavy-duty truck with wheelhouse shelter
Related: Terry Tuma Ice Fishing Tip: Lures for Walleyes
