By Mike Peluso

I really don’t want to be talking about ice fishing yet, but Mother Nature definitely had other plans for us here in North Dakota. It is hard for me to believe we were open water fishing a week ago in 70 degree weather and now we have 2 feet of snow on the ground.

Of course, the first thing I’m going to talk about is safety! Please take all the appropriate measures to make sure the ice you want to venture out on is safe. I’ve already seen folks on the ice at East Park Lake near New Johns and a few people were out on Irvine up here near Devils Lake.

For me I’m going to wait a couple weeks yet. I definitely will start looking around up near Devils for the upcoming ice fishing season. Personally, I like to see about 6 plus inches before I go roaming around. I am excited to know we will probably have plenty of ice when it’s time to take clients out.

Tools/Items you should have with you on these early ice trips:

*Float Suit or Life Jacket
*Rope
*Ice Pick to climb out
*Spud Bar
*Change of Clothes
*Fish with friends

So please use caution! I’ll keep reporting as we go on what I’m finding out on the frozen lakes.

Mike Peluso is a Dakota Edge Outdoors contributing writer and licensed ND fishing guide specializing in walleyes on the state’s premier waters.

Featured Photo: Not Quite Ready.  Ice is forming on area lakes, but it will be a while until it is safe to fish. DEO Photo by Mike Peluso.