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LAKE PEPIN, Minn. (WCCO) - Officers warn ice fishing is rarely 100% secure, however many anglers on frozen lakes nonetheless take their probabilities - some even threat driving their vehicles onto the ice.
Half a dozen autos fell right into a Minnesota lake close to the Wisconsin border over the weekend.
“I used to be out possibly a quarter-mile out, and I had 12 inches of ice on the market,” mentioned ice fisher Brock Smith on Sunday.
For skilled anglers like Smith, who fishes twice per week at Lake Pepin, to new ones like Jessica Karges, the fish are biting, and the crowds are again.
“Acquired a pair perch, some walleye, after all gave away the walleye, however nonetheless bought some meals for tonight,” Karges mentioned.
Smith mentioned the parking zone was full Saturday, so drivers began parking on the lake. He watched from afar as six autos fell via the ice and needed to be reeled in.
Whereas the ice might look thick sufficient to park on, the Minnesota Division of Pure Sources mentioned autos ought to park a minimum of fifty toes aside and transfer each two hours to keep away from sinking.
“I felt unhealthy for them as a result of, I imply, it may occur to anyone, and so they didn’t know they shouldn’t have been parking on the market,” Smith mentioned.
He mentioned he had parked on the market the weekend earlier than.
“And any individual got here and parked subsequent to me, and I got here and did the lengthy stroll and moved my automobile to a parking spot, so that would have been my truck on the market,” Smith mentioned.
Lake Pepin is a naturally occurring lake on the Mississippi River. After seeing folks fall via through the years, Smith hopes for extra signage like these new ones put up after Saturday’s sinkage.
“The season actually it’s all the time like this, in order that’s why you see numerous foot visitors and snowmobiles and 4 wheelers,” he mentioned. “And all of us want and anticipate us to have the ability to drive on the market.”
The DNR says driving a snowmobile or an ATV on ice requires a minimum of 5 inches of ice. Vehicles and small vans want eight to 12 inches.
“Don’t park close to the shore; simply don’t park close to the shore,” Karges mentioned.