The bitter cold temperatures may be a double-edged sword for ice anglers in Washington County.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist Chad Dolan says he’s seen ice thickness of 5.5-10 inches in southeast Iowa, more favorable for fishing at this date than he’s seen in the past few years. Dolan warns about safety threats, “I think the bigger issue is just the conditions you’re dealing with above the ice right now. It’s pretty brutal cold, it’s been very windy, so definitely ice anglers are going to want to have a pop-up ice shanty and potentially even a small propane heater to really lessen the safety issues surrounding the cold weather conditions right now.”

Dolan recommends dressing so that no skin is exposed, and wear plenty of layers. While four inches of ice is thick enough for anglers, Dolan says at least five inches is required for ATV’s, and 12-15 inches for trucks, which he says is rare for southeast Iowa.