The recent Arctic blast brought Indiana its first real taste of winter and some of the first ice of the year. Fishermen have been impatiently waiting and are ready to start fishing. But, caution needs to be exercised. The chilling blast brought ice covering to ponds, small lakes and river backwaters, but may not yet be safe.

Every winter, thousands of Hoosiers safely enjoy fishing, skating, hiking, or just sliding around on frozen ponds and lakes. And every year, people drown after falling through ice. Don’t let this happen to you or anyone around you.

Indiana Conservation Officers remind Hoosiers to be careful as they begin to partake in activities such as ice fishing, ice skating, or snowmobiling. Remember to put safety first. Take caution when going on frozen lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and retention ponds. And, watch for others who may venture out on frozen waterways and find themselves in trouble.

Similar to needing to drive differently on snowy versus clear roads, safely having fun on ice may require you to adjust from what you have done in the past. The rule of thumb is to believe all ice is thin ice unless proven otherwise.

Here are a few tips to remember when considering standing or walking on a frozen body of water:

• Assume no ice is safe ice.

• Test the thickness of the ice with an ice auger. At least 4 inches is recommended for ice fishing; 5 inches is recommended for snowmobiling.

• If you don’t know the thickness of the ice, don’t go on it.

• Wear a life jacket or flotation coat.

• Carry ice picks and rope gear.

• Before going on the ice, leave a note of your whereabouts with a friend or family member.

• Don’t test the thickness of the ice while alone.

Wearing a life jacket is especially important when on ice. If you fall through, a life jacket will keep your head above the water until help arrives.

Remember a new coating of snow, while perhaps beautiful, can make for treacherous ice conditions. Snow can serve as insulation, causing water to freeze at a slower rate. When snow and rain freeze into ice, it is not as strong as solid, clear ice.

Another potentially dangerous situation is when you see a pet or other animal in distress on the ice. If this happens, do not try to rescue the animal. Instead, contact local emergency response personnel, who are equipped to make a rescue.

A few more tips:

• Some bodies of water may appear to be frozen solid but still have thin ice in several unexpected areas.

• Avoid flowing water, such as rivers and streams, when covered by a layer of ice.

• Similarly, water surrounded by sand may freeze with inconsistencies in the thickness of the ice.

• Underground springs, wind, waterfowl, and other animals can also keep areas of ice thin.

Enjoy the winter weather but make safety a priority.

New Indiana record burbot

Anthony Burke, of Cedar Lake, was fishing for perch in Lake Michigan on Jan. 6 when he landed a burbot 37.25 inches long and weighing 14 pounds, 3.6 ounces. Burke’s catch bested the previous record held by Phillip Duracz by nearly three pounds.

Burbot are native to Lake Michigan. They typically spend most of their time offshore in deep, cold water in Illinois or Michigan’s jurisdictional waters. During late fall and winter, burbot move into shallower Indiana waters to feed and spawn.

“Unseasonably warm weather and light winds on Lake Michigan the last several winters have provided boaters with a longer open-water fishing season and more opportunities to catch fish that are usually not in our waters, like burbot,” said DNR Lake Michigan fisheries research biologist Ben Dickinson.

Burbot are good to eat. They are in the cod family and have firm, white flesh. Find more information about Lake Michigan fishing at on.IN.gov/lake-michigan-fishing and learn more about purchasing a fishing license at on.IN.gov/huntfishlicenseretailers.

Indiana state parks need RV volunteers for solar eclipse

The Indiana Parks needs some help from volunteers over the solar eclipse. Volunteers will help with preparation, April 8 weekend events, clean-up, and other duties, working with property staff. In return, volunteers will get a free campsite, and get to experience the April 8 solar eclipse. Volunteers will be background-checked and are required to stay the length of April 1-15, 2024.

Apply online at: https://www.cervistech.com/acts/console.php?console_id=0064&console_type=event_list&res_code=C36iMx&ht=1. Individuals who apply will be supplied with more details. If you have questions, please email jheaston@dnr.IN.gov or call 463-203-6562.

Contact the author by writing to this publication, or by e-mail to jackspaulding1971@outlook.com.

Spaulding’s books, “The Best of Spaulding Outdoors,” and his latest, “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com in paperback or as a Kindle download.