Ice fishing conditions have improved throughout Michiana although most of the main lake of big waters remains unsafe.
Anglers have been getting onto lake channels across northern Indiana and to a lesser extent in southern Michigan. Some smaller, wind-protected ponds also are being fished.
You would think that Kalamazoo area lakes would be more frozen, but sources say theyre still a few days away from being considered safe to walk on.
As of Thursday, Jan. 1, ice thickness varied on Michiana lake channels from 2 to 4 inches.
Remember, the DNR advises anglers shouldnt venture onto ice less than 4 inches thick, but some bold spirited anglers think nothing of fishing on less than that.
And some are falling through.
Lake channels said to be fished this week include Maxinkuckee, Lake of the Woods (Bremen), Wawasee, Koontz, Simonton and Fish Lake in Indiana. Some fishermen were getting onto The Slip, a Lake Wawasee area popular among ice fishermen.
One of the problems anglers are encountering on lake channels and shallow bays is low water conditions due to last summers drought. Many Indiana lake channels became so low last fall that lake residents had trouble getting their boats out for the winter.
Fish are unlikely to use those channels and bays that dont have at least a few feet of water beneath the ice.
In Michigan, Painter (Edwardsburg) and Lake of the Woods (Decatur) channels are reportedly getting fished.
But as one observer pointed out, its the kind of ice where you may have 3 inches in one spot and only 1 inch a few feet away. Youve got to move cautiously if youre crazy enough to get out there.
A warming trend is expected next week but the nights should remain cold enough to continue making ice.
If you go, use a spud or check ice thickness with a drill as you move.
And take a buddy.