Otter Tail Country, unfortunately, is not ready for fishing—yet..

I think the only group of people on this planet that want sub-zero temps outside are ice fishermen.  I’ve been staring at the forecasts and extended forecasts and they look warm.  I enjoy warm Decembers, but only if we can get out on the lakes—and then it can be warm.  I have spotted a few eager anglers in Otter Tail Lakes Country trying their luck and tempting their fate a bit—right next to shore.  I’m all about getting on the lake, first thing, but it’s too soon.  I spotted a group of 1,000 plus geese on open water on a small lake on Monday, and then noticed a figure a few hundred yards away walking on the lake.  It was an ice fisherman.  The angler didn’t seem to have a chisel or anything—just walking around by the geese.  There’s something magical and fun and inviting and challenging about walking on first ice, but it’s been too warm to be sure about safety.  The real kicker right now is the recent snow that fell on the new ice.  Now it’s impossible to see discrepancies in the ice sheet!  The ice that’s too thin to hold snow will look dark and wet as the water seeps up from cracks, but there will be a lot of areas where the new snow will disguise unsafe ice.  Otter Tail Country, unfortunately, is not ready for fishing—yet.  It will happen, however.  Minnesota, wouldn’t be Minnesota without ice and ice fishing.  Keep an eye out for these articles and I’ll keep you posted.

By Ross Hagemeister, Meister Guide Service