HENNEPIN COUNTY, Minn. — The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office is warning the public about many lakes in the area still being open.
And if they're not, there is no safe ice.
"We're just trying to take advantage of shore fishing until we get thicker ice," said Young Yang, who was fishing the banks for Lake Minnetonka. He says he's never seen open water this late in the season since started fishing the lake 15 years ago.
The wind and rain broke up what thin ice there was just a couple days ago — the snow usually acting as insulation.
The lack of it has people calling the experts, like Gary "Seal" Thompson. He runs the Tri-State Diving in Detroit Lakes.
"It’s supposed to start getting cooler tomorrow, but that’s not going to firm that ice up that fast," said Thompson.
His team strategically, and safely, is known to pull everything from ATVs to fish houses from the water. They are posting pictures of the process on Facebook. His team has 10 recoveries on tap so far compared to just four all last winter.
"I would tell anyone if they've got a house on any lake in this part of the world, get it off," said Thompson. "You're going to have a big issue otherwise."
The warmer weather, perhaps, putting our whole winter on thin ice.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends at least four inches of ice before going out on it, seven inches for snowmobiles and 10 for any other vehicle.
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