MFWP Says Extreme Caution for Ice Conditions at 3 Lakes

I am not a cold weather person.  Snow, sure.  But the cold?  Absolutely not.  Which is probably why I have never been very hip to spending the day in a small hut, during winter, rod in hand, sitting on a plastic bucket.  And the wind?  Forget about it.

via GIPHY

But I do know that many across Montana wait with bated breath for the lakes to freeze and the opportunity to test out their new ice auger and all the other new gear they have acquired.  Unfortunately, that ice has been pretty slim around popular Great Falls area waterways.

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MFWP Says Extreme Caution for Ice Conditions at 3 Lakes

This week, the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks issued a warning to are ice fishing enthusiasts that three popular lakes near Great Falls aren't all that safe.  Which again, isn't surprising with the mild temperatures over the last 2 months.

READ MORE:  When Is Ice Safe?  Use this Easy Montana Guide Now

In the weekly fishing report for our area, the MFWP stated that anglers are:

reminded that ice conditions can be extremely variable. Ice thickness can range from thick enough to support a vehicle to open water. Extreme caution should be used when accessing the ice.

Check Before You Load Up and Head to These 3 Lakes Near Great Falls

In issuing the extreme caution warning to anglers, MFWP says that ice conditions at Holter, Hauser and Canyon Ferry were rated as "no safe ice".  Updates on conditions at lakes can be found at the MFWP website here.

MFWP did say that some ice was available for the Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir in certain areas.  Caution should be used though, as "there is around 4 inches of ice in some locations and open water can still be seen around some of the islands and the inlet".