LAKE MINNETONKA, Minn. — This winter is already starting to be colder and icier than last winter and that is a good thing for ice fishing.
Mason Koonce is happy that temperatures have dropped so low because his business depends on it.
He’s an ice fishing guide Lake Minnetonka who owns Tonka Ice House Rentals.
Koonce traveled onto the lake Thursday to take measurements the thickness of the ice.
With a length of 20 to 25 centimeters, he says, it is not yet ready to pull out an ice cellar.
He’s only comfortable with at least one foot, and that’s with an ATV, not a car.
“If temperatures continue to move in the right direction, we should have a good, long winter,” he said.
Koonce says he was only able to rent out ice huts for one week during the entire winter last year. In a normal winter, that’s usually at least two months, he says.
“People were very scared last year. They were very cautious last year,” Koonce said. “This year I have noticed that many customers, or potential customers, are much more optimistic and enthusiastic about ice fishing.”
Nick Skallerud of Medina stopped at the Carson’s Bay boat launch to test the ice for himself.
“It looks pretty solid, and I can see far away where other people have drilled holes,” he said. “It looks pretty good and should be even better after today.”
Koonce says you need at least four to four inches of ice to walk on the lake, but the Department of Natural Resources reminds us that no ice is ever 100% safe.
Cloudy ice can also be significantly fainter than clear ice.
David Schuman
