[0:00] A snow-covered frozen lake was Dan [0:03] Canfield's happy spot in mid December. [0:07] >> It sure is. It's beautiful out. [0:12] >> Canfield came out for an afternoon of [0:14] ice fishing and tranquility at Peltier [0:18] Lake in Anoka County. [0:20] >> I just love being out. I love fishing [0:22] and there's nothing better than this. [0:24] It's different. A lot of people don't [0:25] get to do this or don't want to. These [0:28] are the kind of days where I love to to [0:29] get on the lake because I don't need to [0:31] bust out the fish house. I can just sit [0:32] outside on a lawn chair. [0:34] >> Michael Lurchon is with the Minnesota [0:36] DNR. He spent part of this day checking [0:40] ice thickness on the lake. [0:42] >> Generally speaking, the lakes that I'm [0:44] uh looking at have anywhere between 5 to [0:46] 8 in. So, there's definitely fishable [0:49] ice on uh on these metro lakes. A frigid [0:52] cold snap earlier this month, followed [0:55] by mild temps, produced some weather [0:58] whiplash in the north metro. The ice at [1:01] Peltier was thick enough to walk on, but [1:03] Lurchin wants everyone to know that ice [1:06] is never 100% safe. I was checking a [1:09] lake last week and I happened to to fall [1:11] in somebody's spud hole. It was uh [1:14] covered up with snow and kind of the [1:15] wind was blowing and it you know I [1:17] couldn't tell it was there but I [1:18] happened to step in and and got wet all [1:21] the way up to my hip. So it's never [1:23] completely safe. You know you never know [1:24] when there's u under underwater springs [1:26] on some of these lakes that create soft [1:28] spots. And then with the snow [1:30] additionally it kind of creates an [1:32] illusion of safety. It looks like the [1:33] whole lake's froze over but you know in [1:35] one spot it could be eight and another [1:37] spot it could be 2 in. So you just got [1:39] to check it for yourself. This graphic [1:41] illustrates how much ice thickness is [1:43] necessary to bring out snowmobiles, [1:46] ATVs, [1:48] cars, trucks, and ice houses. Lurchin [1:52] says now is not the time to be driving [1:55] any kind of vehicle onto a frozen lake. [1:58] >> The DNR puts out ice suggestions and [2:01] what kind of vehicles are um should go [2:03] out with certain amounts of ice. So with [2:06] 6 7 8 in, you know, we're not anywhere [2:09] near close to having a car out there. I [2:10] mean, if you're in doubt, it's not worth [2:12] some pan fish or losing your vehicle. [2:15] >> Canfield also uses caution when [2:17] venturing onto the ice, even on foot. [2:21] >> When I first come out for the season, I [2:22] walk where other people have walked. [2:24] Stay in that area and watch the ice. I [2:27] mean, the snow if it's wet, you know, I [2:30] kind of stay away from it. on the Rice [2:33] Creek chain of lakes. I'm Eric Nelson, [2:35] North Metro TV News.