By Louie Stout

If you’re looking for safe ice to fish this weekend, it’s out there.

But man, you gotta be careful.

Reports coming in from area bait and tackle shops indicate several anglers are getting out and catching fish, but not every frozen water you see is safe.

Ice thicknesses range from very little to about 5½ inches. Channels, ponds and protected bays seem to be the safer bets, but everyone is advised to proceed with caution.

“It’s all dependent on the lake,” says Steven Szymczak of Clear Water Tackle in Edwardsburg. “Here’s an example…guys were getting out on Eagle earlier this week but Juno (right next to Eagle) still had open water.”

Pat Hamilton of D&R Sports in Kalamazoo said some of the lakes around his area have 2 to 3 inches, but that’s mostly in the channels and on small, wind protected lakes or bays.

It’s about the same west of Elkhart.

“A lot of guys are out, but most are sticking to channels and ponds,” said Trevor Nunemaker of the Tackle Shack in Middlebury.

Bonnie Kelley Kelley’s Bait in Lakeville said some lakes south of South Bend seem to be in better shape.

“They are walking all over on Pleasant and getting into Riddles,” she said. “I’m hearing 4-5 inches and they’ve fishing down here for two weeks.”

Kelley said she is getting reports of anglers fishing Potato Creek Reservoir, although she is told the lakes around Plymouth are not progressing as rapidly as some others.

Jim Housman at the Tackle Box in North Webster said fishing has been great on some of the Kosciusko County lakes.

“Most of the channels are frozen over at Webster and Wawasee,” he said. “We’re hearing 3½ to 5½ inches in some places.”

Most of the fish are being caught shallow, largely because anglers aren’t able to get out to the deeper areas. On those lakes where they can access deep water, the fishing – and quality of fish – is better.

“I’ve seen guys catching fish in 20 to 28 feet of water,” Nunemaker said.

Szymczak said deeper channels produce well, too. He says the best action is coming in 10 to 25 feet of water.

“I highly recommend anyone going out carry a spud to check the ice, wear a float suit and carry a rope – just in case,” he added.