03/11/21: Area Happenings & Accomplishments

Stay safe on ice across NWI

The Iowa Department of Natural Resource is reminding everyone to beware of ice conditions and check ice thickness often as temperatures continue to warm.

Ice conditions change constantly and its thickness can vary across the lake. Rocks, trees, docks or other things that poke through the ice will conduct heat and make the ice around it less stable. Trust your instincts – if the ice does not look right, don't go out.

A blanket of snow on top of an ice-covered lake insulates the ice, slowing its growth and hiding potential hazards or weak spots. River ice is 15 percent weaker than lake ice. Ice with a bluish color is safer than clear ice. Avoid slushy or honeycombed surfaces and stay away from dark spots on the ice. Don't walk into areas where the snow cover looks discolored.

The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of quality ice for fishing and at least five inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.

Fahnlander ranks among top 2 percent at ISU

The following area students are ranked among the top 2 percent of students in their college at Iowa State University: Kally Fahnlander, of Royal, freshman, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

NWI fishing report

The walleye season is closed on Spirit, East Okoboji and West Okoboji lakes. Ice was still in good condition last Thursday, ranging from 18-24 inches. Many boat ramps have deteriorated ice due to large vehicle traffic and warm weather.

Center Lake: Caution – winter aeration system is currently in use. Ice thickness is around 16.5 inches.

Dog Creek (Lake): Fishing has been fair to good.

East Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is closed. Ice conditions vary across the lake with averages around 18 inches or more. Bluegill, good. Easily catch lots of bluegill; a lot of sorting may be needed with many 7.5- to 9-inch fish. Yellow perch, fair. Black crappie, fair.

Ingham Lake: Caution – winter aeration system is currently in use. Ice thickness is around 16 inches or more with a major open hole from the lake aeration unit. Yellow perch, fair. Anglers are catching larger yellow perch, but with low frequency. Some good-sized perch have been seen recently.

Lake Pahoja: Bluegill, fair. Use small jigs tipped with waxworms. Black crappie, fair. Try small jigs tipped with waxworms.

Lost Island Lake: Caution – winter aeration system is currently running on the northeast side near the nature center. Ice thickness is 18-20 inches. A good amount of fishing pressure has been seen recently. Yellow perch, good. Walleye, fair.

Minnewashta Lake: Ice thickness varies around 19 inches. Bluegill, good. Lots of 4- to 6-inch fish are being caught. Black crappie, good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson): Caution – winter aeration system is currently in use. Ice conditions are around 18-22 inches, but can be variable. Use caution; a side-by-side went through the ice the last week of December. Walleye, fair.

Spirit Lake: The walleye season is closed. Ice thickness across the lake is around 18 inches or more. Caution – there are many open holes around the lake, and many of the accesses have deteriorated due to large vehicle traffic. Yellow perch, fair. Perch fishing is getting better; you may need to move around to find them, many quality 9- to 10.5-inchers have been caught. Walleye, fair. Walleye bite has been tough.

Trumbull Lake: Ice thickness is around 11 inches with an open hole on the north end caused by geese.

West Okoboji Lake: The walleye season is closed. Ice thickness varies, starting around 19 inches. Caution – there are many seams across the lake. Panfishing has been spotty in many of the bays where many anglers have been able to sight fish in around 10 feet of water along weed lines. Many fish are headed to the basins with the latest cold front. Yellow perch, fair. Bluegill, good.

Participate in UI Dance Marathon

More than 1,400 current University of Iowa students participated in the 27th annual student-led Dance Marathon which raised more than $1.4 million for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

The final tally raised by the students who were inspired by the theme of this year's event, "Rise with Resilience," was $1,422,443.27, a total which pushed the amount of support generated by Dance Marathon over the course of its history to more than $31 million.

Students from this area who participated are Payton Kamradt, of Sanborn; and Faith Unrau, of Hartley.

Chickadee tax check-off donations continue to dip

Last year, a little over 7,200 Iowa taxpayers helped boost wildlife conservation with donations to the Fish and Wildlife Fund on their state tax form, representing about 0.5 percent of total taxpayers in Iowa.

The funds go directly to habitat development and restoration programs for some of Iowa's most vulnerable animal species. The Fish and Wildlife Fund, commonly known as the "Chickadee Check-off," is a mechanism the Iowa Legislature created in the 1980s for Iowans to donate to wildlife conservation on the Iowa state income tax form. Before this time, so-called "non-game" wildlife had no dedicated funding.

Non-game wildlife are the 1,000-plus species such as songbirds, bald eagles, salamanders, turtles, monarchs and bees and more that make up the majority of wildlife in Iowa. The Chickadee Check-off is one of the only funding sources for the Iowa DNR's Wildlife Diversity program, which is responsible for these species.

Funding helps to improve wildlife habit, restore native wildlife, provide opportunities for citizens to learn about Iowa's natural resources and much more. Recent projects have been investigating the nesting success of barn owls and figuring out the status of the endangered rusty-patched bumblebee.

Iowans donated a little under $150,000 on their 2019 tax forms, which translates to an average gift of $20.39 per donor, an increase from the previous year. Donations can be made in any amount starting at just $1. Simply write the amount to donate next to the Fish and Wildlife Check-Off, line 57 on Form 1040, and the sum is either automatically deducted from the refund or added to the amount owed.