Orleans, IA (KICD) — We’ve set records for the earliest “ice-outs” for both Big Spirit Lake and East Lake Okoboji. DNR Fisheries Biologist Mike Hawkins thinks the BIGGER story is the short amount of time the lakes were actually frozen over.

That appears to be a trend since the turn of the century.

 

Hawkins tells KICD News the early thaw does impact fishery operations.

Official ice out for East Lake Okboji was March 2nd and the next day for Big Spirit Lake.