After a mild December, temperatures have cooled enough that ice fishing is becoming a real possibility on area bodies of water.

DNR Conservation Officer Jeremy King says safety is key when ice fishing and recommends using a tip he learned at DNR ice rescue training. “Carry an old broomstick along and if you can flip that broomstick up and slam it down on the ice as hard as you can with one hand and it doesn’t go through, then it’s typically safe. Often I’ll use that broomstick and constantly hit the ice as I’m walking out to a pond or on the lake, to make sure I don’t come across a weak spot in the ice.”

King will give us more ice fishing safety tips today on Let’s Talk Guthrie County. It airs during the 9 a.m., noon and 5 p.m. hours on K107.9 and www.raccoonvalleyradio.com.