While kids are out on their sleds and building snowmen, area anglers are heading out on the ice.

The DNR is reminding you that it's just the start of the season and the ice might not be thick enough everywhere.

People out fishing Thursday, like Al Ballering, say this ice is finally just right, but the fish aren't biting.

"They're biting real slow for me but I am probably in the wrong place," says Al Ballering.

"It's kind of slow, it's not too bad out I guess. I got a few blue gills," says fisher Jason Stormberg.

With fishers drilling into the new ice the DNR is warning the ice isn't necessarily thick enough everywhere.

"We want to always emphasize that the ice is always unpredictable, it's never 100% safe but people are venturing out there and I haven't heard of anyone falling though," says Warden Scott Thiede.

DNR Warden Scott Thiede says the ice in most places should be thick enough to walk on but he says if you're heading out you need to be thinking ahead.

"Ice is something in Wisconsin, ice fishing is popular and snowmobiling later on, but always be prepared not only when you go out on the ice but prepared for going through the ice because it does happen," says Thiede.

At Half Moon Lake, some fishermen though it was too early to be out.

"It's a little thin yet here it's only about 2 to 3 inches of safe ice I'd say," says Dale Jackson.

Over at Lake Altoona anglers were a little more optimistic.

"I think there's actually quite a bit, about 9 to 10 inches of ice, I feel safe walking out,” says Greg Kotecki.

"I think there's, I don't know 6 to 8 inches of ice. I fell comfortable walking on it but I certainly wouldn't drive on it,” says Al Ballering.

The DNR says if you're new to the sport or are in an unfamiliar place follow the tracks from other people and stay clear of areas with a steady current.
It also wants to remind everyone to keep an eye on kids near the ice and it says parents should talk to their kids about the dangers ponds and lakes pose during the winter.