In the Know column: Freeze over on lakes is getting later

By John Stone, Glenwood MN

Nothing like a little snow to get people thinking about other seasonal changes like the freezing of area lakes and ice fishing.

It always seemed to be the change took place around Thanksgiving. A thin coating of lakes would start to appear the week of Thanksgiving and if it was cold enough some of the smaller ice houses would start to appear the Friday and Saturday afterwards.

A lot of changes have taken place since I started paying attention to this winter tradition many years ago.

First, of course, is that freeze over of area lakes seems to be getting later. It is not considered so unusual for freeze over not to take place until December, sometimes as late as mid December.

Second is that ice houses have changed pretty dramatically over the years.

It used