Posted: 1/16/03

Workers save fish houses from sinking

While January is traditionally a month to be pulling in nice fish from the lake, owners of ice houses on Forest Lake spent long hours last weekend pulling their fish houses from the ice. Unusually warm weather this winter has led to unstable ice conditions and some open water on the Forest Lake chain. At least a dozen ice houses on Forest Lake have broke through the ice. Strong winds have made the problem worse and prevented open water from freezing. In the photos here, a work crew led by Brian Tilton pull a house free from the ice on Second Lake. The Tilton Gang helped free a number of ice houses last weekend. Tilton removed his just in time. ìI was about five hours from going down,î he said. In many areas of the lake, the ice depth is 14-16 inches, Tilton said. The Washington County Sheriffís Office said this week it will post the lake at all entrance locations warning lake users of unstable ice conditions and open water. The chain of lakes has not been closed to public use. Several area lakes in Anoka County, including Coon, Martin and Linwood, are seeing restricted use this winter. (Photo by Brian Tilton)

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