With the recent cold temperatures, ice fishing has become possible on local waters. Fishing has been decent so far on Pocono lakes and even north of there where temperatures allowed for safe ice.

Willie, from Willie’s Bait and Tackle in Cementon, said he’s been getting sporadic reports from places like Shohola and Pecks Pond where pickerel and bluegills were the main bite.

Ice thickness there was averaging 8-9 inches and most fish were being pulled up on minnows. Willie added that a couple customers hit Ontelaunee Reservoir in upper Berks County and managed to pick up 30-plus crappies all on minnows and through five inches of ice. But, there was two inches of snow atop the ice.

He did get a good report from White Oak Lake above the Poconos that is being drawn down for repairs.

Anglers are encouraged to fish it out. Hearing that, three local anglers went there and managed to take home 143 bluegills, all on fathead minnows.

Chris, from Chris’s Outdoor Sports in Mertztown, reported that Ontelaunee Reservoir had 3-5 inches of varying ice on the lake. Customers were pulling in pickerel, crappies, bluegills - but no bass - all on pike shiners.

As for Leaser Lake, Chris has no reports, but there should be some action now that the water level is back to normal and there’s more cover Of course, the only keeper fish from there are trout.

At the recent board meeting, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission adopted a regulatory amendment that extends catch and release regulations on Leaser Lake to all fish except trout.

The PFBC began reestablishing the fisheries in 2013 after the dam at the lake was rebuilt and the lake reopened. However, the agency says recent assessment found that fish populations have not been significantly reestablished. The amendment will go into effect July 19.

Mike, from Mike’s Bait and Tackle in Nazareth, says Lake Minsi in Northampton County had some ice fishermen on it last week. But the ice there was barely 3-4 inches with a considerable amount of open water.

With wind, it will not allow the water to freeze, said Mike. Instead of Minsi, he had received decent reports from Promised Land Lake that was fishing good, Shohola that was just OK, Gouldsboro and Tobyhanna lakes were giving up pickerel and some panfish.

For those brave enough to withstand temperatures in the teens, ice fishing on local waters could be good. But, before walking on ice, here are a few reminders from the PFBC:

* Leave information about your plans with someone such as where you intend to fish and when you expect to return.

* Wear a personal flotation device and try not to fish alone.

* Ice varies in thickness (as on Ontelaunee) and condition. Always carry an ice spud or chisel to check ice as you proceed.

* Be extremely cautious crossing ice near river mouths, points of land, bridges, islands and over springs. Current almost always causes ice to be thinner over these areas.

* Avoid going onto ice if it has melted away from the shore. This indicates melting is underway, and ice can shift position as wind direction changes.

* Waves from open water can quickly brake up large areas of ice. If you can see open water in the lake and the wind picks up, get off.

* Carry a set of hand spikes to help work your way out onto the surface of the ice if you go through. Holding one in each hand, you can punch them into the ice and pull yourself out. They can be made at home by using large nails or buy them at tackle shops.

* Carry a safety line that can be thrown to someone who has gone through the ice.

* And equally as important, bring a fully-charged cell phone.

If frigid temperatures continue, ice fishermen will be able to walk on water and into some hungry midwinter fish.