Throughout winter, many are out on the regional lakes enjoying a favourite pastime, ice fishing. Following certain guidelines for ice fishing safety ensures the fun memories being made don't become tragic.

“I don’t like going on a lake anywhere where somebody hasn’t gone before me,” said Conservation Officer Lindsey Leko. “You don’t need to be the trailblazer until you know for a fact that ice conditions are good.”

Even if you know the lake well, Leko noted it’s also important to pay attention to the condition of the ice. He advises avoiding thin or watery ice.

“Any type of structure, such as pressure ridges, or cracks, those are the types of areas that you definitely want to stay away from,” he said.

He reminds liquor in ice shacks is not legally permitted.

“Because it’s not deemed a dwelling, regardless of how many beds or stoves you have in it,” said Leko. “That seems to be an ongoing issue that people just want to be able to drink in their shack.”

He noted cannabis is also not permitted in ice shacks.

For a full list of rules for ice fishing see the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment's annual Angler's Guide HERE.