BISMARCK, N.D. (PPR) – The cold weather of late November and early December has provided a healthy development of ice on area lakes and streams.

Scott Winkelman is Chief Game Warden for the State Game and Fish Department said most lakes are frozen over except for the big one north of the Missouri River.

He says many of the lakes froze over and have yet to develop significant blankets of snow. He says that’s a good thing. He says not only does snow insulate and potentially result in thinner ice, it also hampers the fish habitat.

Winkelman says he has seen ATV’s, snowmobile’s and other light vehicle traffic starting to venture onto the ice. However, he encourages everyone going onto the ice to proceed with caution.