WALLEYEDAN OPTIMISTIC

The 18th annual Brainerd Jaycees Icefishing Extravaganza is two weeks from Saturday. Area fishing guide WalleyeDan said Monday on his web site that average ice thickness on Gull Lake is about 11 inches. One Jaycee official said he'd checked ice on Hole in the Day Bay last weekend and ice thickness ranged between 12 and 16 inches. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department wants ice to be at least 14 inches thick for the contest that draws thousands of anglers and lots of heavy trucks. Sheriff Todd Dahl said the ice conditions right now are not great and public safety is his number one concern. Dahl said venturing out on area lakes is never safe and he wants people to use common sense when they do it. The Jaycees were to meet Monday night to talk about final plans for the Extravaganza. A Jaycee spokesman said Monday he expects a public statement about the contest on Wednesday. Check the website for more information about this year's Extravaganza at www.icefishing.org.