Glasgow’s Home Run Pond open to ice fishing, for now

Glasgow’s youth fishing pond, Home Run Pond, is open to ice fishing. Ice conditions on the pond located east of Glasgow on the Fort Peck Highway have been determined to be safe for angling, but the pond will close when conditions deteriorate, according to Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the City of Glasgow. 

“There is about 10 to 12 inches of good-quality ice on the pond,” says Andrew McKean, FWP’s angling education coordinator in Glasgow. “Until we get another thaw, conditions should be safe and suitable for ice fishing. The city and FWP will monitor conditions and close the pond before the ice deteriorates.”

Home Run Pond is open to all anglers age 14 and younger. Anglers younger than age 12 do not need a fishing license or Conservation License; anglers between ages 12 and 14 require a Conservation License but not a fishing license. 

“We had intended to keep Home Run Pond open to fishing after our January ice fishing festival,” says McKean, “but the warm weather made ice conditions unsafe. Our recent cold snap improved ice quality and depth and until we get another thaw I encourage parents and children to take advantage of the close-in fishing opportunity.”

McKean encourages adults to supervise young anglers, and he suggests following these guidelines to make ice fishing safe and enjoyable: 

• Always fish with at least one other person.
• Wear a warm hat that covers your ears. In cold weather, 75 to 80 percent of heat loss from the body occurs from an uncovered head. And remember that young anglers get cold faster than experienced anglers.
• Wear mittens; they’re warmer than gloves and reduce the chance of finger frostbite. And wear waterproof, insulated boots.
• Check out ice conditions from shore. If you see open water or ice that looks thin or rotten, call FWP at 228-3700.
• Tell someone where you plan to fish and when you plan to return.
• Carry a pair of long spikes on a heavy string around your neck. That way, if you break through the ice, you can use the spikes to grip the ice and pull yourself out of the water.
• Blue ice is usually hard. Watch out for opaque, gray, dark or porous spots in the ice that could be weak, soft areas. Ice also tends to thin more quickly at the shorelines.
• Watch for pressure ridges. These are areas of open water or thin ice where the ice has cracked and heaved due to expansion from freezing.
• Test the ice ahead of you with a spud bar or an auger.
• If a young companion complains of cold or gets wet, leave the ice immediately and warm up in your vehicle.
• Don't leave children unsupervised on the ice.
• Remember that lakes and ponds do not freeze at the same thickness all over.
• And remember that a warm, windy day will change ice conditions quickly. Plan to fish in the morning after a cold night.