Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office Reminds Of Water Safety As Fishing Opener Approaches

The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office is reminding the public to be safe around bodies of water now that the ice has gone out on most area lakes and fishing opener is approaching.

Sheriff Scott Goddard reminds the public of a few water safety tips:

1. As the last of the ice is coming off the lakes, the water temperatures are dangerously cold. If you plan to venture out, make sure to wear a life jacket at all times. Simply having one in the boat might not help in the case of an emergency.
2. Before heading out, check your boat for all required safety gear. Make sure to read over the Minnesota Boating Guide for details on required safety equipment and boating laws.
3. Use extra caution on the lakes as most marker buoys are not in place yet. However, the dangers and channels they mark still exist.

In a release, the sheriff’s office states they would like everyone to have a great and safe open water season enjoying all the boating opportunities Crow Wing County has to offer.