‘I think everyone had the same idea’: Lincoln ice fishers enjoy the cold temperatures

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – With the winter weather reaching subzero temperatures Saturday, most people kept themselves busy indoors, but not everyone.

The walking trails in Holmes Lake Park have been empty, but the frozen lake itself saw groups of people who said the weather was ideal for ice fishing.

“I think everyone had the same idea, there’s about 8-9 tents out here,” said Eli Deal, an ice fisher set up on the lake.

“We thought it would be cold enough today to go, I mean, we wanted to go all season, but this week we got everything together to make sure we went today,” he said.

Deal and his friend, Braulio Padilla, said they had planned all week for today, the day after the snowfall, with single-digit temperatures.

“Just judging by the overnight lows all week, we figured that today, the ice would be thick enough to make it today,” said Deal.

Hunter McClellan and his fiancée, Brook Benson, had the same idea and caught their own.

“We caught fish the entire time,” said McClellan.

They said they left the state two weeks ago to go ice fishing in Iowa because the weather wasn’t right in Nebraska.

One onlooker complimented the two on their bravery. “Just a few days ago, there were waves,” said Troy Jeffries.

“It’s just been too warm, too windy, the lake can’t freeze over, but now that it’s all locked up, and has 5 inches of snow on it, we should be good,” said McClellan.

He also revealed the many ways they are staying warm while on the lake.

“Insulated coveralls, insulated gloves, and then my hut is insulated, and I have a heater,” he said.

Deal and Padilla also brought a heater, which is helping cook up snacks while they wait for fish to bite.

Over the lake, a bald eagle was also enjoying snacks by picking up leftover fish on top of the ice.

Some are taking part in a more popular land-based activity, but aren’t as happy with the deep freeze; shovelers!

Juan Tercero says this weather is the perfect time to get the job done.

“There are no people walking on it, and it’s early, it’s easy to shovel, but if it were hours ago, the snow can freeze,” he said.

A few blocks away from Tercero, a trio of grandmas are helping clear the way in their neighborhood, too.

“That’s what we do, we take care of everybody. Just being good neighbors, being helpful, we’ve lived next door to each other for thirty years,” said Nancy Eisenbardh.

Her cohorts, Theresa Polkinghorn and Mandy Leseberg, stood alongside with their shovels, proud of the ground they’ve covered.

“Oh, just one, two, three houses, and Mandy’s,” said Eisenbardh.

“I live here on the corner lot, so I do all the way around the corner,” said Leseberg.

The shovelers and ice fishers both proved that the bitter cold didn’t stop everyone from being outside.