My turn: Winter means ice fishing

It is officially winter, so that means ice fishing.

Some people might say ice fishing in New Mexico, really? Actually, there are three state lakes in the northern part of the state where temperatures can get cold enough to freeze lakes.

Dan Williams, public information officer for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, said Eagle Nest is one of the lakes, but it isn’t open yet because ice is not thick enough. Ice has to be 9 inches or more before the state parks will open to the public.

Lake Alice in the Sugarite Canyon State Park and Lake Maloya north of Raton are the two other lakes that typically freeze.

Lake Alice has a popular kids ice fishing festival in February called the Alice in Winterland Ice Derby.

Wiiliams said winter trout waters are available in the south, southwest, southeast and central part of the state. It is cold enough to support the trout in those waters for winter fishing.