Great to see a post from you and see such wonderful photos! I'm always surprised by the risks ice fishermen take early and then again late as ice begins to form. But then, I'm not comfortable going out there in the dead of winter! Excellent photo of the ice on the river and at the falls.
I'm happy to hear that you had a good family Christmas!
Thanks! I'm back in Mankato now, dressing the avalanche of email Monday will bring.
There have been a number of people going through the ice this year already. People don't think this through. It's especially dangerous on a river because the current can pull one away from the hole they fell through and trap them under the ice.
I did drive out on a lake when I lived in SD. After three weeks where the "high" was -20°F, it seemed safe enough.