DELAWARE WATER GAP -- Below-freezing temperatures have been hanging around for a while, but national park rangers say it's still dangerous to trek out on the Delaware River for ice fishing.
It was a busy day for ice fishermen in the Delaware Water Gap, reeling in catfish after catfish all morning.
"Fabulous fishing, it's fabulous. I don't know if it got cold early in the season and they stopped here or what it is, but it seems to be just thousands upon thousands of them," said Carl Johansson of New Jersey.
These anglers say the ice on this stretch of the Delaware River is more than a foot thick.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area park rangers say that's not true all along the river.
"That would be a huge mistake because it's not. Again, this river is flowing, the water, the channel's still open," said ranger Chris Kross of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Carl Johansson says he's caught lots of catfish, and threw about 40 back.
He says although this stretch of ice is safe, just around the bend, the ice is too thin and parts are quite dangerous.
"Absolutely, absolutely, if you don't know the river, you don't want to go on the ice," said Johansson.
The ice in this part of the Delaware Water Gap is so thick that some ice fishermen say they're having trouble getting their ice augers down to the water.
"I've seen all the guys out there catching catfish. I figured come up and give it a try," said Ed Snutes of New Jersey.
Snutes says his auger wasn't cutting it today, but he did come prepared with ice picks.
"A lot of guys wear them just in case you do fall in the water. It gives you something to grab onto when you're trying to climb out of a hole. I've never had to use them," said Snutes.
Rangers say the best protection is the buddy system and hitting the ice in big groups.
"Never be out here by yourself, always have at least one friend or partner out here with you just in case something bad happens such as falling through the ice," said Kross.