Patience catches the fish, and for ice fishermen it could save their lives.

While many ice fishermen enjoyed the sport sparingly this season, perfect conditions were ushered into the area during the past couple weekends. But conditions are rapidly changing.

Dustin Drew, park manager for Moraine State Park, said rain and warm temperatures quickly melt the ice, and Lake Arthur's icy top is no exception.

“I would say it's definitely on its way out,” Drew said. “It's in a weakened state.”

Drew said while park rangers are constantly patrolling and will advise of common trouble spots, the park does not monitor ice thickness throughout the lake. He said it's not a feasible task.

“For the most part, we leave it up to the visitor,” Drew said. “It really falls on the individual to decide for themselves.”

Mark Adomaitis, head of Butler County's Water Rescue Team 300, said he witnessed the lake's condition on Monday.

“I was up there on Monday and we had nearly eight inches of ice, but that deteriorated quickly,” Adomaitis said. “I would not recommend anyone going out on that ice now.”

Adomaitis said conditions are clearly visible.

“You can tell just by going down and looking at it that it's just not safe,” he said. “As soon as you would take that first step or two onto that, you're at least going to get your feet wet.”

But people are always looking to push boundaries and limits that challenge Mother Nature. Some will head out with barely passable conditions or find other ways to make it over open water near shore and onto ice farther into the lake.

“People try to beat it,” Adomaitis said. “I've seen some inventive ways of people trying to get out onto the ice.”

Adomaitis said a lot of fishermen ignore suggestions to wear life preservers, and many wear thick, heavy clothing and boots that make escaping falls through ice difficult.

“You're dealing with cold water shock that goes into effect. If you fall through that, you're going to panic,” he said. “You're going to gasp that involuntary gasp.”

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission published information on Tuesday about the changing conditions for ice fishermen.

“Ice conditions are always variable, and anglers venturing out onto the ice should review the ice safety checklist on the PFBC website,” Ryan Walt, PFBC boating and watercraft safety manager. “That includes wearing a personal flotation device at all times and carrying ice awls to assist in a self-rescue.”

Adomaitis said weather conditions might not put enough ice back in Lake Arthur for the remainder of the season. He said it may be time for fishermen to look forward to clearer skies, greener woodlands and bluer waters in the coming spring.

“We had plenty of cold weather before. This past week turned it around to spring time,” Adomaitis said. “Hopefully, they'll be able to wait a week and fish open water.”