PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – Because heavy snow and wind have made driving on lakes difficult in many areas of the state, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks has extended the deadline for when anglers must remove their fish houses from lakes.

GFP has not set a hard deadline for fish house removal at this time, but once conditions begin to improve, the department will alert anglers to an exact deadline date. The original deadline was by midnight tomorrow night (Feb. 28).

The deadline for fish house removal is in place to prevent fish houses from falling through melting ice. Current and anticipated severe winter conditions should protect against that happening at least through most of March.