ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state environmental officials are warning winter fishing enthusiasts to watch out for thin ice.

The recent cold snap is expected to send anglers out early to frozen-over lakes and ponds. But the State Department of Environmental Conservation warns that the presence of snowmobile tracks or footprints on the ice does not mean the ice is safe.

They remind anglers to check ice conditions for themselves.

An auger is typically used to test the thickness of ice.