Ice Fishing NDGF Ashley Peterson
By Doug Leier
First ice is synonymous around these parts with anxious anglers taking inadvisable risks to curb their appetite for ice fishing. Is it the fish? Is it the ice? Is it the dark, still, cold, hard water peace and solitude?
I’m not advocating but acknowledging the balance between risk and reward. But I’m not going to do it anymore.
Knowing the dangers of any ice, let alone first ice, I’ve seen anglers with ropes tied around their waists and attached to the ball on a pickup. I’d hate to find out if that worked or not.
Let’s be honest and realistic about ice no matter the time of year. It’s never 100% safe. December, January or February. Seemingly safe ice conditions have given way from springs, pressure ridges or other natural phenomena. I’d go so far as to remind you I’ve made it out on the ice safely and but had to take another route back to shore because the ice conditions changed. Ice access can vary from hour to hour, day to day, week to week.
Another note: Just because there are a few anglers already on the ice, don’t assume there’s no reason to stop and check ice conditions. Better safe than sorry.
Some tips to be aware of are:
- Snow insulates ice, hampering solid ice formation, and makes it difficult to check thickness. Snow also hides blemishes, such as cracked, weak and open water areas.
- Avoid cracks, pressure ridges, slushy or darker areas that signal thinner ice. The same goes for ice that forms around partially submerged trees, brush, embankments or other structures.
- Ice thickness is not consistent and can vary significantly even in a small area. Ice shouldn’t be judged by appearance alone. Anglers should drill test holes as they make their way out on the lake, and an ice chisel should be used to check ice thickness while moving around.
- Daily temperature changes cause ice to expand and contract, affecting its strength.
- The following minimums are recommended for travel on clear-blue lake ice formed under ideal conditions. However, early in winter it’s a good idea to double these figures to be safe: 4 inches for a group walking single file; 6 inches for a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle; 8-12 inches for an automobile; and 12-15 inches for a pickup/truck.
These tips could help save a life:
- Wear a personal flotation device and carry a cell phone.
- Carry ice picks or a set of screwdrivers to pull yourself back on the ice if you fall through.
- If someone breaks through the ice, call 911 immediately. Rescue attempts should employ a long pole, board, rope, blanket or snowmobile suit.
- If that’s not possible, throw the victim a life jacket, empty water jug or other buoyant object. Go to the victim as a last resort, but do this by forming a human chain where rescuers lie on the ice with each person holding the feet of the person in front.
- To treat hypothermia, replace wet clothing with dry clothing and immediately transport the victim to a hospital.
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