Ice Safety

[JayW]

As it gets farther into the winter, provided that the cold weather precides fishermen from all over are psyched to get out onto their favorite lake or pond to go ice fishing. With this in mind we should take extreme caution when venturing to go fishing. Some safety tips include: always going with another person, carrying ice spikes or a rope just incase someone falls in, staying away from any structure such as man made fishing piers and docks because they freeze differently. Please post other ice fishing safety tips under this thread.

[SuperAdmin]

From MASSWILDLIFE'S Website http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/dfwice.htm
<TABLE width=300 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle width="25%" bgColor=#008080>Ice Thickness
(inches)</TD><TD align=middle width="75%" bgColor=#008080>Permissible Load
(clear, blue, lake ice)</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width="25%">2</TD><TD align=middle width="75%">One person on foot</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width="25%">3</TD><TD align=middle width="75%">Group, in single file</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width="25%">5</TD><TD align=middle width="75%">Group (6-8 people) together</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width="25%">7½</TD><TD align=middle width="75%">Passenger car (2 ton gross)</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width="25%">8</TD><TD align=middle>Light truck (2½ ton gross)</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width="25%">10</TD><TD align=middle width="75%">Medium truck (3½ ton gross)</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width="25%">12</TD><TD align=middle width="75%">Heavy truck (7 to 8 ton gross)</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width="25%">15</TD><TD align=middle width="75%">10 tons</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width="25%">20</TD><TD align=middle width="75%">25 tons</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width="25%">25</TD><TD align=middle width="75%">45 tons</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width="25%">30</TD><TD align=middle width="75%">70 tons</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[BIGQ]

watch the warm weather, wind and rain forecast for the next couple of days..that will chew up quite a bit of ice. not supposed to get cold until sunday, jan 15. be careful

[JayW]

BigQ thanks for the post. Like BigQ said warm weather mixed with rain and water do havoc to ice. Wind especially because once melted water sits on top of the ice the wind blows it and can make for very unsafe fishing conditions. Be very careful if you venture out because there can be spots that are 6" thick and then suddenly spots that are just 2" or less thick.

[Matt]

Any difference in color of the ice will have a big impact on it. Black ice is probably jsut about the safest ice you can walk on. With this snow on the ice now, it will be insulatiing it thus making it harder to build more ice during cold days. The upside is though it will protect the ice from melting during warmer days.

[fisher16]

Okay guys Ice season is coming quickly and I would like to share this video with the rest of the members on this site. I could possibly save one of your lives. I hope you never have to use the knowledge you'll learn through this video but its another tool to ad to the arsenal.
Scoll down to Clip one.
http://outside.away.com/outside/features/200212/200212_popsicle_splash.html#

[fisher16]

Just wanted to remind everone about the ice thickness safety chart. Since we have been having some warmer days this week, and a higher sun even though that ice could be four inchs at this time of the year it is usually alot weaker. Becareful out there, and fish safely.

[thortum]

Okay guys Ice season is coming quickly and I would like to share this video with the rest of the members on this site. I could possibly save one of your lives. I hope you never have to use the knowledge you'll learn through this video but its another tool to ad to the arsenal.
Scoll down to Clip one.
http://outside.away.com/outside/features/200212/200212_popsicle_splash.html# I just finished watching the three videos on the above site. They are great and should be viewed by everybody that might ever find themselves on the ice. Thankyou "fisher16" for posting it.

[YOTE BUSTER]

Agree1 Thanks1

[noresman]

Good advise. I've been ice fishing for 46 years I haven't fallen through yet and I don't plan on starting this year. Be safe always check multiple spots early in the season.

[thortum]

Good advise. I've been ice fishing for 46 years I haven't fallen through yet and I don't plan on starting this year. Be safe always check multiple spots early in the season. Smile1

[thortum]

I just posted a long post but it disappeared into cyberspace. Smashhead

[Toad]

I think it has do do with a setting by Jay in the forum. When the forum 1st started off if you were typing for awhile you got signed off the forum and everything you though you posted disappeared into the netherlands!

It was extremely frustrating! Jay change this setting!

[thortum]

Thanks toad. Your right about the frustrating, especially when your typing with one finger.

[JayW]

Fixed guys. Sorry about this.

[thortum]

Thanks JayW.

[thortum]

Good advise. I've been ice fishing for 46 years I haven't fallen through yet and I don't plan on starting this year. Be safe always check multiple spots early in the season.

Glad to hear that you've stayed dry for 46yrs. We're probably about the same age, and like you I managed to stay "ON" the ice until 3yrs. ago. You've probably heard the saying "familiarity breeds contempt. Well I got careless. Safety has to be practiced every second of every minute. I tried to save time by taking a short cut across some recently frozen ice. MISTAKE. I had the old fashion military crampons on my boots, and the sharp points caused me to break through the thin ice. Luckily I was wearing water proof clothing, instead of my usual wools. They trapped the air and kept me dry except for my feet. I bobbed up like a cork and was able to roll away from the hole fairly easily. It was 10 degrees, and my zippers and laces froze almost instantly. Didn't have any fear UNTIL I started to walk back to the car. I always carry a throw rope to help others. Never thought I'd be the one in the hole. THINK SAFETY - ALWAYS!!!! Hope this put a little fear [caution] into the young as well as the old. Smile1

[scooper47]

The Discovery Channel videos make an excellent point: alway crawl back out on the ice at the same point where you fell in. A few years ago, Dateline on NBC did a feature on this topic, but they showed the guy crossing over to the other side of the hole to climb out simply because that's where they set up the camera. I wrote them about it, but they didn't respond. You know the ice was safe just before your last step; you don't know anything about what is in front of you. Also, I find the ice safety chart worthless. It doesn't take into account the different types of ice (varying hardness) or that a given thickness may have thinner ice close by.

[DaveGH]

Guys- I've been thinking about giving ice fishing a try at a local pond. Is there some device that can tell me the thickness. Right now I probably wouldn't feel comfortable with ice under 10"!! No joke. I just went to this pond and saw 2 guys way on the other side and I didn't feel comfortable walking over. And what about wearing my Mustang pfd? I'd like to get a little jigging pole, a scooper, a couple lures and try it. If I can I'd use and old hole. Also, what do you use to chip open the old hole? Appreciate it. Dave H in Florence MA

[Uncle Rickers]

Dick's has what's called a Spud Bar. A heavy pipe like thing with a chisel end. Usually there is a strap on the handle end so you don't "lose" it. The vest is not a bad idea as are a set of ice picks. Those also can be store bought. With a group, a rope is also a great idea to have on hand. Hope this helps. Be safe.

[thortum]

DaveGH - What Uncle Rickers said, plus don't go alone while your learning. At the very least, go where there are other fishermen, and stay fairly close in case you get in trouble. Let them know that your new at it, and most people will be more then happy to help you. As far as the life jacket is concerned there are good and bad points to consider. It will keep you afloat but it "may" also make it harder to pull you out of the water. It will probably get stuck at the edge of the ice. Better to wear clothing that won't absorb water too quickly [including gloves]. Ice thickness can vary greatly within a very short distance [moving water; springs;wind; exposure to sun; snow covered shore or bare ground, etc]. Be safe and good luck. Fishing1