Avoid risks, reap rewards
Ice fishermen should never take conditions for granted
The big freeze is a curse to many, but a blessing to anglers who fish through the ice.
As hooked as some people are on ice fishing, anglers always should use caution when approaching ice on lakes and reservoirs.
Here’s some ice-fishing savvy from the Department of Natural Resources in Minnesota, an ice-fishing-crazy state where wintertime can create entire towns out on its many lakes.
Gauging ice thickness, for new, clear ice:
• 2 inches or less of ice — STAY OFF!
• 4 inches — ice fishing on foot
• 5 inches — snowmobile or ATV.
• 8-12 inches — car or small pickup.
• 12-15 inches — medium truck.
Note: No ice thickness is totally safe. Look at all ice sheets as potentially having weak spots from wind, underwater currents or springs.
Check ice thickness in various spots with an ice chisel, augering a hole or using a cordless drill with a long, auger-style bit.
Be prepared for an unexpected dunking. Have a pair of ice picks handy to help pull yourself back onto the ice. New flotation snowmobile suits are great insurance. Keep a change of clothes in your vehicle.
If someone falls through the ice:
• Keep calm and think out a solution.
• Don’t run up to the hole. You’ll probably break through and then there will be two victims.
• Use some item on shore to throw or extend to the victim to pull out of the water such as jumper cables or skis, or push a boat ahead of you.
• If you can’t rescue the victim immediately, use a cell phone to call 911 and get medical assistance.
• Handle victims gently. They may seem fine but could suffer a potentially fatal condition called “after drop,” occurring when cold blood pooled in the extremities starts to recirculate in the body.
If you fall in, place hands and arms on the unbroken ice surface. Use ice picks if you have them. Kick feet toward surface behind you then kick forward sliding your belly onto the ice.
If the ice breaks, repeat and slide forward again. Once you are lying on the ice, don’t stand. Roll away from the hole toward solid ice.
Best advice: Don’t put yourself into needless danger by venturing out too soon or too late in the season.