12/09/2019
Be Safe on Early Ice
The old adage, “Early ice is the best ice,” has been burned into all ice angler’s brains. Taken literally, this may be the dumbest sentence ever uttered. Not all ice is created equally and if you REALLY have the bug to fish, at least take precautions…and lots of them.
An early ice check list is mandatory:
Fish with a buddy. Two heads are better than one and can get you out of a jam.
Always tell multiple people where you are going. Yeah, you have to trust them with your secret spots, but there is a lot of water out there and at times, not many people.
Ice picks – Always keep these around your neck, easily accessible and attached to your jacket.
Flotation gear – There are several brands of coveralls, fishing bibs, and coats on the market that are getting affordable. These babies are as important as a good auger or flasher.
Rope – A 50-foot length of paracord rope is in two of my pockets. Yeah they might have some tungsten jig heads buried in it, but it will be a difference maker if things go south.
Cell phone – fully charged before you hit the ice, either in a waterproof case or in a zip lock bag. The phone needs to be in a pocket that is easily accessible and can be fastened shut.
Wait until first light to go out on your first journey to a body of water. Things look much different once the sun comes up.
This stuff all seems like common sense, but when a buddy calls and says “Let’s go.”, be sure your brain doesn't shut down before you throw gear in your truck and…well, go.
Graphic courtesy of the Minnesota DNR
It’s important to remember that not all ice is equal. This graphic is for hard, clear ice. Cloudy ice, which is created from temperatures hovering around 32 degrees, is much weaker and you need at least twice as much of that ice to venture out. This is the biggest error is when the internet is buzzing about ice conditions, and it’s where people get into big trouble.
Edges, boat ramps, ice near cattails and other weeds, ice near current areas, and natural springs, typically don’t freeze as fast. These are danger spots. Use caution, use your eyes, and use your brain when near these areas.
Check ice thickness and conditions regularly when venturing out. Use your chipper bar or auger every so often on your way out. No fish is worth falling through. Even if you see others out in an area, if you find sketchy ice, don’t be afraid to turn around.
FALLING THROUGH
If things turn south, first thing is don’t panic. Of course, this is easier said than done, but it's rule #1. There are a ton of good videos to demonstrate the technique to get yourself back on the ice.
When you fall through, throw your arms sideways to catch the edge of the ice if possible
Stay calm - you will have 10-15 minutes before hypothermia sets in and you need to save your energy
Hold on to the edge of the ice and identify where you think safe ice is. If you walked out, go towards where you were walking
Once you are calm, holding on to the edge of the ice, start flatting out your body by kicking your feet as if you are swimming
Once your body is flat, use your ice picks to start pulling yourself out, keep kicking your feet.
Once out, keep crawling away from the open water until you are back on stronger ice
You need to get into a warm shelter or start a fire if possible
Get out of those wet clothes as soon as possible.
Always keep an eye out for things on the ice that look different. Those are probably dangerous spots and should be avoided.
Have a great, and safe, ice fishing season!
