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Fishing
I love to icefish and yet it scares the hell out of me. I remember fishing a couple years ago with a good buddy who fell through even though the temperatures were below zero for three days and the ice thickness was more than a foot. And this was on a lake. Saw the story on the Lake Erie thing and that REALLY scares me to death. Soooooooo.....how do you guys read the ice?
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Good Question!
It's a good question, and there is always going to be some risk with ice fishing (or being on ice at all). If it scares you to death, it's probably not worth the risk, honestly. It should be a relaxing time, and if you're anxious or stressed the whole time, you'll be miserable. But...keep in mind that lots of people go ice fishing, and if you're smart about it, there is no need to worry.
Appearance, how old the ice is, the temperature of the air, the thickness of the ice, if there are any other people on the ice, as well as the current and depth of the water beneath the ice--are ALL important factors to consider. But the thickness of the ice is the easiest to test.
If the ice is less than 2 inches thick, you should never attempt to stand on it. It likely won't support your weight. Even four inches can be questionable. Like I said before, the thickness of the ice is only a single factor of many--all of equal importance. The fact that your friend fell through with more than a foot is proof of this.
In general, you need tools like an ice chisel and auger to test the thickness. You should drill some holes in the ice and then measure the thickness. You should check the ice thickness in various spots of the lake, as it might be more (or less) frozen in some parts due to factors like sunlight distribution.
Also, know what to do if you DO fall through the ice. Preparation is key.
If you're still concerned about it, you should contact your state's DNR. Most of them (at least in the states where ice fishing is popular) have information and pamphlets on ice fishing safety and tips.
Paul Bunyan...GREAT POST....YOU SAID IT ALL.... I was a member of a underwater search and recovery team and taught ice diving for many years. Too many times we pulled people out from under the ice because they thought it was safe. If you don't know the facts stay off the ice!
basiccaly stay off of moving waters. they are very unpredictable. Lakes are the safest bet but even then the ice should be checked if your not sure. Where i live in Northern ontario basically once its frozen over for a couple of weeks its usually safe till mid april. After that you have to check the ice more often.
Paul Bunyan said it all, for sure. I live in western Pennsylvania
and the temp is up and down the freezing mark all winter. Much as I love ice fishing, its been too iffy for several years. Usually I send a really big guy out first to drill holes and if he comes back then I'll take a chance. Wish there was a better way.
Paul Bunyan has pretty well wrapped it up. I love ice fishing too
but all too often people will drill their holes, fish, and leave without marking the hole. When I was in Ontario I saw some people actually using a chainsaw to cut a large hole so they could all fish out of one. They then left without marking it. With a bit of snow and time it would look like the rest of the ice however it would only be an inch or so thick. Is it possible this may be the case with your friend?
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It's a good question, and there is always going to be some risk with ice fishing (or being on ice at all). If it scares you to death, it's probably not worth the risk, honestly. It should be a relaxing time, and if you're anxious or stressed the whole time, you'll be miserable. But...keep in mind that lots of people go ice fishing, and if you're smart about it, there is no need to worry.
Appearance, how old the ice is, the temperature of the air, the thickness of the ice, if there are any other people on the ice, as well as the current and depth of the water beneath the ice--are ALL important factors to consider. But the thickness of the ice is the easiest to test.
If the ice is less than 2 inches thick, you should never attempt to stand on it. It likely won't support your weight. Even four inches can be questionable. Like I said before, the thickness of the ice is only a single factor of many--all of equal importance. The fact that your friend fell through with more than a foot is proof of this.
In general, you need tools like an ice chisel and auger to test the thickness. You should drill some holes in the ice and then measure the thickness. You should check the ice thickness in various spots of the lake, as it might be more (or less) frozen in some parts due to factors like sunlight distribution.
Also, know what to do if you DO fall through the ice. Preparation is key.
If you're still concerned about it, you should contact your state's DNR. Most of them (at least in the states where ice fishing is popular) have information and pamphlets on ice fishing safety and tips.
Paul Bunyan...GREAT POST....YOU SAID IT ALL.... I was a member of a underwater search and recovery team and taught ice diving for many years. Too many times we pulled people out from under the ice because they thought it was safe. If you don't know the facts stay off the ice!
basiccaly stay off of moving waters. they are very unpredictable. Lakes are the safest bet but even then the ice should be checked if your not sure. Where i live in Northern ontario basically once its frozen over for a couple of weeks its usually safe till mid april. After that you have to check the ice more often.
Paul Bunyan said it all, for sure. I live in western Pennsylvania
and the temp is up and down the freezing mark all winter. Much as I love ice fishing, its been too iffy for several years. Usually I send a really big guy out first to drill holes and if he comes back then I'll take a chance. Wish there was a better way.
Paul Bunyan has pretty well wrapped it up. I love ice fishing too
but all too often people will drill their holes, fish, and leave without marking the hole. When I was in Ontario I saw some people actually using a chainsaw to cut a large hole so they could all fish out of one. They then left without marking it. With a bit of snow and time it would look like the rest of the ice however it would only be an inch or so thick. Is it possible this may be the case with your friend?
Good Question!
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