Ice Crack

[Lill13]

Question for any experienced ice fisher...Found out why there is slush in certain spots this weekend...Someone had been out with their plow and cleared the snow and ice - to reveal a good sized crack. I would say the crack was at least an inch or two wide and the water was flowing up it like crazy. I am 99% sure there isn't a spring there, and it was not a heave. Simply a crack. Is this usually safe still? Will it heal? How common is this?

[Northlander]

There are always cracks in the ice. Some are big enough and deep enough to allow water to come to the surface. Is it safe? No ice is ever safe!

[fishfearme]

Northlander is always right! Stay off the ice!

[herefish101]

Just stay away from that crack, on the big lakes certain resorts or guide services will erect mobile bridges over them before they cross. The perch patroll over on devils lake had a truck go through while crossing a relitivly small crack(4"). This time of year when the ice is thick, if you see a large wet crack or lots of slush stay away from that spot. Always play it safe, if you don't feel safe driving or walking in an area or any certain lake don't do it. Always trust your gut when out on the ice.

[McGurk]

A crack on it's own can be safe, but when you have a crack with water moving up/down in it then you may have a huge problem that you can't even see. I'd avoid it if I were you.

[Lill13]

I appreciate the feedback guys. It is a pretty long crack, and with all the snow, really hard to see where it ends, so it might be hard to find a way around it. Maybe this cold weather will seal it back up.

[gregg52]

good picture of slush and water on the ice in the winnie thread

personaly i'll wait til soft water....lol

but i'm old and chicken now...lol

[Finlander]

Don't worry, the crack will be gone by the 4th of July!

[BobT]

Quote:

How common is this?

I think it is more common than most realize.

Ice is less dense than liquid water and so it floats. Ice is also very hard and brittle, what I mean is that it won't bend but will break instead. As water freezes it also expands and this creates pressure. Eventually it breaks and because it is buoyant it will lift and this is how you can get a wide crack in the ice in the middle of January. I've heard of some of these opening many feet across.

One year about a week before we were scheduled for a Lake of the Woods fishing trip we heard about a resort transport vehicle that had gone through, killing two if I recall. Our trip was in late February. Supposedly the ice had cracked exposing open water over 6 feet wide. After it began to refreeze it snowed a little and this covered the thin ice so it was not noticeable the next morning in the dark. The vehicle drove right into it and sank.

Ice is never safe! We must always proceed with caution.

[robert aldrich]

remember the one on the news up here in duluth and the photo of the guy laying right by it. it was on abc news and northland newscenter. northland newscenter had the photo. i took that photo of my friend.

[IamZombie]

All this talk of pictures and no links?