News channels scaring ice anglers...

[FirstIce]

After watching various news channels talk about the ice conditions the last couple weeks I was thinking how much it affects ice anglers and businesses. After continually hearing about negative ice reports throughout the state I am now finding myself to watch the news even less. Yes, I understand this years ice and snow conditions have not been the greatest, but come on! People can still get out and ice fish as long as they are careful and smart. No wonder no one is out ice fishing, the news people have everyone scared to death! Bottom line is new broadcasters don't know squat about ice conditions and sometimes nor do sheriffs or police. So stop trying to scare the pants off everyone.(Kinda reminds me of a previous post involving a father and son being yelled at and questioned by the cops and a yelling lady while they were ice fishing by Loring Park). That just goes to show the authorities and general public don't always have the best knowledge when it comes to ice

I get the reason it's broadcasted to inform us and keep the public safe but it doesn't need to be as negative to the point as I have seen it.

Remember, people who aren't on the ice don't know jack about ice or it's conditions. You don't know unless you're actually out there doing it and taking a look for yourself! It's people like you and I that have been continuously out there that know whats going on with ice and it's conditions.

Sure, Mille Lacs, Lake of the Woods, up north, down south, and the metro area have areas to watch out for but that doesn't mean a guy can't go out. Look at Mille Lacs, it's had open water for a while and a person can still go out there and catch fish even with the open water! Granted you have to be more careful but it is possible.

Some of the local lakes around me have 10 inches of ice yet there is hardly anyone out there. At times I do think it has something to do with the media trying to brain wash everyone about unsafe ice. Marinas, resorts, and local bait shops have been struggling because of this.

Same concept about everyone ranting and raving about how this beautiful weather is lately, news broadcasters included (with the exception it's pretty cold out today). Yeah it's nice and warm and some people say we don't need the snow, but sit down and really think about how it is hurting businesses. I'm sick of hearing I love this warm non snowy winter. I say bring on some snow and some cold with it. I will be out there wetting a line somewhere.

So get out there, have fun, and be safe!

[nofishfisherman]

I think there are 2 kinds of people watching these reports.

1. Ice fisherman like you and I who know better and realize with a little caution its still very easy and safe to go out on the ice.

2. All the other people who don't spend alot of time on the ice and who may not know how to go out safely. These people see the reports and are scared off. And its probably for the best, if you don't know what you're doing then you best just stay off the ice right now.

Personally I don't mind the news people talking about how bad the ice is. It keeps the uninformed away from the lakes and cuts down on the crowds. I'm still going out regardless of what the news channels say because I've been out there and looked at the ice and made my own determination. Really thats all you can ever do. Each lake is different and each spot on the lake is different is there is no blanket statement that can be made about the ice throughout Minnesota or the Metro Area.

Also what do you expect them to say about the weather. We hit 53 in St. Paul on Tuesday, thats incredibly rare and probably news worthy. I don't mind the warm temps, it makes ice fishing mighty comfortable. I do however realize that we are going to need snow sooner or later. Most people don't realize no snow = no water come spring. That water helps refill lakes, ponds, and rivers and also is a major chunk of our annual precipitation. In reality its called a drought and we'll pay for it down the line if it continues.

[dan z]

I like the "bad ice" reports keeps the on edge guys at home.

[FirstIce]

I like the "bad ice" reports keeps the on edge guys at home.

Absolutely! Don't get me wrong I love how quiet it is. I would just like to see the bait shop, marina, resort, and the guy who plows snow, etc. make a living with some snow and ice.

[opsirc]

I do not watch much news anymore, seems like all they want to report is the bad stuff and very little good. just my two cents. If I want info on ice or anything else I usally come to this site and get it from the fisherman who are out there fishing.

[dougger222]

Rule #1 the media is not always filled with facts.

My cousin doesn't watch the news I guess he's been driving his van out on North East Metro lakes for over 3 weeks now.

[noodlerod]

+1 on all posts

[John478]

I love how for weeks they have been telling us to stay off the ice it’s not safe. Then last night they where promoting the pond hockey tournaments.

[cavalierowner]

+2 on posts! The media thrives on "The sky is falling" type reports. It's what sells.

[Crappiechopper]

I agree, however I would ask that if you wish to drive your car on 7 inches of black ice that you not park it 15 feet away from the portable I just pulled out by hand!

[CAMAN]

My cousin doesn't watch the news I guess he's been driving his van out on North East Metro lakes for over 3 weeks now.

Your cousins van doesn't happen to have wood stove inside does it? There is a thread on another outdoors forum talking about a crazy guy in a minivan on Chisago in early December.

[Sonicrunch]

I haven't watched news on TV for 10 years. I get my news from the internet where I can pick and choose what I want to know about.

TV news is downright disgusting.

[Pooh]

I like the way this winter has started. We do have 2 more months to go before even looking for spring. That said, I've been watching houses disapear off the lake I've been fishing weekly. On tuesday I was out and only 2 fish houses left on a 1000 acre lake. I was in my portable. This particular lake is usually full of trucks and SUVs looking for fish this time of year. I guess the weekend warriors are staying home, fine with me, for fish for me to catch.

[tunrevir]

It is interesting to hear about the various news reports about unsafe ice. I am an avid ice angler and I pratrol the edges of the lake leading up to early ice and try to give honest, up to the date reports and what the ice thickness is and where there may be trouble spots. The news paints a broad brushstroke to "ice" being safe or not versus first hand knowledge and this is good for folks that are travelling here or there to take a bit more caution when venturing out. My wife asks me often, after the news, "Is the lake really safe to be out on ice fishing?" For the areas I fish, Yes! but I have also done the recon to know what was safe and what wasn't for the method of travel I chose to use. I scoped my home lake today and saw a fishhouse that was sunk from our little tropical warmspell but there are three shacks in the general area of that house that are just fine. I have been travelling by 4 wheeler since the day after x-mas to my fishing spots because I know the ice in the area is 7 inches or better but would I recommend that for the whole lake? Nope. Bottomline is, know the conditions for where your headed through the baitshop, friends or whatever you have available to you, if it is questionable in the least, walk or find a better route to access where you want to fish. I have the luxury of being able to watch the ice form on my local lake and tend to know where there is good or better ice versus newly formed ice. This is why following a forum or other credible source is so important. I don't want to see obituary's because someone was driving where they shouldn't be and I think I am onboard with everyone here at HSO. Know the conditions, know the lake, and if you don't have credible evidence for the type of travel you prefer(little nagging voice in your head)go with something your comfortable with, travel with a buddy and have the right safety equipment ready and available just in case! Worst case is that you walked 3/4 of a mile when folks are travelling by wheeler or car but it is better then being bait!

Tunrevir~

[Stick in Mud]

It's way too easy to slam the news....what do you honestly expect them to do, spend 10 minutes discussing the varying ice thicknesses across all parts of the state and in different bodies of water? Go out and drill a bunch of holes on a large sample of lakes? Or not cover any of the hundreds of incidents that have occurred this year?

I'm kind of amazed that no one has YET died on the ice...maybe that's because there's been less foolish traffic out there, caused in part because of the publicity of the hundred and one people floating away or falling through the ice? Who knows....I certainly don't, but this seems like a non-issue to me. Let's all pat ourselves on the back for how much better informed we are than the folks sitting at home trusting the news, and then go out and catch more fish because there are fewer people on the lake. If someone is simply going to trust a large generalization about "unsafe ice" and then NOT go fishing, all the better for those of us who are more informed.

[mtbucket]

If not for the news channels giving us two recent examples, how would we know that the ice is not yet thick enough to support a semi? Who would have thought that without the news channels reporting it? I am sure that all of the trucker/fishermen appreciate it.

[Rippinlip]

I agree, however I would ask that if you wish to drive your car on 7 inches of black ice that you not park it 15 feet away from the portable I just pulled out by hand!

+1,000,000

[griff321]

I honestly expect the news to not act like every ice related accident is Armageddon. They have a choice in if the story ever makes the program and how to present it. Local news is a joke of an entertainment source with programming ONLY intended to wrangle in rubes in order to make money. Local news usually cover the bare minimum on what actually transpired, while doing very little to accurately inform the public on recognizing dangerous situations or the way to emerge from that situation to live another day. Their only advise seems to be that all ice is unsafe accompanied by a frustrated sigh to emphatically indicate the tragic nature of the situation. This junk emotionally manipulates the fears of everyone's mothers, wives, and daughters that doesn't know as much about ice conditions your headed to and that [PoorWordUsage] me off. They are unjustly souring public sentiment on our sport. I'm also sick of them championing weather that's hurting folks' dinner table and a lot of folks that may not have enough moisture to get the food to the stores. It's a very serious situation that's bordering on scary. Much scarier than the gdang ice.

The other day I was taking about ice fishing and an older middle-aged cow decided to interject, "You're not one of those idiots that's out ice fishing are you!?"

I expect a higher standard in my news, and I guess that's why I can't stand to watch to masquerader or understand anyone that defends that stinking pile of offal.

[Stick in Mud]

They're "championing the weather"?!? What do you want them to do, express sympathy for everyone who's hurt by anything at all?

[griff321]

They're "championing the weather"?!? What do you want them to do, express sympathy for everyone who's hurt by anything at all?

I expect them to act like ignorant children who's only consideration is their own temporary comfort, otherwise I'd be worried that heck has frozen over.

They're happy to have a mysterious ice monster playing at the fears of everyone with a loved one out there. Now back to your regularly scheduled Hollywood wedding/divorce/arrest news that's so much more important that a drought.

[simple1]

All I can say is that it has been a really warm winter and I'm a little nervous every time i go out on the ice this year. The ice is dangerous so you need to take more precautions. I don't blame the news. This has been that kind of year.

Simple1

[Stick in Mud]

Yeah, I understand the frustration....news these days is entertainment, and that's it. But the folks running these stations aren't stupid, so it must be what draws in the most people. At the same time, I think the question about WHAT they should cover isn't necessarily an easy one. Regarding the drought, yeah, it's important, but I doubt it will substantially affect the vast majority of people in the state. And the things that I care about aren't necessarily what other people think are important. I just ignore most of it and find my news elsewhere....in fact, I just let my friends pay attention for me. If it's important, someone I know will mention it.

[Knoc]

The news is all about scaring people on every subject. If people lived their lives by what the news tells them, they would live in a closet and drink nothing but evian water and eat bread. Everything else is contaminated, will make you obese or give you cancer.

[Grum]

I like to watch the "bad" News while wearing my tinfoil hat and "Chicken Little was right!" T-shirt. (now where did I put my Prozac?)

[hookncook]

As a contributing member of a local news media outlet, I say that the DNR ice reports and media ice reports are about CYA.

If we broadcast ice is great and someone falls through, it leaves our reputation up to liability. "well so and so said it was good out". If we reveal an exact location that the ice is good, we get nasty Emails and phone calls from guys who cherish said spot and profess their dislike for the spot that's been "outed".

When I give an ice report, I try to leave myself in the area of vagality. I say things like "ice is unstable use your best judgement" or "what I would do... followed by ice safety tips.

Outdoor writers and broadcasters do not want to discourage people from leaving their homes and participating in any outdoor sport, but we have to look out for the weekend warrior, or the guy that only goes out a couple times a year and hopefully deter them from their own ignorance to nature's perils.