The Ice - Let's Talk About It

[Zoobert]

I'm seeing lots of conversations talking about the ice. From the media overhyping it, to people being cautious, to some being callous. Through the whole conversations, there's a running theme put forth, "just be smart about it."

Let's talk about what "being smart about it" means.

Can you share your tips, your knowledge - on what is safe, what isn't? What you look for, what you avoid? Even if it's the most simple thing.

For example, I read the other day about someone avoiding black ice, and how they avoided it - like it was bad. Now, my whole lake ice "black ice" - because the ice that initially formed was nice, solid ice - so you can see right through. If you were to punch a hole, it was 8-9 inches thick - but still "creepy" looking black ice - and spooky to walk on (just the psychology of it) - but still, thick and solid.

I put up my shack (portable) on a spot that had 9-10 inches on it, nice and clear and solid ice. After our super warm weekend, I went back out there (yesterday) and the ice was a good 1 to 1.5 thinner (read in at 8 inches) - and didn't look as clear cut (the bottom of it seemed more unevenly shaped). It was still thick enough for me -- and it was cool again (but windy) - and there were cars all over the lake this time. Nobody went in, but I could tell the water was higher in my hole than it normally is (not flowing over though). It was an uncomfortable day for one 19" northern.

I've also read recently about how the wind can shear the ice, thin it out, because it's exposed - this is news to me.

Also, when I was putting in an ice screw, as I got deeper, the first inch or so started cracking away. I just kept slogging along, figuring that it was crappy snow ice on the surface - but it did give me pause to think, "ok, I lost another inch on my estimates."

So - can we talk about "being smart" is? Can you give your tips and pointers? Signs to watch for when on the ice? Helpful tips if you do go through? Is there "reading the cracks?" Do you avoid certain parts of the ice if you see cracks coming together in a particular pattern? Do cracks in the ice matter at all (thinking here, that the ice that glued them back togethre isn't as strong as a solid freeze - who knows).

I know:

• Snow ice, crusty ice - is bad. Generally double the estimates if you're on crunchy ice.
• If you go through, try to hold your breath. The cold shock of hitting the ice will make you want to involuntarily gasp, and that's bad news.
• If water is starting to come up and out of your ice hole, you are sinking. Get your spidey sense tingling and get to a safer spot.
• If you must drive your vehicle on the ice, once you're parked - drill a hole near the vehicle. Keep an eye on it to see if (as above) water comes up and out of the hole. If so, it's sinking. Might wanna move the vehicle.

  Go slow on the ice. Nothing cheeses off people more than someone going fast on the ice, especially in a year like this year. Ice is hard, sure - but it *still* causes waves and heaves when you drive on it, and it's magnified if you go faster. People 100 yards away feel the effect of that.

• The sounds of the ice cracking and singing aren't always bad. It's creepy and may make you [PoorWordUsage] your pants a few times until you get used to it - but it's (generally) a sign that the ice is growing. I had a crack grow right through one my ice holes once. I took a dive out of my ice shelter, and I think I had to change my shorts - it's an unnatural feeling - but it was a simple crack. Still - scared me. :-)
• I'm a paranoid old fool when it comes to ice, I won't *walk* on it unless it's 8 inches or more, and won't bring my kids out on it unless its 10" or more. This comes from when I was about 12, I took a fall through Mississippi River ice (stupid kid) and it's stayed with me. My or their lives are worth more to me than catching a few fish.

But I am more interested in things like - are there sounds to listen for? Are there patterns on the surface to watch out for? I've walked across parts of the lake where it seems like eight different large cracks came together at some point - and I just do a big circle around it. I have this weird feeling to walk where I see snow, and avoid the dark ice (even though I *know* it's thick enough). I have a habit of test drilling holes as I hike to my portable, to make sure I'm still on sound ice.

You can call me sissy - but I've even thought I should be wearing a life-perserver under my warmies, at some point - just in case. I live alone on a lake, I fish the early and late hours - and the last thing I want is to go through - and nobody realize it for a week. :-)

So - tips! What's your good ice tips and tricks and helpful ideas? Help educate us that aren't as ice-savvy.

[reinhard1]

First of all Welcome to HSO!!!!! i think you said a lot already and cant argue with it at all. very good advice. if i had anything to add to what you have said would be "get to know the body of water you are on". over time i have learned what areas of the lake's i'm familiar with to avoid. currents or springs are at the top of my list. i think it's good to set an example to your kids about safety so they can carry that with them in later years. very good advice on holding your breath if you fall through the ice. that first gulp of water often chokes and further panicks an individual, leading to drowning. also if at all possible go fishing with a friend on hard water. good luck.

[fishersofmen]

I think the biggest think for me is not taking risks onto territory I am unfamilier with. When you hear about tragic stories like what happend the other day often times it seems people have gone where they shouldn't have been and didn't know the area well. Knowledge may not prevent every accident from happening but I think should be priority number 1.

[leech~~]

Let's talk about what "being smart about it" means.

Zoobert, welcome.

You may get a different response to this statement then you wanted on this site! Take it with a gain of salt!

Thanks for your post!

[AndRo]

Use your spud bar to test ice conditions even before you take your equipment out.

Keep your ice picks handy.

Look into a floating ice suit.

Check with local bait shops for up to date ice info.

[TruthWalleyes]

I watched 4 guys in a z71 on mille lacs whip figure 8's on the ice, nearly hit other shacks, looked totally lost...I turned on my headlight to flasher and got them to come over to my shack... They didn't know where their house was, except by shaws somewhere. They weren't with a resort. Obviously plowed, i gave them my map and clear directions..This was 3am sunday morn btw. After giving them directions, they figure 8 around our house again, and continued in the opposite direction of where i told them to go. Then they wandered closed to where the open water on mille lacs starts (North of Big Point). I thought for sure these guys were going in the drink...but at somepoint you have to let retards be retards and let the darwin theory finish the rest...

Moral of the story, most of the people that go through the ice each year are pushing it, have no idea about ice, or the conditions, and then go through pretending to be innocent victims. when in reality they did it to themselves by not taking responsivibility of their own lives.

No idea if they made it or not. I tried to flash them back again because i was going to put the most knowledgable guy in my truck and drive them to their house.

There's been reports of people driving trucks on 8" of ice. As the origional poster said, "just be safe about it", The ones that go through each year obviously aren't worried about their own safety, and don't take any precautions like reading about ice conditions on here, or general ice thickness guidelines, or traveling on roads put up by resorts, etc...

[cavalierowner]

I'm a bit conservative about "safe" ice; my wife would be really p*#sed if I went through and died. I have about 3 major "stay away from" areas unless I am very, very sure the ice is safe:

1. Channels and bridges. I never consider these areas safe.

2. Points of land. If there is a bar coming out from the point, it isn't uncommon to have water currents flowing over the bar.

3. Sunken islands where the water is real shallow. Same reason as bars.

As others have said, you need to know the lake. If I don't know the lake, I watch where others are going and take it really slow. And before I ever drive onto a lake, I have to see others driving for at least a week.

[mark n]

I drove my truck out for the first time this year yesterday. I drive with window down, and hand on the door handle.

The ice did not crack, that I could hear, on the way out or back.

That was concerning.

Nice post OP

[Eric_Kruger]

I personally avoid "white ice"....im not a fan of airbubbles and cracks in my holes.

Clear ice to me is the safest, its solid. but to repeat whats already said....Spud, picks, testholes if needed. and I wont drive out till there is at least 14-15" but thats just my comfort zone.

[Zoobert]

I'm not sure if it's *right* or not, but I also avoid icy domes. Whether they're made by the wind and snow melt/freezing, or where the lake opened up a bit and water came out and froze -- that thin dome of crusty ice that is in parts of the lake - I just avoid those - since I imagine they're from water coming up and refreezing.

I really don't know how they're made - but my (un)healthy fear of the ice keeps me away from those.

I try and read up as much as I can on ice-safety and guidelines, but the more I read - the more I question. Blue ice (good), black ice (bad) - it all looks black when you're looking down a dark lake. :-)

[Zoobert]

...and what about freeze, warm, refreeze - like we have this week? Is the ice more junk because of the refreeze? Our lake went from ~10 to 8 inches over the last stretch of warmth - is that 8" still strong, or did it get weak? Does the refreeze help it?

So many questions. :-)

[AndRo]

My first time out this season there was around 6", the second time out there was around 5" and the last few times I have gone out there seems to be 1/2" or more added every time. We are up to about 8" now. Seems to be pretty good strong ice too, pretty noisy out there now

[tunrevir]

Zoobert, welcome and what a great first(couple) posts. First and foremost, there isn't any ice that is totally safe. We have conditions this year where there is alot of variability as far as ice is concerned. So as a guy that has swum a few times over the years heres my take.

1. Know the ice conditions for the area you are planning on fishing and get the info from the bait shops or from a site like this or a local resort.

2. Never drive out assuming the ice is safe, either with a wheeler or a car or truck untill you have personally checked conditions for yourself.

3. Always travel with a buddy or at the very least, wear a pfd(can be a great layer of extra insulation) when traversing early or late ice.

4. Never drive at a high rate of speed on the ice(especially new ice) as this can cause a pressure wave to form ahead of you and cause the ice to weaken and ultimately drop you in. Resorts on Mille Lacs will state speed limits as a reason, adhere to this!

5. When driving on ice at night, always drive slowly so you don't overdrive your headlights(wheelers and snomobiles mostly) but pertains to vehichles as well.

6. Carry safety equipment on you that is readily accessable for yourself or others in the case of an emergency. This can be a length of rope and or a throwable pfd.

7. Beware of channel areas, neckdown spots between islands and around bridges, inlets and outlets as there is often current in these areas that can make thinner ice.

8. When driving out in a vehichle, always have the windows down, doors unlocked and kids unbuckled just in case.

9. Do your homework, is there an areator or springs on the lake?

10. If in doubt, walk using a spud to check ice as you go.

11. Don't drive across pressure ridges! People go through every year driving across pressure ridges. This is weakened ice with open water just beneath the surface, if a resort doesn't have a bridge across it just stay away from it. On larger lakes these can and will appear in the course of a TRIP OUT AND BACK! If it does, notify the resort you drove out from and/or wait for them to place an ice bridge. People gripe alot about resorts charging access but this is part of the safety of using a resort road and probably the best example as to why you pay to use accesses when on a larger lake.

12. Know your route out and back especially when travelling at night. A GPS can save you from getting lost, stuck or worse falling through the ice.

Bottomline, no fish is worth your life or others and if the little voice in your head says it isn'tsafe to travel the way you want, listen to it, it may save your life!

I survey my home lakes regularly and get reports from friends about the ice thickness and try torelay them to others on this site as honestly as I can to prevent tragedies, so please stay informed about the ice you plan to fish and have a safe and happy outing

Tunrevir~

[tunrevir]

Thought this might be relevent since folks are talking about driving out. At this point if you drive with your windows shut an ice hammer or similar object should be within reach to bust out a window if need be.

Tunrevir~