Babies/Children on ice?

[silverbulletguy]

I will be taking my 2 1/2 year old when there is good ice. Priority # 1 is safety followed by him enjoying his time on the ice. Hopefully there will be fish caught somewhere in the area of him enjoying ice fishing. I will most likely be fishing exclusively with his "Cars" fishing pole WITH him when he does come along.

[Juan Grande]

She never said it had to be soft water. There were no forceps around so we used an ice scoop. Cut the cord with a filet knife and tied it with some Fireline micro ice. Baby wasn't crying at first so I tethered her to my Marcum ducer and dropped her down the fish hole. Cleaned her off and woke her up in one dunk!

[McGurk]

I brought my 3 year old girl out on the ice this warm spring (I don't have a permy to fish out of) and I had no intent of fishing myself, but rather to get her to do it. It was more of a challenge than I thought, but a Dad must have loads of patience with a kid. She caught some, but it was more fun playing with the ice scoop, the slush, the minnows, and the puddles than the fishing. Still, she had a blast and was soaked to the skin but still smiling. Silverbulletguy has it right, if you take your little one out to fish, then they are the one that should fish, not you.

I agree with the above sentiment: taking a kid out before they have the ability to form their own memories (18 mos?) seems a bit selfish to me. If you want to go fishing, then go fishing, and don't drag your infant along and call it teaching. I have an 8 month old and I never once thought to take him out on a boat this summer when we were at the lake. It probably would have been fine, but why risk it when they have no idea what is happening? Next summer will be different as he can actually do stuff instead of just being there. And next winter he may even go on the ice, but I doubt it. You can do as you like, though. No where was it said that no kid should ever be on the ice unless they are 18, so don't throw extremes out there.

[pushbutton]

[quote name='McGurk

I agree with the above sentiment: taking a kid out before they have the ability to form their own memories (18 mos?) seems a bit selfish to me. If you want to go fishing' date=' then go fishing, and don't drag your infant along and call it teaching. [/quote']

Don't think any of us, possibly stupid, and now selfish for pre 18 month olds, people, have ever mentioned teaching as justification. Think most of it was simply about spending time together...admitting that it might offer risks, but also offering that realistically outside of living in the Jon Travolta bubble....there are risks everywhere in life. The original post was simply asking about a 6 month old in probably a rental house out on resort roads that have have been well traveled and maintained. Can't see this being anymore selfish or much more dangerous than a person who has chosen to bring their child to see grandma for x-mas who lives 30 miles from the nearest town on a minimum maintenance road without city services extended to the property.

[Fish_Stalker]

whoa,whoa,whoa. Should have known there would be some sensitive guys viewing this thread. I am not trying to get daddys mad here. The original post( if you even read it ) was a guy asking about bringing out a six month old baby. SIX MONTHS. The baby has no cognitive ability to form lasting memories. Has no ability to recognize danger or how to react to it. With all the dangers that come with walking/driving on ice that is never congruently the same thickness across the whole lake let alone the dangers other fishermen put on each other ( burning fires on the ice, driving a massive pickup on ten inches of ice,partying and general redneckness ), it would be of my opinion and many others that an infant has no part in that equation. No need to take thing to the extreme or absurd, so I would say four of five is a good time to introduce your child to the wonders of ice fishing. Any earlier, bring them out on a boat. Much safer!

Oh and hotime, I am always one of the first out on the ice every year because I am an adult and know how to assess risk and make responsible decisions. Can your six month old say the same?

Fishing since I was two, ice fishing since I was six.

[McGurk]

Pushbutton, If that is how you'd like to spend time with your kidat that age, go right ahead. It is my OPINION that there are safer and easier ways to spend time with a child that wouldn't require driving anywhere. And beleive me, I don't want my kids to be sheltered, grocery-store-grazers either. I have taken my daughter fishing, shown her how fish are cleaned, shown her what hunting is about including showing her a dressed and hanging deer, taken her to the farm and told her that our meat on the plate comes from living, breathing animals that she can see right in front of us, and told her that guns aren't bad, but are tools that need to be respected instead of shunned.

I also get to choose to not take my infant out of the house to do my things when he gets zero out of it relative to sitting at home with me playing in a warm safe house. I have simply not done "my things" until he or they are able to do so and enjoy the experience themselves. I completely understand your point about needless driving in cars, and habitually tell my wife that kids do not need to be carted everywhere we might want to go on a whim. For example; the trip to Target is probably more dangerous than staying on the lake, but you don't need to go to the lake whereas you might need diapers.

[MNCPRGUY]

Wow!

To each his own.

[aanderud]

I would say four of five is a good time to introduce your child to the wonders of ice fishing. Any earlier, bring them out on a boat. Much safer!

You said you were fishing since age 2 but only ice fishing since 6.

A two year old in an open-water fishing situation (shore, boat, or dock) is MUCH more likely to drown than any kid of any age in a sleeper house on a well-travelled, plowed, 18+ inch thick resort ice road.

If you don't believe me, then look up any statistics on open-water lake drownings and boating accidents versus winter accidents on resort-plowed roads.

[Fish_Stalker]

Tru that aanderud. Funny how kids in boats is so acceptable. But when I was a kid, in the seventies, we did not have a boat. My dad would take us shore fishing. No boat till I was thirteen. I get what you are saying though.

[aanderud]

Tru that aanderud. Funny how kids in boats is so acceptable. But when I was a kid, in the seventies, we did not have a boat. My dad would take us shore fishing. No boat till I was thirteen. I get what you are saying though.

[pushbutton]

Pushbutton, If that is how you'd like to spend time with your kidat that age, go right ahead. It is my OPINION that there are safer and easier ways to spend time with a child that wouldn't require driving anywhere.

Yep, I did, and there sure are, but what fun would that be......now what would you say about kids driving on a lake

[dougger222]

Got a 9 1/2 month and figuring he'll have to wait until next Winter.

Friend of mine took his kid out right away. Before he could crawl in a car seat, when he could move around in a bouncy. He's 6 now and seems normal...

[amateurfishing]

sadly i find this post quite humerous

first to the original posters question, you just have to consider what you are personally capable of and comfortable with. If you think it is safe for them to be in an ice house, start learning the scents and smells of fishing, hearing the outside winds, in a possibly semi dangerous environment that you think you can control and be as safe as reasonably possible, go for it. i think u just have to be quite cognisant of your party and hopefully will alert about security, comfy, & safety above all personal fishing interests. Obviously to each their own and what one person is comfortable with & multi tasking another may not be. Also all should remember everyone is not out there ice fishing for the same reasons, one may be a weekend with the guys, one may be alone time away from the ruckus, yet another may be quality family winter outdoor time teaching the kids,etc. so if a person is out their for alone quiet time more than likely they would never recommend bringing an infant. It all depends on your perspective of what you want or desire to get out of the time on the ice. Its amazing the different perspective the little ones can have. i took my 3 yr old daughter out open water fishing at a local fishing pier cause i dont think she is boat ready yet with just her & i. anyway she caught one fish but screemed in glee so much you would have thought bomber planes were coming. after she caught her fish she spent the next hour playing with the crawlers and watching birds. when they r done, they r done and no longer interested

on a side note i do find it humerous how some of you claim the whole situation or idea is "dangerous" even when you do it.....well uhhhm then you really are not any better, are you? if you are putting yourself in dangerous situations as well, right?

[LightningBG]

To me, a 6 month old is a perfect time. 1-2 yo is a little more dangerous (once they are walking). Just take the steps necessary to make it as safe as possible. If I were undertaking this adventure, here are some of the things I'd be planning.

- Wait until ice is plenty thick.

- Keep an eye on the weather, if it's looking bad, cancel the trip or send child to backup plans (grandma's house)

- Plan trip to populated areas (Mille Lacs) & know where the local hospitals are.

- Bring two 4wd vehicles if possible, chain one up if you have tire chains.

- Have at least 2 adults there with baby handling abilities (can hand off child if you have a fish coming in.

- Expect to lose fish if one bites while you're holding child (do not throw child ).

- Keep track of all hooks (especially important if they are mobile (crawling/walking)

- Cover all holes if they are mobile.

- Bring a pack'n'play and a bumbo seat for temporary containment and sleeping (keep off the ground for warmth)

- Bring back up source of heat with extra fuel.

That's all I can think of for now. Have a good time.

Imagine this...

If someone had a fancy pants wheelhouse or perm, sitting there in your recliner, child sleeping on your chest, one arm around the baby, the other jigging the hole right next to your chair. One eye on the football game, one on the underwater camera/sonar. Batch of venison chili simmering on the stove or crockpot... Could it get much better? Maybe even catch a fish or 10?

[JJ Jensen]

Good topic...sorry I saw it so far after it started.

To each their own, and people will do what they want. But to the ones that replied that it is ok/safe/normal to have a six month old child on the ice-

Do you/ did you bring your six month old child out for deer or grouse or pheasant opener?

Why or why not?

Just trying to gain some perspective as I am not a father, but I see valid points in several of the responses.

[fisherman-andy]

Good topic...sorry I saw it so far after it started.

To each their own, and people will do what they want. But to the ones that replied that it is ok/safe/normal to have a six month old child on the ice-

Do you/ did you bring your six month old child out for deer or grouse or pheasant opener?

Why or why not?

Just trying to gain some perspective as I am not a father, but I see valid points in several of the responses.

LOL.. well said. With this I think im taking my 2yr old on her first deer hunt next week. Even held her first rifle the other day and pretended to shoot at the stuffed deer mount on the wall. Ha ha.. j/k

As I said before I dont think its ever safe. Why? Because no matter how safe we think it is and how ok it is we cannot control 100% the outcome. Sure there always risk in everything, but some things are of higher risk. If you feel safe putting yourself and your child at higher risk then that is your call. Going to Grandma's house is not the same as going fishing or hunting no matter how much risk you think is involved or how safe you think you can be. In part if something bad happens there is gonna be regret and question of responsibility.