Early Ice 101

[Jim Uran]

The early ice season is here! This is what we have been waiting for since we have put out boats and long rods away for the year, heck for some of us we have been waiting even longer. The excitement and anticipation of getting a line wet can make us go bonkers, but we need to use our heads when it comes to early ice and safety.

Proper precautions need to be taken, specialized tools for early ice treks are a must. Things like ice picks (many companies make them, they can even be homemade), spud bars, ice cleats, rope, and a buddy to come along with you. These things aren't an option, they are a must this time of year. Don't be too cool, or too manly to wear a lifejacket! I've got a Striker Ice Suit which will keep me floating if I were to take the plunge. Aside from the fact that these suits will keep me floating, they are a specialized suit built for ice fishing. This suit will keep you as warm, dry, and comfortable as any other suit on the market, but it also adds the benefit of being a floating suit, a life saving piece of equipment.

As you are walking out, use the spud bar to pound the ice in front of you, I always like to start by shore, seeing how many whacks it takes to bust through the ice and then I'll check the thickness and consistency of the ice (seeing if it's solid all the way through, or milky, and questionable). That way you have an idea of the safety of the ice as you scoot out further. Have the person that is with you carry the rope, as they walk behind you they can follow your trail and if you happen to fall through, they can be ready to toss the rope to you and pull you out. We all hope this part is never necessary, but it's good to be ready for everything.

Read the surface of the ice, don't just blindly walk along pounding away with your spud. Look for cracks, dark spots (if snow covered), uneven coloring (if no snow cover is present), and obviously open water.

When you are out to where you think you need to be drill a hole or two to see how well the ice holds up to being drilled through. Now comes one of the benefits of owning a flasher, you can go around checking for depth, structure, weeds, by pouring a little water on the ice before placing your transducer down on the surface. Once you think you are where you need to be, drill and start fishing!

To take being ready for early ice a step farther, I scout out locations in the fall. These fish will still be there at early ice. The later you can stay out in the boat, the more success you will have during this early ice season. Along with the typical early ice spots that you have found in the past, look for other spots while you are able to move around a bit easier in the boat. Check for spots closer to shore, shoreline drops, outside weed edges that are close to shore, even stands of green weeds (which are a fish magnet this time of year), check these areas over good in late fall, and it will keep the walk across early ice as short as possible.

As excited as we are to get out there and fish, we need to think of safety first during this early ice time. No fish is worth the pain of falling through the ice! So stay safe, have fun, and bring a buddy with to share the fun with, and to possibly save your life!

[Hardyboy]

Well Said.....Solid advice! As excited as we all are myself included lets all be safe and come home to our families!

[Jim Uran]

Thanks, I really hate to see stories every year of folks that are careless and fall through the ice.... yikes