Ice Success IS Ice Safety

[Scott M]

Ice Success IS Ice Safety

“Was your trip a success?” This question pops up each time an ice angler returns home from a fishing trip. Family and friends want to know how things went. You give them the full report - the hot bite, the big lunker you landed, or the new jig that was really producing. However you judge your success, ice anglers new and old should remember this – a successful ice fishing trip is one that sees you head out and back in one piece. Safely returning from each trip is your number one priority, to both you and to your family and friends.

First and last ice represent the most vulnerable periods for going through the ice. First ice is some of the strongest ice of the year, but inconsistent coverage has betrayed more than a few ice anglers. Late ice deterioration can be sporadic because of warming temperatures and sunlight exposure. Ice honeycombs late in the year, breaks into spindles, and this structural weakening means thick ice really can’t hold the same weight as the same thickness of ice from early or mid winter.

Spindles of ice deteriorate rapidly during the lengthening days of springtime.

Water has a high specific heat capacity because of the compound’s strong hydrogen bonding. This means it takes a great deal of energy to raise or lower the temperature of water. Larger and deeper lakes and ponds have more volume of water to cool, meaning smaller and shallower waterbodies will freeze first. Similarly, these small and shallow waterbodies will lose ice first – both by virtue of their water volume and susceptibility to sunlight penetration. Ice forms in shallow water first and forms last in the deepest sections. Ice goes out in the same format, starting in shallow water and then moving to deeper waters. Keep this fact in mind when venturing out this winter – just because one lake was safe does not mean all the others will have similar ice conditions.

Speaking of water's properties, density is a property of water we can all be thankful for. Water is most dense at 4 degrees Celsius, or about 39 Fahrenheit. Drop a thermal probe under the ice and you’ll see it firsthand. The water near the substrate is warmest, and water under the ice is coolest at right around the freezing point. While most solids are denser than liquids and sink, water is an exception and water in its solid state as ice floats. Ice is about 9% less dense than liquid water. Imagine if ice was more dense and sunk; Fish Traps would not exist if ice only formed on the bottom of lakes and ponds! Since underice temperatures fit within a narrow range and cold water holds oxygen far better than warm water, most fish can be found in nearly any depth during the winter.

Knowing intimately the waterbodies you fish is important for recognizing danger zones. Riverine systems with moving water are inherently dangerous as ice formation is uneven. You should also pay attention to neckdowns, springs, gas pocket releases, reefs, ice heaves, and islands. When venturing onto new water, read a bathymetric map, not just for fishing hot spots but for potential danger zones. Be sure to ask about places to avoid; local bait shops and resorts are great resources for this information.

Beware of traveling in areas you have never traversed before. This gas pocket has formed a large area of thin ice near a popular fishing spot.

Each fishing trip you take should have a plan. Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you expect to be back. Never travel alone at first or last ice. Bring a cell phone. Check ice conditions during early and late ice with a spud bar or ice chisel.

Leave your vehicle and trailer on shore unless there is enough ice to safely drive. Parking on the ice near shore just encourages others to do the same and every year you can count on a few vehicles breaking through when everyone parks side by side near an access like it’s a parking lot. That much weight spread over a small area is a recipe for dropping through.

Remember that no ice is safe ice. State and provincial authorities in the Ice Belt provide ice thickness guidelines but will never proclaim any waterbody safe for travel because of the liability risks. Follow their ice safety thickness guidelines as good rules of thumb. 2” of ice or less, stay off. 4” for walking, 5” for snowmobiles or ATVs, 8-12” for a car or small pickup, and 12-15” for a medium truck.

Don’t forget about the silent killer. Carbon monoxide can build up in fish houses including portable houses. Keep your fish house vented. Warning signs include an oxygen-starved blue flame in your heater, shortness of breath, dizziness, and rapid breathing. Do not use unvented heaters.

Be prepared for the worst. Clam Outdoors is the first in the industry to offer a complete lineup of safety equipment for the ice angler. Every trip you take onto the ice, you should carry a set of ice picks in a familiar pocket. Should you fall in, these are likely your only way to get back on the topside of the ice. Thrashing around in cold water will make you weak in mere seconds as your body is sapped of heat and your wet and slippery hands will have nothing to grab onto. Ice picks grab and hold and float in case you drop them. Leave an emergency throw rope in the tub of your Fish Trap or in a gear bag. Should you or someone fall in, this throwable rope will be your only chance to get them to safety without compromising yourself. Wear an emergency life vest during those first and last ice trips you are planning to take. Clam’s life vest includes pockets for ice picks and a whistle. Remember – the life you save may just be your own.

Ice Team Pro Scott Seibert took no chances on first ice. Here he is with a dandy bluegill and most importantly a set of ice picks and a life vest.

Finally, give yourself some peace of mind. If the worst happens, you’ll have a fighting chance. Clam has introduced the Ice Armor Lift Suit this year, a product designed to provide extra buoyancy if you were to fall in. While the design is not U.S. Coast Guard approved, it does provide some all-important additional floatation...Similarly, snowmobile and ATV users should utilize a Nebulus Floatation Deployment system for their vehicles. Giving yourself extra valuable seconds in the fight against drowning or hypothermia can make all the difference in the world.

The Ice Armor Lift Suit gives you peace of mind that if you do fall in, you'll have at least a chance of rescue with the aid of additional floatation.

I wish you the best of luck ice fishing this winter. You’re certain to have some great days and maybe even a few that were minimally productive. Just remember that each time you go onto the ice and safely return home, you’ve had a successful day.

Good fishing,

Scott Mackenthun

[Corey Bechtold]

Excellent read! I love ice fishing but risking my life for some fish isn't worth it.

Thanks for the in depth information!!!

Good fishing,

Corey Bechtold

[Rick G]

A must read for the ice angler. First class write up, Scott!