Alleged Drowning on the Lower Red!!!

[Catmendo]

Local news media announced earlier today of an alleged drowning near the City of Selkirk, Manitoba. The RCMP underwater recovery team is searching for a man who has been reported missing and is now presumed drowned in the Red River.

There's no doubt that this is disturbing and tragic news and my heart felt prayers go out to the man's suviving family members. At the same time let this alleged tragity be a stiff warning for those thinking of wondering out on the ice at this time!!!

The bottom line is the weather has been far to inconsistent to make the ice safe! In this region we get a couple of cold days followed by several days of thawing temps, this makes ice making conditons lousy!

In time, the ice conditons will improve and then we can all safely access our favorite fish'n holes. I strongly encourage everyone to stay off our lakes and rivers until the ice conditions are absolutely safe. When less experienced folks, (especially children) see more seasoned folks out on the ice, they assume that it is safe...we want to avoid sending this type of message!

[volksdriver]

...tragic news if in fact it is a drowning..... prayers to the family.... ice conditons are no where near safe enough yet,

[Northlander]

Very sad news no matter who it was but I really hope its nobody we know. Ryan you still out there man?

[Augusta]

This is terrible news and our prayers to the family. The season hasn't even started and we have already lost one of our own.

[fiskyknut]

First off my hopes and prayers go to this guys family.

This is unfortunatly something we see as ice season approaches each year. Also tragic stories of children going thru small ponds, ditches and such nearby to their homes. Everyone please be careful, no ice is ever safe and most certainly the early and late ice is by far the worst time.

At this time on our Canada forum JZ seems convinced he will be able to get on the ice on the LOTW next weekend. JZ if you are reading this let it be a warning dude.....DO NOT DO IT. Myself, Widtrack, Hemlock, all local to the pond, as well as Ron from Flag Island Resort have advised you well, again DON'T.

Stu....I was quite surprised and raised an eyebrow of concern for you when I saw you mention on another thread the 11th of last week.....

"Speaking of test runs, because of the current cold snap that is taking place, I will probably be on the ice this coming week!"

I also saw TerryC had mentioned just last nite on another site that there is some annual derby going on this weekend, he mentions it is on a pond.

Just what are, and were the ice conditions like up there anyhow Stu?

To everyone....Error on the side of life.

Regards.....fiskyknut

[K9Art]

this is very sad news.....working in the emergency field for 14 yrs i hate this time of year....also Northlander it doesnt matter if it is someonewe know or not.....THEY STILL HAVE FAMILY....lets prayer for them

[Northlander]

k9art read my post again and you will see I acknowledge my sorrow for who it was regardless if we know him/her or not!

[topcat3820]

Fisky,

Don't worry about us, brother... we may be dumb but we're not stupid, eh ! He's been flooding it every night like a rink and has about 5" of good, clear ice. Not any real depth in it either, we're all gonna' be wearing flotation and such. It's only his backyard trout & panfish pond... definitely NOT the Red or LOTW.

The sad part about the case on the river is the guy's family, then some rescue guys have also gotta' risk it trying to find him ... makes you wonder, doesn't it? I'm dying to get out... but not LITERALLY!

[ryan johnson]

very sad if it's true.. but there not gonna find me bobbing in the spring..first trip ,I always wear my floater suit , take my spud bar with me testing every couple of feet, and of course have someone with you holding a rope thats tied around your waist.. alll that brings your life expectancy up to 100%

my prayers are with the family..

[fiskyknut]

I hear ya Topcat, you guys know whats up with the whens and where's for sure. I found yesterdays write up in the Sun but have'nt found today's yet. Them Greenies will still be there for ya when the ice is good to go and I expect to see you hoisting a 34-35 incher this year too.

We want our frostybacked friends from the great white north to be around still on boxing day eh!!!

Be coool Terry.....Norm

[Boar]

I to pray for his family an freinds. Take care this year everybody. Remember it's just a fish. Boar

[Catmendo]

Quote:

---

First off my hopes and prayers go to this guys family.

This is unfortunatly something we see as ice season approaches each year. Also tragic stories of children going thru small ponds, ditches and such nearby to their homes. Everyone please be careful, no ice is ever safe and most certainly the early and late ice is by far the worst time.

At this time on our Canada forum JZ seems convinced he will be able to get on the ice on the LOTW next weekend. JZ if you are reading this let it be a warning dude.....DO NOT DO IT. Myself, Widtrack, Hemlock, all local to the pond, as well as Ron from Flag Island Resort have advised you well, again DON'T.

Stu....I was quite surprised and raised an eyebrow of concern for you when I saw you mention on another thread the 11th of last week.....

"Speaking of test runs, because of the current cold snap that is taking place, I will probably be on the ice this coming week!"

I also saw TerryC had mentioned just last nite on another site that there is some annual derby going on this weekend, he mentions it is on a pond.

Just what are, and were the ice conditions like up there anyhow Stu?

To everyone....Error on the side of life.

Regards.....fiskyknut

---

Fisky, what I stated on the 11th would have applied "if" the weather would have continued to cooperate. Unfortunately

the weather has not cooperated and any plans I had for testing ice conditions on the Red have been postponed until such time conditions improve.

I can tell that in places along the river ice has been forming, but there are also a few area's where there's still open patches. Over the next serveral days the weather forecast is once again "not" favorable for making ice. However the long-range forecast or 14 day trend is looking good! By the 25th on the month we are looking at some very cool temps, hopefully this will be the case!

This afternoon I spoke with a guy who is the brother-in-law of the guy who is missing and presumed drowned. The guy said his brother-in-law has been reported missing since Sunday.