Being Safe?

[junior9]

Any tips or suggestions on being safe during early ice for someone who is new to early ice fishing and somewhat timid on the ice even in late January?

Maybe things you do to test the ice as you walkout or things you can do as you venture forward on the ice?

[Dances with Walleye]

In the month of December I do not go on the ice without:

1. A partner

2. A rope

3. Picks & Cleats

4. A Spud Bar to probe around and check the ice as I walk.

And if I was going out say this weekend, I would wear a life jacket.

No fish is worth your life.

[Rick]

Bring a chisel to check for at least 3 inches of ice, an ice pick tied to you with a cord, a buddy behind you with a rope, a pfd (or better yet a heavier buddy in front of you and you with the rope ) and...

Wear Arctic Armor - It Floats and is the warmest insulution available as well. It's not approved as a PFD but it certainly gives you the extra edge when trying to get out of an icy situation.

[Scott K]

Watch others go first, if they dont go in, chances are you wont either! In all honesty, early ice, dont go alone, go with someone with experience on that lake, every lake is different. And can change daily. I use a good chisel, smack it in the ice if it goes through, I back off carefully, if not, there should be a good 3 inches, and should hold you if your not goofing around. I like to wait until 5 inches, but sometimes cant fight the urge. Local bait shops have good advise also, but dont hold me or them to any of this, its your a$$ use your best judgment, if you dont think its safe, dont go out there!

[Pleasant]

most of these have been already stated, and let me say the early ice I fish I have fished first for the last 30 years plus so what I am saying is I know the lake.

1. check ice every few yards with spud on way to spot

2. carry ice picks

3. I alway wear or have a PFD handy on early ice and/or lakes I am not familiar with

[looneyducer]

Quote:

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somewhat timid on the ice even in late January?

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That's just your own good sense talking to you. It is ice, after all, and there is ALWAYS a chance of going through.

That being said, being the slightest bit reasonable is probably your best insurance policy. Walk slow, pay attention, check it with a spud bar, AND drill a hole every so often. If anything at any time in that process seems unreasonable, get off the ice.

[schr0563]

If the ice is good and clear, and there is no snow on the lake, you will be able to see cracks and bubbles and such in the ice. After getting a reference thickness with an auger and/or spud bar you can gauge the ice thickness pretty quickly just by looking at the depth of a crack or air bubble. When I use this method I still probe with the spud bar any time the ice looks questionable. The other nice thing about checking the ice with a chisel or spud bar as you go out, when you come off the lake you can follow your marks back to shore and feel reasonably comfortable, especially after dark...

[Joel Taylor]

I go alone all the time so I take extra precautions

1. A good thud out infront of me with the ice bar every step (if you poke through with one punch turn around and find a different route)

2.Always wear a lifejacket, ice picks around the neck, and a cell phone in a good zip-lock bag.

3.Always watch the weather for wind forecasts and think about where you go out and if the wind could blow the ice out leaving you floating around with no way off.

------ I have had to take some long scary hikes to get off ice when it shoves from wind!

[SDbowhunter]

Use an auger to make your holes rather then chiseling them in since that creates cracks in the ice and increases your odds of going in.