After a long week of finals I had to do some fishing. I arrived shortly after 7 and got all set up. The ice was 6-7" and plenty safe for me but not for the group that just showed up. They got about 15-20ft from shore and I felt the wave. Well that ended my fishing trip and spent the rest of the morning getting them out. All it took was punching 50+ holes and breaking the pieces with rocks. Needless to say my back hurts, my auger broke and it's to early to start drinking, well maybe not.
All said and done, only one went under to never resurface. One went back to feeding and the other 3 couldn't stand or get there feet under them.
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Sounds like fun, elk, deer, horses or what?
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They were cows. I was surprised they all didn't die before I got them out. They were in the water for 2-3 hours.
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LOL, I had to read your post three times before I figured out you weren't talking about people[crazy]. You sure did your good deed for the day and it sounds like you got your work out for the day also. How deep do you think the water was where they broke through? In your picture it looks like they a swimming.
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It was about 6-8 feet where they broke through. They went under water several times but mainly rested there head on the ice.
The funny thing about the whole deal is the rancher didn't even say thanks. One of his kids said in a round about way thanks for doing the work. I guess it pays better to let them die and file a claim. Live and learn, right.
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Wow! I'm betting that will bolster the crayfish population
That's a very honorable bit of service that you provided. Since the rancher didn't thank you, I will.
Thank you.
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And they didn't even thank you. Next time let them drown. Reminds me when I talked to a couple ranchers who just finished fishing on the East side of Yuba one summer. They said the beach was closed to fishing because of too many kids with diapers swimming that summer. Never mind that there was several tons of cow manure in sight within 50 yard of the lake[crazy].
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how did you go about getting them out? i wouldn't even know where to begin.
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There is a few ways to get an animal out of the ice. You can either pull them out or break the ice to the shoreline. Since I was alone, I drilled holes to the shoreline and broke the ice with rocks. It sucked and not something I would do again after the way the ranchers acted. Hopefully the fishing Gods were paying attention and send a hog my way.
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Too bad about the rancher not having any gratitude for saving his animals. So I'll give you my thanks for your noble effort and for giving up precious fishing time for an act of kindness!!
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LT
There are a couple of ranchers that run cattle around the lake. Two of the three or four I'm thinking about are real @$$hats and I completely understand why they did not show you any gratitude......they are real pieces of work to begin with. Honery at the world and just plain mean. They are so friggin honery that if it was the one with the last name that begins with a "B" I'm suprised he didn't chew your butt and call the Beaver Co. sheriff on you for harassing his animals instead.
Good on ya and you did the right thing. May the fish God's reign good luck for your good deed just the same.
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I also know who carplips is referring to. Since I grew up in Beaver. Yes I am surprised that the Beaver County Sheriff didnt come after you. I would have let the cows drown. I know the rancher would just go buy more thats what he does for a living anyway.
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