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how many of you icefisherman think you are cautious, safe and responsible on the ice? now how many of those guys that said yes to the above question, carry a rope in there gear just in case someone falls through? BUt the more important question to ask yourselves is have i ever gone ice fishing alone? i post this because of the new ice across the state that has not exsisted before this year or has not exsisted for a long time. this is the first time in the history of Jordanelle (since the dam was completed in 1993) that it has frozen completely over. and it is also the first time since 1991 that there has been safe ice for the cisco run at bear lake. there is bound to be some soft spots on the ice on some of the new ice across the state. all i am saying is be carefull, dont ice fish alone and take a rope with ya.
jr8fish
<')))))--<
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Call me a wuss like IFG does, but I dont venture out on anything unless its a solid 5-6 inches. I carry a rope, ice picks and a cell phone. (and a small flask of "juice")
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I often fish alone but do carry rope,picks, and "juice" as well!! I also have a change of clothes in the truck. Another safety tip would be too randomly drill a hole as you move around to test the thickness. There was a post earlier about a BFT'er going thru the ice at Bear so please be carefull!!!! I think that I will try to fish with a friend or try to politly move closer to groups that are on the ice!
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Teroy, you rock man, I hope one day to have the gut you do!!!!!!
Jennefener
" there you go, there you been"
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I sometimes fish alone. It's great to have that extra quiet after a stressful week. And I do carry the picks and a rope. So I'll admit, going alone isn't the wisest thing to do. But with a short ice fishing season (less than 4 months sometimes) I hit it when I can!
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I was raised in upstate new york and hav been Iice fishing since I was old enough to walk. My father thought that if other people drove their trucks on the ice then it was safe to walk in their tracks.
As a young man and guide in NY I ventured on to ice that was way to thin with my friends to fish that majic "first ice". We would fish always fish with a buddy . Those pick things are not much good ,I've had to use them twice in my life.
What is best is to attach a 50' or so to your self and the other end to an inflated innertube. The second time I went in I pulled my tube to me and self rescued.
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i been out on the ice alone a couple times times this year why carry a rope if theres no one to toss it to ?
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I don't bother with the rope or pick. I simply fish with 180 lb line. I've had to reel myself back to shore a couple times and it works great. Have I ever told you guys about the 24 lb rainbow I caught in the Great Salt Lake?
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i always carry a rope in my jet sled and i never fish alone on the ice.
i don't like talking to myself anyway.
hook em in the jaw
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Well I go alone, I carry a rope, cell phone and have a change of clothes in the truck, I drill often on new ice checking the thickness. But most of all I check the BFT site for info on ice thickness and conditions at any body of hard water I am going too, being aware of conditions and preparing for them will keep you out of trouble more times than not.
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[cool][#0000ff][size 1]To all of the other good ideas, let me add the suggestion that you carry a length of plank on all trips between now and iceout. As the warming temps and rising water of runoff raises lake levels, the ice around the shorelines is often thin...or open water. A plank will let you get on the thicker ice away from the shoreline without getting wet. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Planks can save a trip for you. I have seen folks suffer anything from a boot full of water to going completely under the ice by trying to leap out onto the ice when there is no ice or poor ice in close.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Depending on how big you are and how efficient you are at scrounging from construction sites (accomodating...not stealing) you should have something at least 2" by 6" by 6 feet. I always took an 8 foot length of 2" by 8", because I am of the large persuasion. [/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]You don't have to carry the plank. You can rig one end with a tow rope and pull it behind you. In fact, if you are going to be fishing close to where you hit the ice, there is no need to do more than drag it away from the shoreline, to prevent others from "borrowing" it from you. Had that happen once when I was distracted by the fishies. Got wet trying to get back to shore.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Good thread. We should never be so excited about fishing that we overlook the basics of safety. Much better to abort a trip, if necessary, than force the issue and become a statistic. It just ruins your whole day when you read your name in the obituaries.[/size][/#0000ff]
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