Mantua Polar Plunge

[PACKFAN]

Saw your lovely face on TV last night (behind a mask).  Really gave me a jolt.  Glad you were able to make it out and that you are still among us.

I went through the ice on Layton (Company) Pond many years ago.  Fortunately I was able to throw myself backward as I felt the ice giving way.  And I was with a savvy fishing buddy who immediately flattened himself out on the ice behind me...extended the handle of a hand auger for me to grab and was able to pull me away from the hole.  I have relived that many times over the years.  Had I been alone I would probably have suffered more than a little water in my left boot.

Like yourself, we were hitting the ice early in the season.  Test holes closer to shore had over 4" of ice.  But there were spots with far less and I found one.  Since then I have never gone on early ice.  Unless there is safe ice over the whole lake I don't go.  In fact, I don't go ice fishing at all anymore...but that is more a matter of physical ability than fear of thin ice.

Again, glad you made it okay.  Now we wait for open water.

Company Pond,one of my favorite places to ice fish back in 70s and 80s until F&G ruined it.

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I'm the idiot that went through the ice at Mantua. I was pulling my sled out to go fishing and the ice was fine and then it wasn't. Nobody is sure how long it took to rescue me, but at least 20 minutes or a little over 30 minutes. Sorry, I forgot to check my watch. Mantua PD and a highway patrolman pulled me out, but the  Chief ended up in the water, just wearing his duty uniform. After a night in the hospital and way too many tests, I'm home and fine.  Lessons learned. Never go by yourself. I was lucky because another fisherman showed up 5 or 10 minutes after I fell in. He called 911.  Don't wear a harness to pull your sled. At some point, my pullover sled sunk. I couldn't get out of the harness and the added weight dang near killed me. Don't panic. The one thing I did right was not panic.  When I went in, I thought "shucks, this isn't good".  If you panic and struggle you'll only use up your limited energy reserves. Finally, practice risk analysis. I've got $3000 in ice fishing gear lost in the lake. Guessing the hospital and rescue bill will be $10K or more.  Just how much is a perch dinner worth? What's the price you put on your own life? Personally, my ice fishing days are done. When you go, please be prepared and careful.

https://www.abc4.com/news/utah-man-falls...ng-rescue/

Finally, the Mantua PD had a well earned bad reputation. Today, they've got a new Chief and new officers. The town can't afford rescue gear so I've started a GoFundMe to buy them equipment.

https://gf.me/u/zc26qw

You are one lucky fella, shows you are living right.