11-07-2024, 06:04 PM
I'm a pretty big proponent of this on another forum and feel it needs to be taken seriously this time of year, so here you go.
[b]With 1st ice being reported online. I just wanted to post up a safety reminder to all the ice addicts and to those lurking for 1st ice. Try to not go alone, use the buddy system if possible. Always check the ice thickness regularly as your moving out onto the water. Drilling test holes as you go out is always a good idea to gage the good dark clear ice underneath the white soft stuff. Ice consistency can very from foot to foot so don't even ever think that you have the same thickness across the hole cap just cause you checked it by the shore. This process can take a few more minutes of your hard deck day but its worth it.
A spud/chisel bar is recommended highly and can be purchased for fairly cheap these days, if not that then an axe will work also.A qood throw rope is a must to have. The bagged ones are great cause if packed right all you have to do is throw the bag at them, they take up hardly any space in your bucket and we also use it floating the river in the warm months if someone get separated from the raft or tube
Ice picks are a must, I prefer the style that store nice around your neck with the spikes protected in the handles when placed together. If they feel a little tight around your neck just stretch the bungee cord a few times and it helps. Ice cleats are also good idea to use most of the ice season depending on where your fishing but ecspecially at the 1st when snow is not always present on the 1st ice caps. They range from $20 to $100 depending on your budget or requirement from previous slips/falls. I prefer the kahtoola micro ice spikes (these things grip awesome but are rather loud when walking. I really don't mind it wakes up the fish) I have all of these products and for a total of under $80 for the stuff I listed and its worth it to me. Purchase this stuff from where ever you choose, I just wanted to give everyone a picture of what I'm talking about.
[b]BE SAFE!!!!! No life is worth chasing some fish ><()()()> ><()()()>
For your truck/car- having a change of clothes, shovel, tire chains, tow rope, water, phone charger/charged cell phone and a couple blankets is always a good idea. With a lot of our 1st ice lakes around here usually in the higher elevations the amount of snow/ice on the road can never be forseen and if you get stuck this stuff will be pretty critical in one way or another[/b][/b]
[b]With 1st ice being reported online. I just wanted to post up a safety reminder to all the ice addicts and to those lurking for 1st ice. Try to not go alone, use the buddy system if possible. Always check the ice thickness regularly as your moving out onto the water. Drilling test holes as you go out is always a good idea to gage the good dark clear ice underneath the white soft stuff. Ice consistency can very from foot to foot so don't even ever think that you have the same thickness across the hole cap just cause you checked it by the shore. This process can take a few more minutes of your hard deck day but its worth it.
A spud/chisel bar is recommended highly and can be purchased for fairly cheap these days, if not that then an axe will work also.A qood throw rope is a must to have. The bagged ones are great cause if packed right all you have to do is throw the bag at them, they take up hardly any space in your bucket and we also use it floating the river in the warm months if someone get separated from the raft or tube
Ice picks are a must, I prefer the style that store nice around your neck with the spikes protected in the handles when placed together. If they feel a little tight around your neck just stretch the bungee cord a few times and it helps. Ice cleats are also good idea to use most of the ice season depending on where your fishing but ecspecially at the 1st when snow is not always present on the 1st ice caps. They range from $20 to $100 depending on your budget or requirement from previous slips/falls. I prefer the kahtoola micro ice spikes (these things grip awesome but are rather loud when walking. I really don't mind it wakes up the fish) I have all of these products and for a total of under $80 for the stuff I listed and its worth it to me. Purchase this stuff from where ever you choose, I just wanted to give everyone a picture of what I'm talking about.
[b]BE SAFE!!!!! No life is worth chasing some fish ><()()()> ><()()()>
For your truck/car- having a change of clothes, shovel, tire chains, tow rope, water, phone charger/charged cell phone and a couple blankets is always a good idea. With a lot of our 1st ice lakes around here usually in the higher elevations the amount of snow/ice on the road can never be forseen and if you get stuck this stuff will be pretty critical in one way or another[/b][/b]