Close calls with ice fishing?

[bowhunter3]

Well, I already disclosed this experiance on another post a few weeks ago, but I have ice fished for quite a few years and do not weight very much. Therefore, I push my luck more than I should quite often. I have put a leg though stepping on an old hole, or a foot through on a soft edge many times. BUT, I went through with both legs for the first time this year. Not a very enjoyable experience. I t was on Utah Lake (Luckily). The ice was about 3 inches. The weather was not too warm, but above freezing (maybe 35-40). I had fished most of the afternoon with a buddy of mine. He had to leave and go to work. I fished a little while longer, then packed up. As I walked back the same way I came, I stepped pretty close to where he had been fishing and ...... I was wet. I went in up to my waist... straight to the bottom. I got out within a couple seconds at that depth. I am very glad it was shallow old Utah Lake. Needless to say, not a fun experience and it was quite chilly, but it could have been much worse. I don't really think there is much I could have done differently, besides maybe not being on 3 inches on a day the temp was above freezing, but I was walking out the same way I went in and the way my friend left just a little while earlier.
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