Tom thought it was a nice day to go ice fishing, so he grabbed his fishing gear and loaded it into his truck. When Tom got to the lake access, he put on his lifejacket and did not roll down his windows. He did not take with a friend. Without checking the depth of the ice or the local snowfall amount, Tom drove onto the lake. About one hundred feet off shore Tom heard a loud snap, crackle, and pop. Tom did not pay much attention to the loud noise and all of a sudden, he found himself underwater. He tried to open his door, but the truck filling with water and the flotation from his lifejacket made it almost impossible to get out. Tom knew he should not panic, or he would lose more oxygen than he needed to. After several minutes of struggling, Tom lost the fight to get above the ice. Help was too far away, and nobody knew he was going out fishing.
There are things you can do to avoid accidents and be safe. Despite the newness or thickness of the ice, you can still fall through. Always fish with someone, so if something happens to one person, the other person can call for help. Following a guide for ice fishing safety will allow you to have a safer fishing experience, but ice is unpredictable, so following the safety tips will not guarantee safety one hundred percent. Typically, the ice-fishing season in Minnesota is from December to March. The ice is not necessarily thick enough to support weight by December, and by March it is starting to melt and slush is present by this time too.
Ice Thickness Guidelines
Always proceed with caution on to the ice. Using caution before stepping out onto the ice will better your chances of not falling in and will help prevent a dangerous situation. The thickness of the ice is the deciding factor if it is safe to go fishing. Follow these rules when considering going ice fishing:
• 2 inches or less: stay off the ice
• 4 inches: It is ok for a person to go on the ice
• 5 inches: It is ok to ride a snowmobile or ATV on the ice
• 8-12 inches: It is ok to drive a car or small truck on the ice
• 12-15 inches: It is ok to drive a medium size truck on the ice
(Minnesota Department of Natural Resources).
Ice Condition Factors
Depending on where you are at on the lake, the thickness of the ice can vary. Many factors make the ice the condition it is. If you are near a crick, it is more likely the ice will be thin because the water current is moving, causing the ice nearby to be weak from the current. Ice closer to shore is a lot thinner than ice that is in the middle of the lake. Wind can break the ice and cause it to pile up, especially near open water. Snow is an insulator for ice, which can cause the ice to be weaker where the snow is thicker. It is warmer where the snow is insulating, causing the ice to not be made as fast (New Hampshire Fish and Game Department).
How to Measure the Depth of the Ice
You can check with local bait shops or other anglers to find out the depth of the ice, the local snowfall amounts, and the amount of slush on the ice and where it is located. This allows you to avoid certain spots on the lake, and to know where it is relatively safe to fish. If you are not able to ask local bait shops or other anglers, or you just want to measure the depths of the ice yourself, go for it. To make a hole in the ice, use a chisel, ice auger, chainsaw, or drill. Use a tape measure to measure the thickness of the ice (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources).
Things Anglers May Not Know
Some things anglers may not know is that newer ice is more likely to hold more weight than older ice, even if the older ice is thicker than the newer ice. When the ice cracks, it usually means that it is making new ice, but sometimes it can mean something or someone is falling through. Be cautious around dark ice, because it is likely dangerous. Dark ice usually means that it is thin, or there was slush where the darkened ice is, and then it froze over, which causes pockets in the ice. Dark ice is apparent at the beginning of the ice-fishing season when the ice is thickening. It is also apparent at the beginning of February or the early part of March when the weather starts to warm up and ice is starting to melt. Always look for dark ice when going onto the ice, but be more aware when the ice-fishing season is beginning and ending (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources).
Other Helpful Safety Gear
Ice picks are a handy tool to take with you in case you fall through the ice. Have the ice picks wrapped around your neck or in a handy place, so if you fall through you can put the picks in the ice to help pull yourself up. Wearing a life jacket will help keep you afloat if you were to fall through the ice. Ice cleats go on the bottom of your boots to help you from falling when the ice is slippery (New Hampshire Fish and Game Department).
Guidelines for Driving On Ice
When driving on ice, make sure to have your windows rolled down in case your vehicle was to fall through. This way you can escape through the window, and not have to fight the pressure of the water while trying to open the door. The front of the vehicle is going to go down first because of the weight of the engine. Going out the back window will give you a little more time to escape. Do not drink alcohol while you are on the ice because it impairs your judgment. Do not overdrive your headlights because it will be harder to see where you are going. While driving your ATV on the ice wear some type of flotation device under your winter gear in case you fall in. Do not wear it while in the fish house or in a vehicle because you would float, making it harder to escape if you were to go under water (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources).
In Case Someone Falls In
In case someone falls in the water, do not jump in after him or her. Instead of jumping in, reassure the person that help is on the way and that they can stay above the water. If something is available to throw, like a rope or ladder, throw the object to them, but stay a safe distance away so you will not also fall in the water. Once professional help is there let them handle the situation (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources).
Following these safety tips will not guarantee that nothing will happen, but it will help make your trip more enjoyable. We hope this helps you the next time you or someone you know goes fishing!
Works Cited
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. General Ice Thickness Guidelines. 1 January 2014. 22
September 2014.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Ice Fishing Safety. 1 January 2013. 22 September 2014.
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Safety on Ice. 2014. 26 September 2014.
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