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I was out on Deer Creek this afternoon and could here periodic thumping sounds underneath the ice. After about an hour I was out in the middle and the same noise sounded off right underneath where I was standing...it scared the crap out of me! lol A few minutes later, and especially as we were walking back to the car we could visibly see a crack forming across the whole arm of the lake. I was wondering if this happens often what the signs are for when ice is unsafe. Any advice would be great!
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Happens often and always as the ice is growing. Thickness of 4" or more. Rotting ice from heat is what you watch out for and be careful of the edges as water levels in a lake may rise under the ice,leaving a space between shore and ice. Also look out or springs,they may have thinner ice then the rest of the lake.
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Seems crazy but when you hear that the ice is actually fairly safe. That's just the noises of expanding ice or contracting. I used to live on a lake and you could hear that noise in the middle of below zero nights. It's really a cool haunting noise but it scares the heck out of me as well when I'm on the ice. Later J
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Popping and pinging noises are usually good noises on the ice. The only time I worry about them is when I can actually feel the ice shift or see an ice heave. I was on Deer Creek one day many years ago and felt the ice shift about 12-15" and heave up on the shore. That was spooky!
In addition to the other cautions mentioned, watch out for pressure ridges, area of ice that have been lifted up by expanding ice sheets. They are easy to see but be very careful crossing one due to thinner ice or even open water around them. Have fun and enjoy the cool noises.
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Me and my girlfriend was at rockport last Saturday and we heard what sounded like booms underneath the ice then we would stand there and here cracking underneath our feet!! Is this safe as well? She was too freaked out so we left.
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I'm no expert but from 30+ years ice fishing I always pay attention to the sounds and movement of the ice beneath my feet. Those noises are natural and normal when the ice is expanding. It happens a lot on cold days especially when the sun comes out. It can be nerve wracking but unless you see cracks actually opening wide or causing the ice to heave upward I wouldn't worry about it. Countless times I've had cracks go right through my hole. Only a few times have I ever seen water come up through the ice and never seen ice sheets separate, once or twice watched ice heaves. Just pay attention to what's happening around you and enjoy the humor in seeing other folks running for the hills when the ice "talks."
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Flaming Gorge has given me some of the most "scary" sounds of the lakes I have been on, even though the ice was very secure. A couple times, my walking was clearly the cause of cracking and popping sounds that sounded very much like breaking ice. But, when I drilled, the ice in several of those spots was more than 15 inches thick. That lake can sure "sing" with booms, cracks, and bangs. Its a normal part of the ice growing, expanding, and adjusting. It does it even with a couple feet thick.
Search youtube for vidoes about ice sounds. I know there is a good one for Strawberry.
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Yeah that sounds like what I was seeing out there. I'm sure it was fine, but it's good to know the little hints of reading the ice so you know when to get your fanny out of the way. There was still around 10 inches out on deer creek where I was so I'm sure the ice was just doing its normal thing. Thanks for the tips!
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I like those pressure waves that roll down the the pond and bounce my butt 6" off a chair while sitting on 2" of ice. On the flip side,, 3M really freaks when that happens.. lol..
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I've heard it too, freaks me out. I wish it would all melt so I could just launch the boat.
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Good luck with launching boat any time soon ha ha ha ha. I would like the ice to last a little longer.
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+1
Ice fishing has been fun but it doesn't hold a candle to being on the boat!
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Actually I could launch now, just have to drive a ways to do it.
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ha ha ha !!![crazy]
I would love uinta mountain roads clean up all the way with water open for amazing fly fishing season
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