Anr Echo report and a ice baptism at Rockport

[Freakyfisherman]

Wow, glad to hear you were able to get out okay, that couldn't have been fun at all... Congrats on being prepared and following your training... I have to ask one question that has always bugged me... Why do they say to become accustomed to the cold before you just try to get out?  To me I think I'd want to get out as fast as possible and I've always heard the training say to get used  to it and then get out... Is that just so you don't freak out and panic?  I suspect it has got to be really hard to follow that step...  Glad your spikes were available, do they make it easy to pull yourself out, or is it still pretty difficult to get over the edge?  I've never went through above the waist and have been pretty nervous about that ever happening, but I know when I keep fishing the conditions that I do, that that day will likely happen someday so I'm hoping I will be as prepared as you were... Thanks for the post..  Jeff

I think its to do just what you said, not freak out or panic. I mean yes its cold, but not unbearable. I heard if you panic and start splashing around and using you muscles you can actually go hypothermic pretty quickly and then you muscles wont work and then you thinking skills go out the window. I hope no one else goes through at Rockport or any where else for that matter. I think this ice season will go down as the shortest one. I have lived here almost 32 years and I haven't seen another one like it. Will this keep me off the ice, probably not, just more cautious by using my spud bar to check conditions, rather than listening to others. I think I will freeze a different way and launch the float tube soon. 
Gabe