Help me understand ice fishing

[Nica]

All,

I come to this site every day and have read all the anticipation about when a certain lake will freeze over, or how much ice there is, etc. Why though are people willing to go out this early in the season on ice that may or may not be safe and risk possible injury or death? Keep in mind that I personally have never been ice fishing, so maybe my perspective is skewed, but it seems to me that it would be better to wait till later in the year when the temps don't fluctuate above freezing as much to go out on the ice. What is the urgency in getting out there right now inspite the risk? I don't intend to question anybody, just trying to understand.

thanks
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[PerchPile]

I pretty much view it as an IQ test. Survival of the smartest. Early in the season, if there are tracks going out and none coming back in, I figure it is still too early to go fishing. Seriously, I think we all ask ourselves that question. Some of us think we are just not going to become a statistic. Early in the season I always buddy up, and take a rope along for rescue. We have even drug a small aluminum boat or canoe with us if it seems risky. Back in 1995, my son and step son drowned up in Idaho when they were visiting their mom. There wasn't ice. It was just early spring and the water was very cold. They were just playing and turned an old junk of foam from the dock into a raft. Before they knew it they were floating away and tried to swim for shore. Improper supervision and no life preservers. Toally avoidable, but that doesn't change the end result. So, needless to say, thinking of someone falling through the ice gives me a sick feeling in my stomach. Spend time with your kids, but don't be stupid and take them too early in the season. They will run around and if there is a weak spot they will find it.
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[hashbaz]

You both bring up good points about ice safety. Better safe than sorry.

People venture out on early ice for two reasons:

1. Some of us have been eagerly awaiting the ice since July and simply cannot wait any longer.

2. The first three weeks of ice generally (not always) produce the best fishing.

3. (not sure if this one counts) Walking on 1" ice and risking life and limb may be an adrenaline rush for some - I'm not sure because I like living too much and prefer to wait for 4" (Which is more than enough).
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[MrLipripper]

Amen, Loren.
I think there is a difference between being careless and being stupid.
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[MrLipripper]

PerchPile - so sorry about your son and stepson. My heart goes out to you.
Quality time with family is worth so much more than quantity of fish.
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[cadresults]

Why drive my car? I may die in a car wreck.

Why fly in an airplane? We may crash.

Why go boating, I may drown?

Common sense, being careful, goes a long way!

PerchPile, I am sorry to here about that tragic accident, you do bring up some great points; thanks.
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[Nica]

Sorry to hear about your boys perchpile, my biggest fear in life is that I'll have to endure the loss of one of my children. I can't imagine the pain.

I think that this ice question is different than what you suggest cadresults, we all drive cars, fly in airplanes and stuff, but would you drive your car if you knew it had faulty brakes? or go out on a boat if you knew it had a leak? Stuff happens, even on safe ice that will be outside of our control, but what about walking out on thin ice? When it's perfectly within one's control to not do so?

I can understand the adrenaline piece, some people thrive on that...I can understand the good fishing in the first few weeks. I guess the question then is, once the "chuck a rock" test passes, how do you know whether its safe to venture further? In my opinion, knowing how to get out is good, but what about not falling in to begin with?

What steps does one take in exploring new ice? Do you crawl out first? Do you drill lots of holes real close together to test for thickness? Does doing that weaken the ice, kind of like perforating paper?

Is there a set of best practices for this that I have missed somewhere? Is there a way to "read" ice by looking at it? What sort of things should one avoid? A long time ago I learned the hard way that you dont ride a snowmobile too close to a pine tree, if you have never done that, let me tell you, you get sucked in to the tree and end up with at least a face full of pine needles. "don't ride your machine too close to a tree" is advice that is easy to pass along, is there such advice or best practices for ice?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just intrigued by how much talk there is about getting out, but not a whole lot about not falling in, which seems like the better alternative to me.
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[fishin4fun]

Nica-

Most of us on here have alot of experience on the ice and are very well educated on it. Also, we are more cautious that it appears. Very, very few will venture on ice 2" thick. Most people are 4"+ types. Honestly, 4" of good ice holds alot more than one thinks. I know several people on here who take snowmobiles on 5-6" of ice.

We all have a serious itch to get out, but we are safe. Another note is early ice is usually the safest "type of ice" of the year. It's clear, black, solid ice. During the winter snow and water can make even 12" of ice not as sturdy as 4" of solid, black ice. I think spring ice is the most dangerous and I generally stay away from it.

When testing the ice, you drill holes every 5-10 ft or so. For me, if it's >4 I keep going until it's not (keep in mind 2-3" will hold you fine). Regarding what to look for, again, do some digging on the web and read up on it. Here's my favorite source (it's a big file, but worth it):
[url "http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/education_safety/safety/ice/dangerthinice.pdf"]http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/education_safety/safety/ice/dangerthinice.pdf[/url]

Overall, ice fishing can be a very enjoyable way to fish and it's alot safer than most people think. Alot of myths and wife's tales exist about ice, but if you do the research and go out a few times with people that understand it, you will find it can be very enjoyable.
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[IceFishingGod]

When I explore new ice I do a few things in case I fall through. I always carry my auger across my body to stop me from going all the way into the ice. I carry it at waist level.
I cut test holes about every 20 feet or so.
Never walk on new ice, shuffle your feet so both feet are always in contact with the ice at the same time. This helps to spread the weight of your body. I drag my sled behind me about 20 feet with the rope tied to my waist so my buddy can drag me out if I go through.
But the single most important tip is NEVER GO ALONE.
IFG

[BearLakeMack]

[reply]
[size 1]Honestly, 4" of good ice holds alot more than one thinks. I know several people on here who take snowmobiles on 5-6" of ice. [/size]

[/quote]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]We routinely will take sleds on 4+" of good, uniform, solid, blue ice. A snowmobile spreads it's weight through a lot larger base than some one's foot. How many times have you stopped a snowmobile, stepped off it, and went right down to your crotch? Granted, there's a lot more weight there but spread out in a much wider footprint, putting less weight per square inch. [/size][/black][/font][font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]That being said, I'm a lot more comfortable on 12"![/size][/font]
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[Flycasting]

Those are great tips. Especially like the auger one. []
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[BearLakeMack]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Especially when your $300 auger goes through with you! LOL![/size][/black][/font]
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[Nica]

Thanks for all the good advice. If there isn't such a thing already, someone should invent "ice shoes", something like snow shoes but not quite as big, and with cleats. The purpose being to give you a wider footprint to spread your weight and to give you traction at the same time. I'll check for patents, if I strike it rich I'll hand out free pairs to anyone on the forum. []
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[Flycasting]

LOL... I wouldn't ever spend $300 on an auger anyway... I can use the excercise. []
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Good thinking, but the equipment manufacturers are way ahead of you. Today's "snowshoes" are much different than the giant "tennis raquets" of old. Most are smaller and made of high tech metal and synthetic materials...and many have ice cleats built in.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[url "javascript:launchURL('/servlets/iris/27335/detzoom/ASH/27335/',514,546,0,0,'MainProductZoom');"][/url]

[#0000ff]They can be "spendy" but are worth it in both safety and ease of navigating snow. The wider contact area also helps spread the weight of a human body over a wider area, lessening the chance of going through thinner ice.[/#0000ff]
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[Nica]

Thanks for the reality check TD. I guess it was too easy for no one to have thought of it before. Seems like they would be a good investment if you are really worried about it.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]They are definitely a good addition of the well-equipped ice angler's arsenal. You will appreciate them whenever you arrive to find deep snow...or encounter slick or iffy ice.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Like all equipment, you can save money by shopping. There is a Recreation Outlet at about 3100 South State in Salt Lake that buys closeout lots and sells cheap. They have had some great prices on good snowshoes. You can also find them at yard sales and DI, or watch the ads for folks who bought them but don't use them.[/#0000ff]
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[shark_hunter]

I just got myself a really nice set of snowshoes from steepandcheap.com they will more than likely have some more on there soon. or amazon has some pretty good deals.
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[icehole69]

Nica, the best way to understand the urge of most of us Ice fishermen is to experience it. Take the advice others have to offer, like Icefishinggod, Fishing4fun and bearlakemack, but do yourself a favor, go with someone that is experienced in it. I will tell you from personal experience, the first time I went, you could'nt have gotten a pin up my a$$ with a jack hammer I was so scared. I am still a little cautious every time I go onto the ice, but by reading the posts here and then re-checking the conditions as others have instructed you to do, by drilling pilot holes, using a 20" length of rope tied to a sled to tow behind, and always, always take a friend. One for security purposes the other because its boring alone. But once you have experienced a blue bird day, with good safe ice, and the tug of a fish on your pole it makes winter so less long, and so much more enjoyable. As it was said before, some of us wait from July on for the ice to be there, Myself included, but you will rarely see me post during the summer, but come ice time, I am all over the board. Do yourself a great service, send a PM to someone that goes all the time, I am sure they will introduce you to it the right way, the safe way, and you will be completely hooked as some of us are.
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[Nica]

lol...thanks for the vivid imagery[]

I do want to go, and I have a friend who goes frequently. It's just a matter of making time. I gotta buy some warm gear too. I am definitely waiting a bit however, too big of a chicken to risk falling through. Thanks for the advice.
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