I love first ice, I have taken calculated risk’s in shallow water with easy exit to land. I have gotten older and wiser with time – Thank God!!! This year I have the picks and I want to wear a PFD at least until I know the ice is completely safe. Will the PFD work in cold conditions without fault? Also for those who wear the picks- what is the best way to keep them out of the way yet with easy access if going through occurs? Thanks Fella’s
I have looked into the floating ice fishing suits and may pick one up at the ice fishing show next month. You have to remember, if you do get wet and get back out onto the ice, you still have to get warm fast. Whatever you end up with remember “Hill Street Blues”…….hey, hey, hey……..let’s be careful out there!
I hang them around my neck and then thread them down through each sleeve. They hangin line with the palms of my hands.
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I hang them around my neck and then thread them down through each sleeve. They hangin line with the palms of my hands.
I have them around my neck while sitting and fishing, and through my sleeves any time I am moving. The ones with the guards on the points are the ones you want.
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at least until I know the ice is completely safe.
That is your first mistake. If you think there is a time that the ice is completely safe I hope you were joking.
I wear my picks always and either wear or have very close to me flotation when ever traveling on the ice. The ice is never safe, a guy in our party went thru the ice when it was over 2 feet thick. Walked 10 feet from the truck and disapeared. We thought the ice was “safe”
Mustang survival suit, model MS2175
Your PFD will certainly work in the cold conditions. Keeping your pics around your neck is a good spot to wear them with easy access but keep in mind if wearing a PFD and it inflates your pics may be difficult to reach. If you have the ability to wear them around your neck then down your sleeves that may be a better option when wearing your PFD. As always be safe and when possible use the buddy system. Good fishing and tight lines.
Paul Delaney
http://www.lateeyessportfishing.com
PFD & Pics are great. But these tools are designed to assist you after you are in the drink.
Take it back a step from that. Spuds are a MUST for early thin ice adventures. Get one. Learn how to use one. And well…use it! Better to stick a piece of metal through than your own leg or body.
Being from Iowa and a bit further South than most of you Northern boys, I too have been known to push the limits on first and last ice. I ALWAYS have my pics on around my neck and down my sleeves in early/lake ice. I wear my PFD often too. In the past I have even taken to tying a rope around my waist and fasten it to the nearest tree. That works until I come to the end of my rope and still want to go further out to catch em.
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Mustang survival suit, model MS2175
Yep. A few hondo may seem excessive but how many hondo is your life worth? These suits give you a much better chance of survival. There is a reason the Coast Guard buys them.
I’m almost always fishing alone so I know I have about one shot at saving myself so. Early ice I do the spud,95’rope, enclosed picks down the sleeve and an auto PFD. Besides I wait for abou 5″ and don’t get more comfortable until its 10″ and never 100% sure about it at anytime. Seen to much uneven ice.
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