Early ice is easily my favorite time of year as it can result in some of the best fishing; however, the lure of beating the crowds to a favorite spot should never get in the way of putting safety first. Yes, it may be a little crazy to want to be one of the first out, but it would be just plain stupid to ever even think about heading out to fish before properly checking the safety of the ice first.
I’m sure most of you are already following a routine very similar to mine, but just in case I thought I would run down the steps I use for the first time I venture out on new ice.
– Always bring a friend to watch from shore or at least safe distance back just in case you ever do break thru.
– Never set foot on any new ice without wearing a life vest. The goal by wearing a vest is that if I ever did break through this will prevent me from going underwater and possiblely being stuck under the ice – Just having your buddy carry a throwable behind you is not good enough.
– Always carry ice picks. I wear mine around my neck to make sure they are easily accessable
– The first time I walk out I carry nothing more than an ice chisel. Use the ice chisel to continually check ice thickness by giving it a solid thrust in front of you prior to every step. If the ice cracks or the chisel goes through quickly head back to shore.
– Leaving your gear on shore the first walk out also cuts down on weight, and allows you move quietly. Any noise that would be caused by pulling a sled could result in not hearing the warning signs if ice starts to crack.
– If the ice ever does start to crack quickly get down on your hands and knees or even lay down on the ice to distribute your weight and slowly crawl back the direction you’ve just come.
– Have the person closer to shore carry a 100′ rope just in case all of the above precautions fail and you end up in the water.
Stay safe out there everyone… Remember, no fish is worth risking your life!
