While trying to clear a trail onto the ice near the casino here on Devils Lake, the casinos payloader went through the ice. Just how do you get something that big and akward out? It was one of the bigger machines out there too. It cost over a hundred grand and would think there is no insurance on it. I guess they’ll have to tighten up the slot machines for a bit.
How deep of water did it go down into? I’m sure they’ll need to get a crane out there or something to get it out.. or pay the fines and wait until spring to deal with it.
Yikes. 
WOW! I am not sure if you know this but dropping a payloader through the ice is a harbinger of good fishing. In fact, several Early American settlers used to park an early version of the payloader on the ice to determine when winter would end. Of course resources being scarce as they were during that time, the preparation and monitoring of the activity became too costly. As a result of the Early American settlers desire to continue to honor the tradition without expending so much effort, they switched to watchng a small rodent endeavor from it’s winter burrow. This activity is now the leading indicator of the approaching spring.
I guess all I am trying to say here is the Perch Fishing should be very good on Devil’s Lake this winter.
See you in a few weeks!
John 
I’m speechless! 
If it’s too far from shore, I would think those military flying cranes would be the only way to get it out. Spendy?!
Who in their right mind would take a loader out on the ice?!? If there isn’t a drop off a large wrecker & a diver could probably pull it out. I’ve seen stranger things happen.
I’m still trying to think of a reason to take a loader on the ice. I grew up in the gravel business & I wouldn’t even think of taking a skid loader on the ice, let alone a payloader……..
Very funny backtroller.
There was a small community near a major highway here that put a coke machine on the ice in a slough along the road and took bets on when it goes through the ice in the spring. The local coke disributor pitched in for radio ads and such.
As afr as thge payloader goes…It isn’t in very deep water because I was told the cab stuck out for a while. I’m not sure if it is the marina or in the trees just outside. The employee was told to move snow for lake access so they could get the casino baitshop’s houses out. The rumor was he raised the bucket up full of snow putting all of the weight on the front end. I haven’t ventured over to check it out. Just small fish in that area so why go there. They don’t want it known. A lot of things happen on the rez that are kept quiet.
I was suprised to learn how they salvage vehicles through the ice as I recently saw a barge-like vehicle pull a truck and then house from under the ice. Very impressive equipment but I am certain it would not be able to pull a payloader!
BTW, how is the perchin’ up there? I am moving to Fargo and cant wait to put on my communinion dress and offer my virginity to the Devil!
I guess they used a big crane to get it out. They did have it insured.
An enterprising soul here made a cage that goes over the hole and lifts the vehicles out. Divers attach a harness to the vehicle. It is large and spreads the weight out over a big area. He has a stripped down vehicle he uses on the ice.
We have several vehicles go through the ice here every year. It is mostly those unfamilar with the lake but not always. One vehicle will go through once each year going under a bridge.
the largest thing I’ve personally ever seen go through the ice is a trackhoe…..it was a PC300 komatsu (about 76,000 lb machine) and when it finally quit sinkin all that could be seen of it was the very top of the knuckle. As for how much weight ice can support….7 years ago I drove a redi mix truck across the ice from springsteel to the northwest angle. the truck had 6 yds on(24,000) and empty the truck weighed 28,000 lbs for a grand total of 52,000lbs…..and to this day I still can remember the sound of the ice cracking as I drove along. I would have to say that’s one experience I hope I never get the chance to repeat.
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