Use caution in Slush

  • FishBlood&RiverMud
    Prescott
    Posts: 6687
    #1897648

    A routine ice breaking mission ran sour yesterday but ended a success.

    Broke into 600′ of ice to find another 300′ of slush upriver.
    I idle into ice and rock the boat if necessary. Rarely ever “Powering” through it.

    Slush really slowed the boat down, so i gave it more gas when i realized it was just slush. The closer i got to the front of the slush the harder it resisted the boat…the more gas i gave. Resistance was running higher the closer i got to the end and I was about 20 yrs from getting out when i felt the boat lift…Seeing the end so close i goosed it until it would go no more! STUCK! Above the water line!

    I couldn’t rock, budge, or even get the boat to flinch, no matter where i jumped etc.

    I went to the bow, and threw my 20# anchor overboard to see just what i had gotten into. It sank 8″ into the slush.

    I stuck my 72″ steel tape into the slush, and couldn’t find the bottom of the slush. Literally 6′ of slush and i was on top of it. Boat in 30 FOW btw, main channel.

    Spent 20-30 minutes with motor rev’n high trying to create a pool behind the boat. Using my net to break up the slush to send it into the prop.

    When the motor opened up about 3′ of water behind the boat, i threw the motor in reverse as the pool filled back up, and was able to get the boat to “Budge” about an inch backward. Instant relief!

    I spent the next hour backing up into the slush, and blowing it back with the motor. All the while i was still ‘on top’ slush. This wasn’t easy because the slush your blowing back, your blowing back into your path. My boat was in fwd/rev constantly for an hour working my way back out.

    Anyway, when i finally got out of the 300′ of slush and into the 600′ of ice, relief was found! Most people stop there and go home but i didn’t want my winter fishing to end by allowing the possibility of this slush to sit and freeze and clog the main channel, so i spent the next hour or so blowing out the 600′ of ice and 300′ of slush. The ice of course was fast and easy to move. But that slush was a bugger!! Waves barely broke it up! Eventually i broke enough supporting structure behind the slush that the river forces took over and shoved the whole 300′ of slush to the side of the channel in minutes! That fun to watch.

    So…If you find yourself boating in slush. Be very careful as it can be deceiving in thickness and before you know it you’re in too deep! I learned something new yesterday and now know how to identify, and eliminate slush from the main channel.

    I’ve heard of slush like this on the Rainy in the winter when people ice fish it, but never experienced it on the Mississippi, or from a boat.

    Anyway, just an exciting Thursday on the water. Stay safe out there, and stay calm.

    As they say …Don’t try this at home.

    This being IDO, a place full of soap box safety keyboard specialists i don’t even want to share this story. But it may help someone decide to stay off the water, or hold a higher caution when on the river.

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    FishBlood&RiverMud
    Prescott
    Posts: 6687
    #1897651

    As i was working my way out of it.

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    catmando
    wis
    Posts: 1811
    #1897661

    You, Sir, are hardcore.

    milemark_714
    Posts: 1287
    #1897669

    I ran across that on a smaller scale,below Dam 6.Was more of a nuisance than anything.Seen that often back in steelhead fishing years,just wait until afternoon and it was gone.That’s in shallow rivers.

    404 ERROR
    MN
    Posts: 3918
    #1897671

    I’ve seen it once or twice in my duck boat. Sunken ice can really destroy things and people don’t even realize it’s there. Glad there was a happy ending for you and the equipment, it’s not always the case.

    Walleyestudent Andy Cox
    Garrison MN-Mille Lacs
    Posts: 4484
    #1897683

    Wow, quite a saga you went through Andy.

    More importantly though, did you catch any fish? coffee

    Huntindave
    Shell Rock Iowa
    Posts: 3092
    #1897697

    Yep, falling snow will make a lot of slush. I almost didn’t make it back to the boat ramp one year. The river was froze over a couple hundred yards below the boat ramp. I launched and went up stream (only direction it was open). It started snowing, snowing hard. About three hours later I head downstream towards the ramp.

    The floating snow/slush is backing up as it collects against the completely locked up river below the ramp. I get to within 100 yards of the ramp and the slush is so thick, I don’t have enough horse power to move the boat.
    I had to use my paddle as a shovel and clear the slush as I crept forward with the boat. I wasn’t sure I’d make it on my own.

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    Dusty Gesinger
    Minnetrista, Minnesota
    Posts: 2417
    #1897712

    I’ve had areas we ice fish on the Minnesota get slushed full under the ice at times. Glad you made it out!

    Deuces
    Posts: 5268
    #1897725

    Looking forward to your book in 40years. toast

    sji
    Posts: 421
    #1897731

    I’m glad you’re ok. Every day is a good day when we learn from our experiences.

    happycampin
    New Richmond, WI
    Posts: 667
    #1897768

    You’re an animal!!!

    tim hurley
    Posts: 5851
    #1897832

    Just because you can go somewhere does not mean you can get back.

    FishBlood&RiverMud
    Prescott
    Posts: 6687
    #1897880

    Just because you can go somewhere does not mean you can get back.

    such is life Bucko

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    Brian Klawitter
    Keymaster
    Minnesota/Wisconsin Mississippi River
    Posts: 59992
    #1905871

    So that’s where all of that ice was coming from over the weekend! I was wondering what broke loose with the cold(er) temps and filled the Red Wing side of the river.

    FishBlood&RiverMud
    Prescott
    Posts: 6687
    #1905890

    Brian.

    What you’re seeing is typical of the first time the river freezes. Except this is the second time around because the last week in December completely thawed the river. It’ll throw ice bergs from msp to pepin until a few areas lock up.

    I passed through redwing Saturday and Sunday so I know what you saw. Spent time on 3 Friday and Sunday. Hard to fish. Flow is PERFECT.

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