Tips for Better (and Safer) Ice Fishing
Get your Winter Fishing Fix
Just because the lake is frozen solid, doesn’t mean the fishing action has stopped. Ask any seasoned ice fisherman, and she/he will tell you that the hot bite for perch, panfish, walleye and other species can be found by dropping jigs, minnows, wax worms and lures through a hole in the ice in the dead of winter. But a smart ice fisherman will also tell you that the real key to success starts with safety.
So when is the lake or river ice safe enough to fish on? Unfortunately, there’s no real definitive answer to that question. Ice safety can be influenced by a number of factors, such as water salinity, currents under the ice layer and the weight or pressure fresh snowfall places on the ice. Your local state fish and wildlife agency is best tuned into these nuances that determine safe ice fishing in your region. Check their recommendations regularly.
For example, Minnesota is home to some of the most avid and expert ice anglers in America, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends the following guidelines: Under 4 inches thick the ice is too thin for fishing, period. Between 4 and 6 inches thick, ice is usually safe for ice fishing by foot, so long as anglers are spaced apart and travel in single file lines. Ice between 6 and 10 inches thick is typically safe for driving ATVs and snow machines. Driving trucks and other vehicles is usually discouraged by state agencies, but the Minnesota DNR suggests that ice should be at least 10 inches thick for small vehicles, and 16 inches thick for medium-sized vehicles. If you do drive on the ice, remember to do so with your windows open, your doors unlocked and an exit strategy in mind.
Keep these five rules top of mind when ice fishing, wherever you go:
Rule 1. Never ice fish alone and always let people on land know where you and your fishing party are going.
Rule 2. Always test the ice with an auger to accurately gauge its depth before you fish or drive on it.
Rule 3. Alcohol consumption with ice fishing is a recipe for disaster.
Rule 4. Always have extra clothing, blankets, a first aid kit and a cellular phone handy when you go ice fishing.
Rule 5. If you break through the ice, don’t grab the ledge and pull down (you’ll only break more ice). Instead, latch onto the ice with your arms, and vigorously kick and roll your way onto the ledge, then head for shore in the same direction you walked out. If you’re helping someone else who has fallen in, lay down flat (preferably in a human chain with others), and use a rope, pole, stick or your hands as a last resort, to reach the person.
Remember that ice fishing is typically safer on smaller bodies of water. Your most important asset is good judgment: if you hear loud cracks, see wet cracks, or sense the conditions aren’t right, save the fishing for another day. Consider wearing a life jacket. And always dress in warm layers to protect yourself from the cold. Remember, you don’t need to fall in to get frostbite or hypothermia.
Links to more info?
More ice fishing tips from TakeMeFishing.org
How to find fish under the ice
Sources:
www.nodakoutdoors.com/ice_fishing_safety
U.S. Army Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/index.html
Minnesota DNR
New Hampshire Fish & Game Department
www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/Fishing_PDFs/Safety_on_ice.pdf
