actually read an article where a guy did a study boots off/boots on ,he said it took too much time and effort to get them off while he could have been using the time to get out of the water,he also said the boots made his feet a lot more bouyant and easier to slide onto the ice.

Icce is sharp, you will like having the boots during and aftter the event for sure! I don't think your ability to swim is deminished much with shoes/boots, I took advanced life saving a number of years ago, and one of the things that was stressed was to keep your clothes on for boyancey, now this was in relation to open water, since you are not swiming a long distance I cant see how taking your boots off could be of any value.

I had the misfortune to go thru the ice last yeat at Glasgo Pond in Griswold. I had sneakers on that day because my boots hurt my feet. I broke thru rotten white ice without warning into ten feet of water. Once I realized I wasn't dreaming, (I'm not trying to be funny here- it was my first thought) I realized I had to get up to the surface fast or I wasn't going to. What was probably ten seconds under water seemed like alot more but when I surfaced I was turned towards where I was going in the first place and the ice wouldn't support me. I turned the other way, made my way to my sled which had'nt gone in with me and kicked out onto the ice and lay flat for a few seconds. I then rolled and was able to stand, grabbed the rope to my sled and slowly walked to my car which wasn't far away since this happened at the boat ramp where I parked. I for one, with only the experience of actually going thru the ice as my scientific study, will NEVER wear boots on the ice. Multiple pairs of socks, 3 plastic bags on each foot and sneakers will do the job for me. I don't believe I would be here today if I had my boots on. It would be a rare individual who would have both the presence of mind and the actual time to get off even an untied pair of boots and still get back to the top. I now wear a life vest and always try to have as partner and a plan.

I agree, Ice pics would be the way to get out!!
Hopefully I never havet to try them, but hey are always in my pocket, or if on unknown areas around my neck.

Absolute, unthinkable worst case scenario:

A friend or fellow ice-fisherman near you goes under, and doesn't come up on his own.

What do you do?

This would really send you into panic mode, but it's best to think of it now, and prepare yourself mentally for what you would do.

I've never prepared for this.

One plan would be to keep a section of rope, with a brightly colored, sinkable object to throw down the hole for him to grab onto, so you can pull him up.

The good ones aren't cheap...

Mustang Suit

This is what I wear, a flotation coverall, not only for safety, but it is well insulated and waterproof. Basically, it is a full body PFD. Warm too..

Stearns I580

One thing to remember if you do go through and under the ice is to get your face right up to the bottom of the ice. Numerous air bubbles and air pockets will permit you to take small breaths. Cracks in the ice have much larger air pockets, even small cracks. Plus you can wedge your hand into the cracks to keep yourself from sinking. The object is if you can't find your way back to where you broke through, as is the case in lakes or rivers with current, you at least make yourself visable to those looking for you.

I've been through several times always trying to get on early ice. The first time was the worst because I was not prepared. However when I went through, my arms must have automatically extended out from my sides which kept me from going completely under. My one piece snowmobil suit at first became a big float long enough for me to figure out where I was and roll back up on the ice. What made it diffecult was my suit began to get saturated, weighing me back down and causing me to panic. I was screaming for help as loud as I could while rolling onto the ice. And rolling and screaming and rolling. I finally layed spread eagle and calmed down. Never did see anyone and had a tough time getting back to the car. Luckily I was not far off shore.

Now when I go out on first ice, I tell my wife or neighbor where I'm going, where I plan to fish, and how long I'll be. Also leave a large note on the dash of the car with the same info. I wear a life jacket and ice picks. I use a long tow rope for my sled so it doesn't go through with me. In the sled I have two throwable cushions, one with 50 feet of thick yellow nylon rope that floats. I also keep my cell phone in the sled, not on me. When I've gone in I first pull the sled towards me to get the cushion without rope and then push the sled the tow rope length away. Then I use the picks to get out. You want that extra flotaion in case you keep breaking through ice with the picks while your jacket and pants or suit get saturated. The entire process sounds long but only takes seconds. Pushing the sled away gives someone else the chance to save you with the other cushion and rope in case you can't get back on the ice. Keeping the sled at rope length away allows you to pull it back toward you to call with your phone. Also, treating your snowsuit, pants, and jacket with water repelent spray each year slows the saturation time. I learned all this from a Paramedic in Minnesota that taught ice fishing safety classes. He had lost a brother ice fishing and had been through himself. Preparation and knowing exactly what your going to do makes the whole experience much less stressful.

It's been 9 years since I've been in but I was on a streak there for awhile. Of course the obvious is always try to take someone with you. But I can never seem to get another idiot to go out on 2 inches of clear ice with me.

Jeez..... I've got to rethink all this.....

I've heard badminton is a nice sport........


Don't mean to make light of a serious subject - this is a great thread and very informative.

Mitch--great topic and i read the lengthy article-but a review was in order...One thing in my favor---having not missed a meal in a few decades-"have built in bouyancy and insulation"...98% of my ice fishing has been after the toothy fellow at Bantam for some yrs now...and its been in shallow water.But a few yrs.ago i wanted to expand my ice jigging--which meant going on lakes i did not know well...And it was adventures on my own..Once i knew where i was going--i would look at a map. Besides what the drop-offs looked-like-i was looking for moving water and springs. When i arrive at a new lake.i always would go to where fisherman are and stay in that area and ask alot of questions pertaining to safety issues. I would always have a spud-plus 45ft of ski rope with handle that pulls my sled with a boat flotation cushion..nice to sit on also...Reading this article reminds me to start taking the cushion out again. I have'nt abandoned my spud yet...My biggest concern is getting out of the hole..i always carry my ice picks-but 225lbs+clothes{dry wgt.} and getting on in years --The$300+ for a suit that Rob.V has- sounds like a great investment.The bib bottoms and wind breaker{UCONN LOGO} thats been my outerwear for many years-cost more than $300..I think i'd feel mentally and physically alot better prepared than i am now..

Great topic Mitch. I know I'm unprepaired. I have ice picks and life lines and thats it. I think most of us say to ourself it won't happen to me. Especially after this recent cold spell. Everybody thinks the ice is so thick. They forget about the wind and how deep the lake is. As far as a flotation device goes I will have one with me. If I don't use it, I'll sit on it. Beats a hard bucket. Just remember nobody is invinsible. To all that read these reports please learn. I know I have learn alot more.

I forgot to mention, the Stearns suit has an inflatable collar, with a coiled hose attached. Very handy!

There's some great advice in here to get yourself prepared.

River Rat, your tip about putting a loop in the end of the line is a great idea. I never though of that, but will do so now. Thanks.

******* Bump *******

If anyone plans on ice-fishing this week, please re-read this thread.

We don't want to read about your death in the newspaper.

If you're going solo, use extreme caution.

Do not forget that a good whistle on a laynyard.

Now that thes season is almost over and ice conditons are failing I will make it a point to always have me rescue whistle and spikes arond my neck. I will also have my rope with "Loop" in the end with me on the ice.

Be carefull this time of year on the ice. No fish is worth drowning for !

Every person that steps foot on the ice now needs that NECKLACE!!!!. Wow, Cedar lake in Chester was crowded yesterday!!!

Who was on there???

As everyone knows I went through last year.I believe all the basics have been covered except for one blatant omission,as obvious as it appears,don`t go alone.I did,no one would have known exactly where I was either.Tell someone ,where you are going and when you expect to return.Also be carefull around ponds with beavers!They have exit holes everywhere,especially near the lodge and adjacent shorelines.

I was on the ice Sunday 2/29 at 6:30 am, by the time I went to get off at noon, there was 6-8" of water all around the edges. The ice was too soft to support my weight there despite 15-17" of ice on the main body of water. I walked about 200 yards further than I had in the morning to find a spot to get off the ice without getting soaked. The ice broke about 3' from shore but it was only about 8" deep. With the warm temps and rain expected it's over for me. I put my stuff away til next year.

What we had on Sunday was 2 lengths of 50' heavy rope, a throwable coushion, 3 sets of ice picks that we were'nt wearing. Pretty dumb when you think this won't happen to me. Big mistake! A propane touch with electronic start, every ice fisherman should have one, a camp axe and a good knife. We used everything on Sunday. If you have quad and trailer you need a more elaborate plan. Thinking your invinsible does'nt cut it. I have a year to plan.

A few thoughts on ice saftey. I own a drysuit for winter surfing. It is very light weight and thin. The clothes you wear under it keep you warm. You could ice fish in it. It does float if there is a bit of air in it.I spent about $450.00 on it several years ago. Warmwinds surf shop (or any) can get them. OS Systems makes them.
Having gone through the ice myself, the scare, the gasp and the cold water all work to disorient you. The panic will drown you the quickest. The rope is good and ice picks are good. Wear them around your neck on long shoe laces or a tether of some sort so they are right there. After all this has been said, take some of the other advice on the site, stay home and polish lures, sharpen hooks, and rerig your gear for next year. It just isnt worth it! Dont mean to preach, just sharing my perspective, and experience.

Come on Mitch....I still have a month of ice fishing left. You thin blooded southerners. :rolleyes:

hey mitch i blew work off monday and fished tyler for some the ice was 18" easy with 2 snowmobiles cruising around BUT after all these reports I'M DONE rember Bantam 2 years ago? that day broght back bad memories for me. Keep up the good work on what u started with this web site.

Mitch,
I figure I have 3-4 weekends left and then I'm done. There will probably be "safe" ice beyond that, but I don't press my luck with spring ice.

Bob,

Good call bumping this one.

Funny, I was just thinking about moving an "Offshore" safety tips thread to the Hall of Fame section last night. I couldn't find just one thread on it, so I just started one this morning.

Ice Fishing and Offshore are probably our riskiest endeavors, with probably wading next. It would be nice to have some stand-alone safety threads to help people out -- it just might save a life.

See this video on what to do when you fall in:

http://www.ctfisherman.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/ubb/get_topic/f/27/t/001232/p/1.html?

the other day we tied a rope to us and dragged it when we felt scared to get a tip up...if you go under and a long rope is tied it might help you find entry hole or help pull you out..


Becarful

Seeing that the ice has thickened up to the point that a lot of you are going back onto the ice, I thought it would be appropriate to give this thread a bump. Hopefully everyone will take a couple of minutes to read through it as a "tune-up" for ice safety.

Have fun, but please be safe....let's not meet by accident.

they should sell a rope later that you nail in to the ice

I saw a video by the DEP that also said if you tried several times and can't get out, lay your arms on the ice and let the coat freeze there in case you become unconscious. There have been several rescues made because the person did not sink, and was saved awaiting help.

I've never gone thru but do take necessary precautions. Another critical piece of gear you shoud have is a noise making device. I keep a whistle on my co2 inflatable vest and keep the ice pics around my neck. A small canned sound horn is also good. The sound making device is necessary of course if nobody is close enough to see or hear you go thru. It would be ashame to struggle to get out by yourself while your buddies are in the ice shack and have no idea you have gone thru.

this was good reading and learning. I am hearing of all the fun being had with everyone catching fish ice fishing, and i have been thinking about getting some equipment and going with my two kids, 9, 11. but, some of this is sounding scary. I dont care if i fall thru,( well, i care, but i would rather fall thru than one of my kids. i like the idea of wearing a floatation device. And i guess if i see an opening in an area to stay clear of that and to fish where others are fishing is probably a good sign. Any other helpful hints for a safe ice fishing expedtion is greatly heeded.

The only tip I can give and it does work! If you go through turn around and try and get out the same direction you came from before you went in. You know that ice is safe, but the ice in front of you may not be, So don't keep tiring to go in the direction you were heading. Turn around pull yourself out and head back the way you came. You just don't know how big the unsafe area is. It can be 3 ft or 30 ft away from being safe.

Bump for the '08 season!

Glad you were able to get out OK!

Truth is, I wasn't far behind you. I was heading in the same direction and never would have seen the area in the low light. Thankfully, others passed the word about the bad ice or I might have been in the same predicament.

Along a pressure ridge at the red line...

Mitch check out Artic Armor. Every fisherman must have one of these.

today i saw two guys walking across the ice by the sailboats in the LT River area. pure salt water, directly adjectent to the river. they were taking it step by step, testing it all the way. we couldnt believe someone would chance that on a salt river.

stupid.

Look up Artic Armor.

CRRRRRRAAAAACCCCCKKKKK ! ! bump !