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Five Things to Know Before You Go Ice Fishing This Winter
With winter upon us, many people in the northern states of the U.S. and in Canada are getting ready for ice fishing season. Ice fishing can be a great, relaxing sports that gives us something to do in the colder months of the year, but it can also be a safety hazard – after all, you’ll be sitting on a sheet of ice! If you want to make sure that you enjoy your ice fishing this winter, without compromising your safety, these five tips should be a good start.
1. Know the ice strength, and only go one the ice when you know it’s safe. There will be signs up all winter warning you about the strength of the ice, so pay heed to them. A good rule of thumb for knowing whether ice is strong enough is looking out and seeing if other people with more weight – people and equipment – are out there already and have been for a while. You’ll want to make sure the ice is strong, so it’s a good idea to be patient and wait for it rather than risk falling in. (Do remember, however, that early in the season, “first ice” tends to be stronger, as ice later in the season can be more rotten.)
2. Know what effects ice strength. Whether or not the ice can hold you isn’t only about its thickness – after all, wind conditions can make ice thicker in one area and less thick in another. The current under the ice, the wind, underwater plants, and the time the ice formed during the season will all have an effect on the quality of the ice.3. Don’t explore. It might be tempting to get all the fish that other people are missing by venturing out on your own and exploring ice yourself, but this can be incredibly dangerous and it’s highly recommended. Remember: fools rush in where angels dare to tread. It’s better to know that a lake’s ice can support weight.
4. Wear wool as the layer on your skin. Wool retains its insulating properties even when wet, so if you do fall in the water, you’ll want to be wearing wool. On the outside of your body, you’ll want to have something water-resistant to keep you dry.
5. If you do have an issue with the ice, stay calm. Don’t panic even when the situation seems to call for it – panicking can make a bad situation worse. Instead, educate yourself further on how to handle ice in a difficult situation. A calm head will help you keep your wits about you.
This article is by no means a comprehensive safety guide to ice fishing. Ice fishing is a more complicated and risky sport for that. But hopefully these tips will help you understand that ice fishing isn’t only about understanding how thick the ice is.
Photo Credits: Vince Alongi
