My Fear- Hopefully Not Realized
A few irresponsible people are putting out ice reports to try to drum up business not realizing the possible consequences!!
I have the real fear that this weekend, after this cool down, too many people are going to go out onto the Main Lake, think the ice is uniform, and just take off thinking that they are on a consistent 6-7 inches of ice. They are going to hit one of the recently frozen portions of the lake that is only 1-2 inches thick and go through.
That scenario, without extreme caution, is very real. We just finished a drive and there are way too many open water protions on the lake to conceivably make enough ice to make wanton wandering around the lake 100% safe. If you are going to venture onto the lake this weekend:
- Drill as you go
- Go on foot
- Travel in at least pairs
- Have picks and rope with
- Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you should return.
NO FISH IS WORTH A LIFE!
Some Ice May Appear Good To Go
And 200 yards Away…
Our worry at this time is that someone is going to drill in just off the boat launch, see 6 inches and think it’s go time, that open water portion will freeze over the next couple nights and there will be extremely thin ice initially. That is why it is so important to drill as you go and know the conditions.
Some Areas ARE Good
The Northern Feeder Lakes, some parts of 6 Mile Bay, Some parts of Pelican Lake, and Some parts of the Flats have fishable ice. There is still a few areas of open water on 6 Mile and the Flats. The tracks on Pelican were open as of last weekend. Parts of Alice and Irvine had scary cracks and pressure ridges that present unsafe areas.
If one is responsible, takes precautions, and gathers as much information as possible; there is fishable ice right now.
Be Safe, NO ICE IS SAFE ICE!
Good Luck out there!
