ICE SAFETY RECAP
By Mashkodebizhikigahbaw, Benji Sam
In the year 2024, it should go without saying that no ice is ever 100% safe, and yet, here we are coming off a record-setting year for ice-related incidents across the ice belt related to vehicles and persons falling through the ice compared to any recent year on record. According to the Minnesota DNR, since 1976, an average of 5.6 deaths have occurred annually as a result of falling through the ice while pursuing fish on bodies of water across Minnesota. In the ice season of 2023-2024, due to an abnormally warm winter, the ice conditions varied across lakes throughout the entire state.
Through even just the month of December in 2023, news outlets all over the region began covering ice rescues, vehicle recovery, and state-wide travel advisories against venturing out onto lakes throughout the state. As the year continued, record-high incidents of falling through and vehicle recovery efforts plagued ice fishermen everywhere. It is advised to maintain safety precautions when traveling on early ice, this means taking all steps to ensure fishermen will return home after enjoying their time on the hard water.
With today’s technology, there is simply no excuse to be traveling on thin ice without the proper safety gear. Floatsuit technology has never been more affordable and serves a pur pose for both warm gear as well as a safety mechanism that will help keep anyone wearing it afloat should they fall through the ice. Next is to always travel with ice picks tied in a place easily accessible such as around the neck collar or in a sealed pocket in the event of taking on water. These ice picks can help a victim to become a survivor by allowing an individual to climb their way out on what is often smooth, slippery ice. It is also advised that ice fishermen travel with at least 100 feet of heavy-duty rope. In the event of coming across an ice collapse victim or a friend who has fallen through, a partner may be able to throw the victim a loop to lasso around their body to assist them back onto safe ice.
As important as the safety and rescue tools are to bring along on each trip, it is arguably more important to have a safe strategy to test ice thickness before venturing out onto a body of water. A favorite among most anglers is a sharp, handheld chisel or spud bar to be able to test the ice thickness with each step as they walk out onto the lake. Knowing how many swings it takes for your chisel to break through safe ice is imperative to ice safety and can be the difference between a wonderful, successful experience and a catastrophic failure. A second technique is to use an ice auger and a measuring tool to mea sure the exact thickness before venturing out onto the lake.
Many individuals who fall through are venturing past ad vised travel ranges, onto lakes and rivers that have hot springs or moving water which create unstable and unpredictable ice conditions, or onto large bodies of water that have pressure ridges and inconsistent freeze patterns due to high winds. Assuming that ice is 100% safe is the largest mistake ice fisher men can make and just because you can see other fishermen out on the water does not mean the entire body of water is currently safe and stable.
As the ice season progresses it is also important to remember that snow coverage can reduce ice thickness as well and areas where sheet ice piles up or snow drifts remain heavy can cover the most dangerous ice on the lake. Utilizing resorts and ice road management can be a safe strategy and listening to resorts to not travel past marked ice zones can also ensure a safe trip for the next big catch. We owe it to our friends, our families, and our loved ones to practice safe fishing and it is important to remember that no fish is ever worth a life.
