Wow! This year is finally coming to a close. It has seemed like 2020 would never end but it looks like we finally may be able to turn the page and move forward.
Granted, the overriding issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic are not going away soon. It appears that the end will continue to be influenced by the willingness of all of us, across Massachusetts and the United States to continue to make the sacrifices needed to keep the virus in check. At some point, factors like immunization will begin to bring it to the inevitable conclusion of this miserable period in all our lives and we should be able to move on towards resuming our lives as we lived them.
In the meantime, we do have some things to look forward to. Massachusetts primitive arms deer season continues until the last hunting day of December and ice fishing will soon be here. Every year, this space features pertinent information about safety on the ice provided by MassWildlife. Please take time and read it, even if you have years of experience of “hard water” fishing.
Ice fishing has seen a significant increase in recent years here in the Northeast. In the upper Midwest, ice fishing has long been very popular and most of the recent innovations in the sport have come from those passionate ice fishermen who target crappie, perch, panfish and walleye in addition to northern pike and trout. The use of sonar flashers has increased dramatically, and specialized baits and lures have resulted.
Creating holes to fish has come a long way from the auger or “spud” of my youth and the evolution has included hand- and gas-powered augers and now battery-powered augers and attachments for your industrial-grade drill. There are a myriad of shanty-like portable enclosures to break the harsh winter wind and keep you comfortable while fishing. Apparently, you don’t have to suffer and freeze your hands to have fun. Who knew? As you head out to ice fish, please heed the MassWildlife advice that follows. It could save a life!
First, how can you tell if ice is safe? There are no guarantees. Always consider ice to be potentially dangerous. You can’t judge ice conditions by appearance or thickness alone; many other factors like water depth, size of water body, water chemistry, currents, snow cover, age of ice, and local weather conditions impact ice strength.
New ice is stronger than old ice. Four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not.
Ice doesn’t freeze uniformly. Continue to check ice conditions frequently as you venture out onto the ice.
Ice formed above flowing water and currents is often more dangerous. Avoid traveling onto ice-bound rivers and streams, as the currents make ice thickness unpredictable. Many lakes and ponds may contain spring holes and other areas of currents that can create deceptively dangerous thin spots.
Before heading out onto the ice:
Tell someone your plans, including where you are going and when you expect to return. Try not to go alone.
Come prepared. Carry a cell phone in case of emergency. Always carry ice picks and rope with you on the ice. In case of emergency, drive the nails into the ice and pull yourself to safety while kicking.
Wear a jacket. If you fall in, a life jacket will keep you at the surface and can provide insulation against the effects of cold water.
The guidelines below are for clear, blue ice on lakes and ponds. White ice or snow ice is only about half as strong as new clear ice and can be very treacherous. Use an ice chisel, auger, or cordless drill to make a hole in the ice and determine its thickness and condition. Bring a tape measure to check ice thickness at regular intervals.
Ice Thickness: Permissible load (on new clear/blue ice on lakes or ponds)
■2 inches or less, STAY OFF!
■4 inches, ice fishing or other activities on foot
■5 inches, Snowmobile or ATV
■8 to 12 inches, Car or small pickup truck
■12 to 15 inches, Medium truck
Don’t panic: Call for help if there are people nearby.
Don’t remove winter clothing: Air trapped in your clothes can provide warmth and help you float.
Turn towards the direction you came from: Ice you previously walked on should be the safest.
Place your hands and arms on an unbroken surface and kick your legs: If you have ice picks or a pair of nails, use them to pull yourself up onto the ice while kicking.
Lie flat and roll away: Once your torso is on firm ice, roll toward thicker ice to distribute your weight.
Find shelter and get warm: Change out of wet clothing and find warm, dry coverings. If you are in a remote area, get to or start a campfire. Otherwise, get to a car or house. Seek medical advice from your physician on medical attention.
Remember the phrase “Preach-Reach-Throw-Go.”
Preach: Call 911 if you can. Shout to the victim to reassure them help is on the way.
Reach: If you can safely reach them from shore, extend an object like a rope, jumper cables, tree branch, or ladder to them. (Plan to have something for this situation in your vehicle)
Throw: Toss one end of a rope or something that will float to the victim.
Go: If the situation is too dangerous for you to perform a rescue, call 911 or go to find help. Untrained rescuers can become victims themselves.
Do not attempt to rescue the pet, go find help. Well-meaning pet owners can easily become victims themselves when trying to assist their pets. Remember to always keep pets leashed while on the ice.
This week’s storm put heavy snow on thin ice. It is an insulator and will increase the amount of time and cold required to make ice thicker. Please use abundant caution when heading out on the ice, I want you to enjoy this winter and the spring as well.
I would like to wish everyone a very happy season! Hopefully we can adjust to the limitations on socialization needed to keep everyone healthy and still enjoy everything that makes this season special.