Life jackets.

[chad 1]

I went fishing on the north arm of burt lake yesterday and ran into a friend going out at the same time. He started telling me as we where walking out that during the warm spell we had he fell threw the ice. He said it was 4" of ice but honey comb. He was in about 20' of water. He went in to his armpits. He finnally got back on top after breaking about 15' area of ice. He was wearing a life jacket.
This made me think because I have never went threw and don't wear a life jacket.
Now I am going to start wearing one At least untill we get about 4-5 more inces better to be safe then dead.
Now about the poll who now wears life jackets?

chad1

[Tattoo Mike]

I've read a few stories about people falling through with life jackets on and they went under then the life jacket pulled them up but not to the water surface, to the bottom of the ice. It said that they were held securely to the ice bottom and thats where they were found. This spooked me enough to not wear one. I carry one to throw but would never wear one.

[Jackster1]

I'm not comfortable without carrying two sets of large nails set in dowel rod with me to pull myself up on the ice with if I go in. I string the dowels together and carry them around my neck (I notice others do too). The way I see it, the ice will be there to save you IF you can get back on top of it. A life jacket won't haul you up to safety, it'll just make it easier for the rescuers to spot you while you're bobbing in the ice water.

[Rich M]

First time on a body of water I wear one. And late season too. And I always wear one when I'm alone. But usually only while I'm spudding my way out, then I take it off and stick to my spudded trails. I carry ice awls too and make sure my jacket and hood are zippered up and know where my car keys are. If you go through and manage to escape your keys can freeze to your pocket and leave you out in the cold soaking wet.

I usually fish on large bodies of water and often there is no one around so I play it very safe. A life jacket will keep you afloat so it's one less thing to have to struggle with if you go through. I think the odds of being pinned under the ice by a life jacket are very slim. Certainly not enough to warrant not wearing one. After all the Coast Guard recommends wearing a life jacket on the ice, if it were really that dangerous I don't think they would endorse it!

I don't doubt that someone somewhere may have been pinned under the ice but lets be realistic. That's like arguing that someone at one time was decapitated by their seat belt therefore seat belts are unsafe and you should never wear one again! You've got to go with the odds.

Be safe!

[ifish4eyes]

To each there own. If you don't wear it so be it. I where my life persever because I'm not letting my wife collect the insurance money. LOL. :)

[Joe'sCat]

I never even thought to look for / buy a PFD, so I don't wear one. I did buy and if the ice is even close to marginal, ice awls around my neck in easy reach.

I did buy a spud this year too. While not spudding the ice, I carry it sideways, balanced. It's easier to carry that way, and if I suddenly go through, it may act as a "bridge" over where I went in, maybe another way to pull myself out.

[Magnet]

Another means for escape. If you carry a five gallon bucket, use the bucket as a step. The bucket should be turned upside down in the water. Use the handle of the bucket for the step. The bucket, being upside down, should be full of air and would help support your weight so that you may get a better angle for crawling back out onto the ice.

Boy, did I make that sound awkward.

Magnet:)

[boehr]

Always wear my life jacket, if the ice is not safe, I don't go on it. Fish are just not that important to me.

[Strawberri]

Don't need a life jacket when I use common sense concerning ice thickness. I would like to catch the fish. I don't want to go back to the bottom of the food chain. I look for at least 3" of ice on a inland lake before I'll venture out on it and at least 10" on the big lake.

[Tattoo Mike]

Wow, I never hear of the bucket escape before. I always have it with me and never thought of that. Thanks for the tip magnet.

[Eastern Yooper]

I went thru one time in 4 feet of water.

That was joyful.

Try this sometime: Put all your heavy ice-fishing clothes and boots on. Then jump in the deep end of a swimming pool, and see if you can pull yourself up and out over the side.

It will be alot more difficult than you think!

Now imagine being out on a lake and the water temp is 33 degrees. The wind is howling. And the ice keeps breaking everytime you try and hoist yourself back out. Wet ice is slippery, and the ice-grips just ain't working like you expected them to.

My friends, you are only going to get maybe 5 minutes worth of time to try and get out before the cold starts to suck the life out of you. There are also cramps to worry about.

Play it safe and wear a life jacket if you think the conditions warrant. Better yet: If you think you may need one.... STAY OFF the ice until its safer.

[tangledknot]

If the ice is questionable, I won't even go out. I have a terrible habbit of not paying attention of where I am walking and stepping in auger and spud holes. I've provided some real belly laughs for my husband and have been very cold and uncomfortable for the rest of the day's fishing. Now I always wear my neoprene waders!! ;)

[river_walleye]

I purchased one of the inflatable life preservers called SOSpenders. They are worn on the outside of your clothes and look like suspenders. If you fall in you can pull the cord which inflates the jacket. They also make a set that inflates automatically. So far I haven't needed to inflate them and hopefully never will. They are much more comfortable than a conventional jacket and reasonably priced.

[wetfoot]

i have worn it a couple times this year.AFTER I WENT THRU IN 12 FOW. im not sure but i think but i think my new icefishen pants and big boots saved my ass my bibs are gortex and were secured tightley around my big ole boots. iwent threw bobed rite streight up layed over on the ice and rolled out all in about 1.2 seconds. i think it worked out that way because i was sealed up on the lower half ipoped up like a bobber. only got a little water in 1 boot. didnt even have to quit fishen. there was probibly a little luck involved to. im now a life jacket warer when ice conditions warent it.


stay on top
wetfoot

[icewolf]

I sometimes wear a life jacket while icefishing (but) i always wear a SOSpenders while ridding my atv on the ice an the lanyard is attached to the atv so if the atv goes through the ice it well
auto- inflate an the atv goes down an i stay on top of the water
i hope but i never put this to a test. but sounds good to me
just remember to unhook the lanyard from the atv before you get off the re-arming kit is not cheep ben-there an done that.
:D

[tangledknot]

You guys have got me thinking about the SOS suspenders. I've seen them in catalogs. Any place to look for a good deal?

[Magnet]

I don't know about a good deal, but I have seen them at Boaters World and West Marine.

Magnet:)

[Big Al]

Icewolf, I hope that the lanyard on your SOSpenders is real lightweight because it would kind of suck to be dragged to the bottom while you're hooked onto you atv.

[1sh0t]

the only way i would use the suspenders is like icewolf cause the last thing i would think to do is pull the cord, i would stick to the conventional jackets they are cheaper and keep you a little warmer. ;)