Anchor Bay Mishap

[mickey]

I caught the tailend of a report on the news last night that said 2 adults and a kid went through the ice on Anchor Bay.
All were rescued.

Everyone be careful out there.

[ESOX]

I'm glad they got out ok. That wind yesterday should have made them think twice before venturing out. Anyone heading out today, please use extreme caution.

[Downrod]

I heard it was a father and two sons on a 4 wheeler. The 4 wheeler went in. the father and the older kid got off in time. I heard it was a six year old that went in. He was saved by the coast guard. Lucky,Lucky Lucky. Man I would have never taken my kids out there yesterday

[jnpcook]

Any updates? Did they break through at a pressure crack? Did the ice blow out on them? Glad they are ok.

John

[ahasiec]

Thats sad, I wonder what the dad was thinking taking his kids out on a day like yesterday, I mean I know it is important to spend time with your kids, but never worth it if your life and their's is on the line...I mean don't get me wrong...I love fishing..but I love my life much than fishing.

[Ed Michrina]

My guess is that they hit a gas pocket. I'v fished Cotton road set up my shanty on 12" of ice, windy day. A short time later A hole opened up about the size of a car and only feet from my shanty. Have to be carefull.

" it's kinda hard to use your spud when your traveling 30mph "

[mickey]

I hear ya Ed. I was out there last week and the ice was GREAT! In fact, on the news, they showed the victims being driven back to shore in a car!! Thats how unpredictable ice can be. .

[Joe_G]

www.thetimesherald.com/news/stories/20030205/localnews/921847.html

[ESOX]

I am really beginning to wonder about people. The story states he was off Long Island Court, isn't that right near Swan Creek? Didn't we have rain Monday, then wind Tuesday? What the hell was he thinking???? The ice near Swan Creek is always a little iffy, much less under those circumstances.:confused:

[duckbusters]

I wont elaborate on my info, but I can tell you that the father had no idea that the ice was bad, since he had been out on the same area just a couples days prior. We all make mistakes and I can assure you that no father would intentionally put his children in harms way! At least not this type of father!

So cut some slack, it was an honest mistake. And of course the press would love to make it an absolute atrocity. job security I guess :rolleyes:

[treeman]

The fact of the matter is that he wasn't thinking. I am out on the bay an average of 4 days a week and have been for the last 15 years. In spite of my intricate knowledge of how the lake freezes, I still don't take the ice for granted. The are spots that are always thin due to wind and current and shanty holes wash out in the weather we have had. You must always be careful out there.

[duckbusters]

but this guy maybe didnt have the intricate knowledge that some share... Not that ignorance is any excuse, but I wouldnt judge his father hood on a mishap.. thats all I wanted to portray.

[Magnet]

This is an unfortunate accident. I'm sure that this accident created the worst moments in this fathers life. What started out as some quality time with his children almost ended in tragedy. I couldn't imagine being in that situation. It is very fortunate that everyone made it out alive. Someone was looking over him and his family that day. I'm sure the memory of this event will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Truely unfortunate that this happened.
Truely fortunate that they made it out alive.

[Magnet]

Treeman,
The fact of the matter is that he was thinking. He was thinking of sharing a great outdoor esperience with his children. Everything after that was purely accidental.

[outsider]

We shouldnt try to place blame. But praise thoughs that were able to help. And be gratefull that a lesson was learned at a low cost.

[Magnet]

So now your putting quads and snowmobiles in the same category as cars and trucks?

[Tattoo Mike]

I'm with everyone ESOX and treeman for sure. I would never take my kids out on an iffy day like that. 40+ degrees, rain and 50 mph winds. He should have know better.

[mickey]

I will say that I was out on Anchor Bay last week and I saw a couple spearing "holes" cut out of the ice unmarked. I tried and mark them best I could by making a mound of snow and putting a glove in it...like STOP. lol Good thing I had an old pair.
In all seriousness, thats a tragedy waiting to happen. Shame on those who dont think....

[Major Hamhocks]

I have been on Anchor Bay only about a half a dozen times. I didn't even know that there ARE dangerous spots out there. I am aware of the dangers with wind, but who on earth would worry about 40 degree temperatures on one day after having a month worth of temps well below freezing.

Fact of the matter is that I take my ATV out during cold spells like this and that could've just as easily been me that fell through. I stick to the areas where I know people fish a lot but still could've been me.

I hate to hear people be so critical of some mistakes. I wouldn't have had a worry in the world about being out yesterday other than the wind.

Anyway, that is MY .02

M.H.

[east bay ed]

i'm sure the guy didn't do it on purpose. just think they get everyone out,

now he has to go home to the wife.

i think i would just jump back in the water. his wife is going to kill him.
do you honestly think she will ever let him go ice fishing again.

[The Whale]

"Monday Morning Quarterbacking" eh, people ? Lay off passing judgement on anyone, YOU weren't there and YOU don't know the man now do you ?!?


Whale :rolleyes:

[Swamp Monster]

His wife might let him, but it will be a long time before she lets the kids...thats assuming the kids ever dare to venture on ice again. After something that dramatic, they'll want to keep there feet on solid ground for some time...can't blame them.
Unfortunately, accidents happen even when we take all the precautions...I know nothing about Anchor Bay and its conditions so I can't comment on the guys thinking etc.

[Hunt4Ever]

East Bay Ed,

You said it all! That guy will be lucky if he ever gets anymore toys or goes icefishing again.

Do you think there is a market for his man-parts?, he won't be needing them for a while.

[outsider]

HE"S got his kids ,so what if he , they never icefish agian.
Toy's arent what its all about .
I'm sure his wife is huggin and kissin him and the kids.
Glad that they are all together to tell the storey.

[Hunt4Ever]

I live by the saying "..He who dies with the most toys wins!".

I keep telling my wife and I losing, but I'm trying to catch up.

[Tattoo Mike]

Also I'm not aware of any 3 person ATVs. So he would be wrong there too. :rolleyes:

[Magnet]

You guys are way too critical! Never made a mistake before? Too many perfect people here. No compassion. If you guys are that critical all the time, you must be hard to live with. I feel bad for you because you obviously feel like you are better than everyone else and can do no wrong. I hope nothing ever happens to you or your family so that your peers get as critical with you as you have with others by belittling them and ridiculing them because they are not as smart as you. Well, unlike the majority of you, most people aren't perfect and are prone to making a few mistakes in life.
I've had enough of the holier than thou!:mad:

[Fidel Casserole]

I must be an idiot also.....:rolleyes: ....since I was out on the Clinton River today. lol So 10" of ice became 4" (in 2 days) in some places...and the water was nasty brown so I didn't catch crap. I still had fun on the ice!!!!

No spud (just proving I'm an idiot) or anything....just my eyes to check ice thickness (judging the cracks) and my ice spikes on my neck. The ice is currently chrsytal clear after all.

We ALL take chances EVERYTIME we go on the ice. Every body of water has it's own special characteristics and I GUARANTEE you that NONE of us are aware of them all. Instead of judging others based on their accidents why don't we just focus on being safe when WE go out. :confused:

[TONGA]

I have to say I,m sure he felt safe on the ATV, because that day there was at least 30 cars,trucks and vans out well over a mile!
So I am sure he did not think anything of taking the ATV out on the ice

[trout]

What the whole ice fishing community needs to do is hold a jamboree on ice fishing and safety!
The tackle shops and local Businesses need to promote safe fishing!
Any casual TV watcher thinks Ice fishing is akin to sky diving (which is really safer than playing golf in the rain)
In a few more years we won’t legally be on the great lakes fishing because of ALL the negative news.
Perhaps Perch Point Conservation Club could hold safety/ice fishing days?
Some venders could show off the latest gear and the pros could tell us their secrets.
We need to get some positive press going!
Slamming the sport and the participants is not going to help!

[SteelYarn]

I believe the key in this situation is what esox had reported about the individual with his children near a creek mouth. Who in the right mind would venture near a creek, stream, or river mouth without using extreme EXTREME CAUTION. During the best of conditions let alone after a rain and warmup that we had.
Those who fall short in judgement may never get a second chance! THank god in this case we can be fortunate to live and learn.

My 2 cents Wally...

[jpollman]

Accidents will happen. That is all I can say. If there were that many cars/trucks out there he probably felt it was safe. Absolutely NOBODY can say they're ABSOLUTELY SAFE on ANY ice at any particular time. There will always be "soft spots" and areas that can be dangerous. Even if you've fished a particular lake for 20 years or more there is NO WAY that you can be absolutely certain of the ice over the ENTIRE lake surface. There is risk in EVERYTHING you do !

I'm glad this turned out ok and there was nobody seriously hurt or killed. I feel that with the cold weather we've had for such a long time that most of the lakes should be fairly safe. However, the time isn't far off that we'll start seeing many more stories like this as "late season" fishermen start venturing out onto unsafe ice. THIS is the biggest "black-eye" that the sport gets in my opinion. At this point, I don't fault the man for doing what he did. I'm sure he felt it was safe. But the guys that venture out WAY LATE in the season after temps have been near or ABOVE freezing for days on end are the CRAZY ones.

I don't want to open up another can of worms because I'm SURE that "those posts" will start cropping up soon as the icefishing season starts to wind down.

Let's all be safe out there !

[sfw1960]

"He who dies"
with or without ANY toys is hardly a winner....
Ask Thunderhead what I say...
"Live & learn or DIE trying..." :eek:

[ESOX]

Originally posted by Fidel Casserole
I was out on the Clinton River today. lol So 10" of ice became 4" (in 2 days) in some places...and the water was nasty brown

I am not in any manner trying to condemn people for mistakes. We are talking BIG water on the flatlands here. Ice conditions can and do change VERY quickly with a little runoff from snowmelt and rain. That in conjunction with the high winds we had means be careful, be very, very careful. 3 folks on an ATV are a no brainer. I would much rather people survive the weekend to look at me with distain than the alternative...
OK, I'm stepping off the soapbox.

[Fidel Casserole]

I agree with you Esox....3 people on an ATV doesn't sound safe at all. Specially when 2 are YOUNG kids. I would bet they didn't have helmets on either.

I look at it this way......the father learned an important lesson and I guarantee you he will be much more cautious in the future.

Mistakes like his help to remind us all that we need to be careful out there.....even more so if there's been warm weather or rain. Flowing water reduces the ice thickness much faster than I had imagined!

Now if we could have only gotten the father to check posts here....he would have seen your warning about the wind and bad conditions that day. After all, this is THE place to check for the latest and greatest fishing info in our neck of the woods!!