Be Careful Out There !!!

[jpollman]

Hi fellow icefishermen (and women ;))

I know you're all chompin' at the bit to get out there and start drilling holes but PLEASE BE CAREFUL !!! I was just on my way home to Rochester from Troy. I was coming up Rochester Road north of Long Lake. I noticed a couple of volunteer firemen and an ambulance approaching me so I pulled over to the right. They turned in to the Sylvan Glen golf course but just seemed to drive around the parking lot. Then they pulled back out on to Rochester Rd. and headed south again. Immediately I thought "Uh-Oh, someone is through at the lake". I continued north but turned around and went back to check. By the time I got back to the park area where the lake is at there were two ambulances about 5 police cruisers, a couple of rescue vehicles and about 20 other vehicles there. There is ice close to shore but still a lot of open water at that particular lake. From my vantage point, I couldn't see any broken ice but there were a lot of people milling around near the south shore. I couldn't see much going on but somebody was in TROUBLE ! After a few minutes of not being able to tell what was up I decided to leave. A number of the volunteers were also leaving. I headed north again on Rochester Rd. A minute or two later an ambulance with lights and sirens going full force passed me on the way to Beaumont Hospital.

I know it's a lot of fun to ice fish but please be careful and wait until it's safe. It's not worth the risk of life to catch a few fish. Be patient ! The fish will still be there when the ice is safe.

Take care and stay on top !

[mike h]

You can never be too careful Jpollman. I hope whoever it was is OK.

[Capt. Lucky]

yes lets wate for safe ice (but its not easy)

[tkpolasek]

With the recent snowfall here on the west side of the state it is only going to make it more dangerous yet guys, there wasn't a whole lot of ice yet and now you put 4 or 5 inches of snow on it and your asking for trouble. The ice will come soon enough be careful.

Tim

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Just got back from fishing. A full 5 inches of nice clear hard ice. A couple of lakes just north of Rochester. Let the fun begin!!!!!

[jpollman]

I just saw the Fox 2 News.

Apparently a woman was walking her dogs when one of them ran out on to the 1/2" thick ice and fell through. She went after it and obviously went in too. Two officers had to go in after her but were able to get them out. It was strange because near the end of the story they started to interview a woman whos house backs up to the lake. As they're talking to her I'm thinking "She looks familiar". Then all of a sudden it clicked. It was my brother-in-law's sister ! I new they lived in Troy but I didn't know it was there.

I guess all are going to be ok.

[Swamp Monster]

Hard to blame her, I'd go in after my dog too!!! Maybe a leash would have kept her dry though!

[Pinefarm]

There's guys going out around here, but it sounds like about 2-3" of ice in many places. But that means 1-2" somewhere too. Be very careful. Here's the extended forecast for Baldwin. The daytime highs don't look too great for what little ice we have.
http://www.weather.com/weather/local/49304?lswe=49304&lwsa=WeatherLocalUndeclared

[jpollman]

Bob,
that's the way I look at it. There are a lot of guys on here that say they'll fish 3-4". While 4" may be strong enough to hold you there are always going to be thinner spots ! The ice is never the same thickness everywhere on the lake. That is why I wait for at least 6" generally. That way, even the "thin spots" should be at least 4-5" and safe.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

You got to know your lake. You can't make blanket statements about every lake in the area. Thats where experiance come in.

One time out on LSC, 4 of use were walking side by side when one guys foot went in. We were on 1 foot of ice. No shanty hole either. Must have been a gas pocket.

Last year out by Fair Haven, ice was 8-10" thick yet there was an area with water. Fairly large too. You could walk right up to it and still be on 8" of rock hard ice.

[slim Jim]

For first ice, you'd think common since would sink in too people that you have to use caution while out there. If there's 3 or so inches of ice you stay where it's safe, and not venture. That's where stupidity falls in at as pushin your luck.

[Big Al]

There was a fatality in Allegan county yesterday, I'm not sure of all the details but according to the radio this morning emergency crews responded to a report of abandoned fishing equiptment on the ice and ended up pulling out a body. My lake had 3-4" of hard ice yesterday morning when I checked it. I tried to go fishing last night but the ice had softened up so much that my spud went through about 10' from shore.