Special notice to kids

[lawnguy]

A special notice to those who take kids out with them. While at Ford Lake today I saw a little girl (probably 7 or so years old) fall knee deep into a fresh hole. we all know to watch for these things but I think alot of us forget to remind the kids that they MUST watch for these things. Luckily she was only scared and wet with no injuries, but this really opened my eye to what could have been a trip to the hospital. Please.... remind the kids that open holes are dangerous even if they're only 6" diamter. Also, if you take your dogs with you and they tend to walk around keep a close eye that they dont find a hole!

[tommy-n]

Thats why 10" holes are over kill, The kids could go up to their waste

[neil duffey]

Thats why 10" holes are over kill, The kids could go up to their waste
so how do u expect me to spear then sir? :D heres my question though... when i spear... i always fill the hole w/ the ice i cut out, and snow... try and pack it tight... then i clear away the area so u can see a filled in hole... i fill it in to freeze up faster. should i not fill it in? or am i doing good, and thinking correctly that it will freeze up solid faster that way?

[lawnguy]

if possibly, grab a stick or somethign that you can stick up in the air by the hole. I know that some that spear can make big holes but just be cautious of the next guy. build a border around the hole, put a stick in the snow sticking up. Just leave some form of warning. (how's the spearing going so far for ya neil?)

[tommy-n]

I"ll second the use of a twig, branch, brush after the ice melts it won"t hurt nothing

[scottyhoover]

tommy you forgot...the kids arent supposed to be on the ice anyway?? :)

10'' holes are overkill, catch your fish on hook and line.

I always see kids packing Dad's old holes with slush so you cannot tell they are there....that drives me nuts.

[neil duffey]

yesterday was my first day of perch spearing this season... almost had a hog but as soon as i was about to throw the spear... a sled came racing by my shanty not 10 ft away and spooked all the perch for the next half hour. no spreaing yet :( my perch spreaing hole is no bigger then 1 by 2... and i fill here in. ill bring sticks from now on.

[ESOX]

Some might think this is overkill, but better too much than too little. My kids have oversized vest type pfd's that they wear on the ice over all their other clothes ( I actually got them for late fall fishing). My wife doesn't worry the whole time we are gone that way either. The kids also discovered that the slick nylon makes for some awesome body sledding, and the flotataion adds padding that smoothes out the bumps. I'll just have to make sure I get them some new ones that weren't played with at ice out.