"Falling Through!"

[fishing addict]

Reading the thread;"Saginaw River Rescue"; takes me back 42 years.
When I was 8 years old.A friend who was 9, and I, were walking across Narrow Lake,in Eaton Co..Out toward the middle of the lake,I,hit some weak ice and went through in about 25 FOW.
As I tried to get back on top,the ice kept breaking in front of me.My friend was in scouts and knew to take his coat off,lay down on the ice, throw me a sleave,and pull me back onto safe ice.
I'll never forget the panic,and how he talked me into calming down,to save my butt.I,owe him my life.
The year before a neighbor kid drowned when he and his brother skated across some thin ice.I,remember thinking I was about to join him.

Just wondering how many other's have stories of going through and making it out of frozen water's?

[callie]

I've been "in" twice, but both times in shallow water where I didn't have to crawl and grab. I was wet and a bit unnerved both times. However, nothing like what you must have felt.

[wally-eye]

A long long time ago about 3AM a bunch of us were riding snow machines across a pond and I was 4th in line out of 8 and sure enough I went in, sled and all. About 16 fow. I was thrown a rope and pulled out. I rolled on the ice, pulled my jacket off and grabbed the rope and rolled back into the hole and dove back down and hooked the rope on the ski of the sled. The first thing I grabbed.

Took 3 sleds hooked together to pull the machine back up.....trashed. Bent the ski almost double pulling it back up. Luckily we were only a mile from the house so I hauled ass with another rider and went home and dried/warmed up. About an hour later they all came back towing my sled. Cost about $250 to fix it, go thru motor, sled spent a week in my walkout basement drying out......

Not the smartest thing to do, diving back down but I figured what the hell I'm wet and cold already....and I didn't want to leave the sled on the bottom for a month or so......did have something to do with adult beverages.

Ya ain't got to believe it but its true.........what made me mad was the first 3 guys went over the exact same spot without going in and I was lighter than all of them..........

[stinger63]

I went through last year in about 18 feet of water in a marina.I was ice fishing on the black river in Port huron and I came through the marina thinking I was going to walk up to the docks and get off.There were bubblers in there that I didnt know about and they didnt run continuesly.They ran enough though to weeken the ice where I was going to get out at.Just as I was taking a step up crack and caploosh,I went through.Thank God there was cable tied off to the dock going across to moring post.I grabbed it and pulled myself up and out.Thankfully the water wasnt very cold either.Moral of the story take a spud with you.I didnt do it that day. :help:

[Gone Fishing]

I really should let Ed Michrina tell this story as he was the one involved but I think every ice fisherman needs to read this one. It sends shivers down my spine every time I read it. I did a search and came up with Ed’s post. Hope you don’t mind me posting it Ed.

"The date was Dec. 29 1999. Me and 3 friends were fishing a few hundred yards of Metro beach. We were on 6 “ of good ice there was a light breeze blowing in shore with a little misty rain.
I was sitting facing shore, in a one man shanty, door open My friends on buckets next to me. Out of nowhere a powerful wind hit me in the face. It was so strong it made me stand up and when I did my shanty blew from under me.
There were approx 50 persons on the ice and everyone started running at once towards shore. By the time we got to 100 yards form shore, our progress was stopped by an open pressure crack, only 8 foot wide. All 20 of us on the wrong side of the crack, looked for options with in minutes the crack was 10 foot. We were on an ice chunk 1/2 by 1/2 mile.
I made my first call 911 when I realized the ice chunk was not connected to shore. After 1/2 hr passed we could hear sirens . Another 1/2 hr passed and the wave height was 2 foot and I realized the ice was sinking and breaking at a slow rate forcing us to walk further out. The temp dropped 20 degrees and a snow squall blew in. I made my second call and my phone went dead. Another 1/2 hr. finally a boat. Harrison fire dept. showed in a 14 ft jon boat with an 8 hr. motor. Wave height was 4 ft. and the light was fading. Eight persons made it on the boat , one fire fighter stayed on the ice with us. 1 hr later we found out the boat almost sunk and they were sending out a hovercraft. The Fire fighters light went dead and radio got wet. (no flares) we watched as the hovercraft drove from Metro to Ginos 1/2 hr later 3 got a ride on the Hovercraft.
12 still on the ice including my 2 friends. I know the lake and could barely see with the dark and snow we were passing Metro. Into the big lake I knew it was bad. We long ago left our gear on the ice and watched it go under as the ice sunk in the ever increasing waves. We were forced to keep heading out on thinner ice.
Another hour of cold wet hell. It was time to lay on the ice covered with 2 inches of water. Clothing was freezing. Finally a helicopter. As they lit us up I could see the ice swelling up to up and down by about a foot. I thought it was from the helicopter turbulence pushing on the ice. It was a 20 min. ride to Selfridge and 10 min ride back due to wind. Another 1/2 hr. As the light hit the ice I could see it was swelling 3 to 4 foot and I lost sight of my friends only yards away. I fully realized This was wave action and the ice was about to break. Another flight off me my 2 friends and 3 person along with the fire fighter left. Another half hour. We were lying on only a approx. 300 yards of ice, water on both sides. This time the light scared the hell out of me. Ice was breaking up and flexing terribly. I was the last one on the Helicopter. I felt a relief that I couldn’t describe and felt sick that my friends one person and the fire fighter were still out there
As we lifted off I watched the ice break up completely . The waves and ice chunks were huge.
My one friend did not have a life jacket on he was holding on to a hunk of ice that kept rolling his hood froze to the ice and it turned him under. He was exhausted and let his arms go, giving up. He saw a bright light and thought it was the end . It was the helicopter. The rescuer dunked and grabbed him. They got everyone accept my other friend and Fire fighter, who were picked up by the hovercraft. On the way back in the hovercraft it ran out of gas and capsized found 20 min later by the Helicopter.
Later we found that our group had our last rights read to us by a priest from shore and that we had drifted into Canada past the light .
I commend the Cost guard They were the only professionals that Could have helped us. also the Fire fighter who was involved on the ice."

And some of you guys wonder why I'm not fond of ice fishing!

[Bob T]

Years ago we were walking from Saginaw Bay walleye fishing and it was dark as we walked in. There were 4 of us each pulling a small sled with our equiptment. We were walking over a little mound of ice from a small pressure crack and I was the last one in the pack. I followed everyones footsteps and sure enough as I crossed over the little mound my left foot went in the drink. Well to let you know we were about a half mile out from shore and in only about three foot of water but that does not cross your mind at the time. I had a scare like nothing before I will let you know. The water was very cold in my boot but by the time we made shore it had warmed up a lot and thank goodness I always keep a set of spare clothes with me in the car. Now days I always err on the safe side preferring to know how the ice is.

Bob

[stinger63]

GONE FISHING that was hell of an experience you and all those people went through.I never in my life want to even think of experiencing anything that even comes close to what you went through.Just reading your story scares the hell out of me!

[walleye express]

Some of you who visit other boards may remember this one from me in the 2003 ice season. Went out of Linwood Road in the morning, with the prediction that the day was supposed to get worse as it went on and a severe storm was supposed to be coming in late afternoon. We fished all morning in 20FOW and caught 3 decent walleyes. Went into the Linwood Motel for lunch and when we came back out, it was still beautiful outside. No wind/clear skies. With just enough bottles of courage under my belt, that went along with my Giant Cheeseburger I had eaten, I suggested we head back out. We decided on a closer spot just in case things got ugly. We went out and set up my shanty, and immediately it went from calm to 40+ winds. I told my bud "Lets go now". "Are you kidding he says" we just set up. "No, I'm not kidding" "Lets hit her now!" I repeated. "I'm going to set my shanty up and stay a while he says". "Your a grown man", "you do what you want", I'm heading in I told him, and proceeded to pack it in.

Visibility had become about 50 feet, but I had my face right down on my GPS, and was following the arrow to where I had crossed the crack not 40 minutes earlier. All of a sudden I see four guys stopped and waving their arms, standing next to two 4 wheelers. One guys is laying across the back of one of the 4 wheelers in a fetal position. I pull up and the one guys says, "Do you have a GPS?" I say yes. "Are you parked at the end of Linwood Road?" I say yes. "Can we fallow you in?" I say yes. "What's wrong with your buddy I ask?" "He's either had a heart attack or a stroke" he says. "We called the Coast Guard and their on their way right now". So we start in. About 100 feet from the marked crack crossing, I see 6 Coast Guard guys running our way pulling the rescue boat like a light toboggan. They grab the guy in trouble off the back of the 4 wheeler and disappear like the ghostly dream this episode has become, back towards shore into the white out.

We then gather around ourselves and discuss where to cross the crack that is being pushed up a lot more from the fierce on-shore winds than when we came across it earlier. I suggest we cross where I did a short time ago. We agree and find the spot. Just for safety I put down two 4X6's I carry when fishing. I start across and one of the boards jams under my wheels and slips out of the way. The front end of my (New then) Big Bear breaks through and down she goes. This little guy jumps across the crack and grabs me by the shoulders and whips my Big ***** over the front of my machine like I weighed nothing at all. I was still wet up to my crotch, and the only thing holding my machine from going down in 7 FOW was the dog sled attached to the back. Long story short another guy comes along with a snatch strap and we wedge the 4X6's under the front wheels and get her out. I get back to my truck just starting into the first stages of shock. My snowmobile suit is like a suit of armor from freezing, yet I'm sweating from the ordeal. The guy who had the attack is pronounced DOA at the hospital. Wonder why I dwell so much on the weather conditions when I post?

[Gone Fishing]

GONE FISHING that was hell of an experience you and all those people went through.I never in my life want to even think of experiencing anything that even comes close to what you went through.Just reading your story scares the hell out of me!

Stinger, that post was written by Ed Michrina and he was the one that experienced that. I learned a lot from that post though. He first wrote about it several years ago but I haven't been able to shake it from my memory. Glad you and the people involved are still with us Ed!

[joefsu]

I can't imagine how terrified I would be in these situations and I hope to God I never find out.

Well here's a story my friend's grandpa told me about one of his friends. This happened about 45 years ago now. This guy is driving across Chicagon Lake in Iron County in his vehicle. The car drops through in about 30 feet of water and starts sinking fast. His windows were still rolled up as he was driving so he can't just jump out. So he calms himself down and stays in the car as it sinks. It finally comes to rest on the bottom of the lake. The guy sits on the back of the seat to stay warm, dry, and breathe as long as possible. He waits for the car to completely fill with water before rolling down the window and swimming to the surface of the lake. There he is picked up by others on the ice that saw the vehicle go through. The guy lived.

p.s. My friends grandpa isn't one to B.S. so I genuinely believe the story to be true. Just my 2 cents.


Stay safe,

Joe

[mich buckmaster]

I really should let Ed Michrina tell this story as he was the one involved but I think every ice fisherman needs to read this one. It sends shivers down my spine every time I read it. I did a search and came up with Ed’s post. Hope you don’t mind me posting it Ed.

"The date was Dec. 29 1999. Me and 3 friends were fishing a few hundred yards of Metro beach. We were on 6 “ of good ice there was a light breeze blowing in shore with a little misty rain.
I was sitting facing shore, in a one man shanty, door open My friends on buckets next to me. Out of nowhere a powerful wind hit me in the face. It was so strong it made me stand up and when I did my shanty blew from under me.
There were approx 50 persons on the ice and everyone started running at once towards shore. By the time we got to 100 yards form shore, our progress was stopped by an open pressure crack, only 8 foot wide. All 20 of us on the wrong side of the crack, looked for options with in minutes the crack was 10 foot. We were on an ice chunk 1/2 by 1/2 mile.
I made my first call 911 when I realized the ice chunk was not connected to shore. After 1/2 hr passed we could hear sirens . Another 1/2 hr passed and the wave height was 2 foot and I realized the ice was sinking and breaking at a slow rate forcing us to walk further out. The temp dropped 20 degrees and a snow squall blew in. I made my second call and my phone went dead. Another 1/2 hr. finally a boat. Harrison fire dept. showed in a 14 ft jon boat with an 8 hr. motor. Wave height was 4 ft. and the light was fading. Eight persons made it on the boat , one fire fighter stayed on the ice with us. 1 hr later we found out the boat almost sunk and they were sending out a hovercraft. The Fire fighters light went dead and radio got wet. (no flares) we watched as the hovercraft drove from Metro to Ginos 1/2 hr later 3 got a ride on the Hovercraft.
12 still on the ice including my 2 friends. I know the lake and could barely see with the dark and snow we were passing Metro. Into the big lake I knew it was bad. We long ago left our gear on the ice and watched it go under as the ice sunk in the ever increasing waves. We were forced to keep heading out on thinner ice.
Another hour of cold wet hell. It was time to lay on the ice covered with 2 inches of water. Clothing was freezing. Finally a helicopter. As they lit us up I could see the ice swelling up to up and down by about a foot. I thought it was from the helicopter turbulence pushing on the ice. It was a 20 min. ride to Selfridge and 10 min ride back due to wind. Another 1/2 hr. As the light hit the ice I could see it was swelling 3 to 4 foot and I lost sight of my friends only yards away. I fully realized This was wave action and the ice was about to break. Another flight off me my 2 friends and 3 person along with the fire fighter left. Another half hour. We were lying on only a approx. 300 yards of ice, water on both sides. This time the light scared the hell out of me. Ice was breaking up and flexing terribly. I was the last one on the Helicopter. I felt a relief that I couldn’t describe and felt sick that my friends one person and the fire fighter were still out there
As we lifted off I watched the ice break up completely . The waves and ice chunks were huge.
My one friend did not have a life jacket on he was holding on to a hunk of ice that kept rolling his hood froze to the ice and it turned him under. He was exhausted and let his arms go, giving up. He saw a bright light and thought it was the end . It was the helicopter. The rescuer dunked and grabbed him. They got everyone accept my other friend and Fire fighter, who were picked up by the hovercraft. On the way back in the hovercraft it ran out of gas and capsized found 20 min later by the Helicopter.
Later we found that our group had our last rights read to us by a priest from shore and that we had drifted into Canada past the light .
I commend the Cost guard They were the only professionals that Could have helped us. also the Fire fighter who was involved on the ice."

And some of you guys wonder why I'm not fond of ice fishing!

WOW!!!!!!! I thought the two times I fell through were something!!!!!!!

[Frozenfish]

I went threw when I was about 10 years old on very small lake behind my parents house. No motor boats allowed on this lake. Anyhow, I was skating around the lake and came to a outlet where the water comes into the lake. Being a dumb kid I wanted to see how close I could get. Well to make a long story short I got as close as I could til I fell in, lol. Thank god I was holding my hockey stick horizontal. Soon as I dropped went up to my chest and my stick hit the ice on either side. As fast as I dropped in I popped out. At least that is how I remember it. I tell ya what, I went right home and didn't tell anybody. If my mom would have found out she would have chased me around the house with a wooden spoon for hours. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[bigfly29]

I grew up around rivers,lakes,and wetlands.I have pushed the limit all my life until two years ago when I was showing off on my snowmobile and tryed crossing A loacal river.I have pictures of me going 75+ yards on Houghton lake.open water crossing. So I thought no prob.Well got about half way and started going down slow. So I tried geting off to pull it in and i started sinking in muck with about two foot of water I pulled my self back on the sled and decided to jump back in and swam above the muck in to shore .Then jumped on my brothers sled and left him were I could race to his house to change and grab A rope and A little boogiboard to foat on and A comealong to pull it out. I got there and jumped in to tie a rope on .BIg mastake, when i got out and raced back I was so cold that i jumped right in the shower fully clothed,WELL my hands wouldnt work to untie my boots my girl friend was freaking out and helped me in there. so after geting dry warm went back to my brother and now a local snowmobiler that helped pull my sled to the edge. We said thanks to the local guy and towed it home.Thank the lord that we all can tell are stories here.

[snakebit67]

I lived most of my life in Zilwaukee. About 20yrs ago, before anyone thought of walleye fishing, my friends and I used to cross the Saginaw river at the Zilwaukee park. It was always and adventure. Always seemed to be soft spots. One really cold winter we were hunting w/our 22's on the other side of the river from zilwaukee park. Started at the wirtz stone dock and worked our way north. Before the cement plant on Melbourne was an old train bridge. We decided to cross by the cement plant. Got 1/2 way across and my buddys up to his shoulders, arms on the ice. He caught his 22 between his boots. Yells to me RICH GRAB MY GUN. Two steps and im up to my shoulders. Tried pulling myself up but the ice kept breaking. FInally we both got up. We rolled the rest of the way to shore. The one thing I remember is that for some reason I didn't panic. I remember being really calm. Someone was definetly looking out for me. Had about a 5 mile walk back to home in some frigid weather. Never even caught a cold. Sure learned the hard way to respect the ice.

Oh yeah, he saved the gun too.

[Joe V. Eyull]

those are really spooky stories

[William H Bonney]

Thanks G-Fishing :rolleyes: , let the nightmares begin. I was wondering when you'd post that? Nice reminder though.

[mintgreenwalleyemachine]

Last Year I Was A Passenger On My Buddies Honda Rancher Going From Cotton Road To Self. Ang When The Machine Started To Bog Down Due To The Snow(i Thaught) Then I Was Under Over My Head.did Not Feel Bottom And Was Chilled.my Buddiey Got Out And Threw Me His Jacket I Grabbed Itand Pulled Myself Out.luckily The Machine Flipped Up Side Down And Floated By The Tires. Next Day We Walked Up To It Spudded Around His Machine And Used A 4by8 Sheet Of Plywood To Flip The Machine And Drug It In With The Brakes All Frozen. Didnt Loose Are Fish Or Equepment Lol. But That Day I Ordered My Own Machine So No More Riding Double. I Am Cold Just Thinking About That Day Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[ohiowoody]

i guess most everybody has a falling thru tale if you ice fish.
i went thru on round lake in lenawee county. i was on my way
to my shanty for the second time and went down. my arms
sticking out kept from going completely under. my arms and shoulders hurt for some time. quite honestly, i don't remember how i got out, just know it
was quick. i stood there looking down the hole, looking towards my
shanty and looking toward my car on shore. thought at one point of
continuing on to shanty because i had left some equipment out on ice.
better sense sent me to shore. by this time(not more than 5 minutes),
i had an awful time getting out of the now frozen stiff insulated
bibs. them zippers didn't want to cooperate at all.
it was a swell ride home(50 plus miles) in my underwear and no shoes.
on a positive note, i went back up 3 days later and all my things were
still on ice where they got left.

[ohiowoody]

one thing i forgot to say was i was surprised for sme time
that no one from shore-maybe 150 feet away made no effort
to help. i figure some one must have seen me go down.
they always seem to know how i do fishing a half mile out!

[Lunker]

I had one leg in up to my waiste and popped out faster than I remember how with my other leg. It was at Bolles Harbor near the docks. I stay away form docks as much as possible now on ice and they still freak me out when im out there.

[fishing addict]

those are really spooky stories

...spooky would be if we hadn't made it,and told our stories.

[FlyBoy]

last year we had a permenant shanty set up a half mile or so north of the Z-bridge on the saginaw river. after a month or so a decent size drift formed on the south side of the shanty. we were chipping it out of the ice toward the end of the year, still 6 inches of ice, when a buddy of mine walked right through the drift and right into the river. he is a big guy going about 230 lbs. or so with full carhart gear and huge clodhopper boots on. he looked at me with a helpless look on his face and proceded to climb out like he has done it a thousand times. we finished loading the shanty and got out of there. to this day i cant believe how he just crawled right out like the was grip tape on the ice. we laugh about it now.

[Sib]

Once when snowshoe hare hunting near Mio we were hunting near a backwater flooding. It was a tough walk around this flooding and it'd been a cold winter so we decided to cross the ice. Bout half way across I punched right through. Went all the way to the bottom and was lying there looking up at this strange under the ice world. Visibilty was good and I could see all the timber and the shaft of light from the hole I'd just went through. All of this stuff was happening in what seemed like minutes, but was probably only a couple seconds. Then I realized that I wasn't under water, that I was lying on the frozen mud and the ice was above me. It was kind of a strange experience, I was completely dry.

I Figure what happened was the backwater froze at high water and after the ice formed on top, the river level dropped, emptying the backwater with it. The ice was able to support itself, but wtih no water to support it broke underfoot. Lesson learned, I'll take the long way around now. :rolleyes: