Open Water on Burt Lake

[SPORTSMAN]

I thought I'd post this Just in case someone is coming up this way to fish this weekend.




Online archives from the Cheboygan Daily Tribune. Starting April, 1999





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January 07, 2003
Burt Lake has large 'stream' of open water


By RICH ADAMS

Tribune Editor


TUSCARORA TOWNSHIP - Officials here are warning winter sports enthusiasts of an unusual open area of water on Burt Lake.

A section of open water as wide as a football field is long runs from Colonial Point to Frontenac Road and poses a serious danger to snowmobilers, four-wheelers and others who may venture onto the partially frozen lake, officials said.

"We have received reports of an opening in the ice and confirmed it," said Tuscarora Township Police Chief Bob Wagner. "It is approximately 100 yards wide and runs across the lake from Colonial Point on the west side of the lake across to Resort Road on the south end, and then from Resort Road toward Frontenac Road on the east side of the lake.

"We're seeing snowmobilers, four-wheelers and even trucks out on the ice, and with a little bit of blowing snow or darkness, people could be lost if they don't stay stay away from this are or aren't extremely careful," he added.

Wagner learned about what he said amounts to a stream of open water across the lake early Monday afternoon, after Tuscarora Township Fire Capt. Carl Pollard inspected the break in the ice.

Pollard, who discovered the open area, said he has never seen anything like it.

"I do a lot of fishing and I live by the lake, so I ran across it," Pollard said. "It's something I've never seen on Burt Lake. Even on the single-digit nights we had the open are didn't re-freeze.

"I am by no means an old-timer on the lake, but I've been on the lake all my life, and I've never seen it open up and stay open in single-digit weather," he added.

Pollard said he's afraid someone will go into the lake and drown.

"Some areas have up to 11 inches of ice, and some pickups are showing up," he explained. "Usually when people see pickups on the ice, they figure it is safe.

"We're going to lose somebody in (the open spot) and it just scares me to death."

Wagner said the two departments are not issuing a ban on vehicles on the lake, but strongly suggest extreme caution when going out on the ice.

"If we say to stay off the lake completely, people would just ignore us," Wagner said. "Basically we're just saying that people need to be aware of it and be extremely careful. It's hard to say people have to stay off completely when there are 11 inches of ice in a lot of areas."



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[chad 1]

I was just going to post this people are still fishing on both sides!!

chad1

[Banditto]

Well the problem is when people figure out they can get out their summer casting gear and really get into the walleye heavy.