Ice fishing guide
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1. From the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association. Wait to walk on ice until it is a minimum of 2 inches thick. Many people wait for 4 inches. Snowy ice is less sturdy than clear, hard ice.
2. Ask local bait shops and resorts for information on known thin-ice areas.
3. River ice is always unsafe. Be extremely cautious crossing ice near river mouths, points of land, bridges, islands, and over reefs and springs. Currents almost always cause ice to be thinner over these areas.
4. Currents and weak ice also are usually found under lake bridges.
5. Carry a pair of ice picks tied together with strong cord and wear them around your neck. You can use the picks to hoist yourself up if you fall through the ice. Holding one in each hand, alternately punch them into the ice and pull yourself up and out. Make these at home, using large nails, or buy them at fishing-supply stores.
6. Avoid drinking alcohol. It weakens judgment and enhances hypothermia.
7. Avoid driving on ice, but if you do, some safety experts suggest unbuckling your seat belt (so you can get out fast) and having a plan of action if the vehicle breaks through. Some also suggest driving with windows down and doors ajar for escape. Move your car frequently; parking in one spot for a long time weakens ice. Better yet, leave your car or truck on shore. Every year, several motor vehicles go through the ice on Vermont lakes, and many people have drowned.
8. Let people know when and where you are going out on the ice.
9. When going out on the ice, probe ahead with an ice chisel. If the chisel goes through, gingerly turn around and retrace your steps off the ice.
10. Heated fishing shanties must have good ventilation to prevent deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Open a window or the door part way.
11. Wear a personal flotation device and don't fish alone.
12. Avoid going onto ice if it has melted away from shore. This indicates melting is underway, and ice can move as wind direction changes.
13. Waves from open water can quickly break up large areas of ice. If you can see open water in the lake and the wind picks up, get off.
14. Carry a safety line that can be thrown to someone who has gone through the ice.
More information
Vermont Outdoor GuideAssociation
800-425-8747; www.voga.org
New England Sportsman Network
