Close Call

[numbskull]

Maybe this belongs in the ice fishing forum, but those guys are probably careful already and this story is likely more useful to "go on a whim" ice fishermen like myself.

Sat I was driving past a local ice covered Cape pond when I saw an unattended white bucket and an un-deployed tip up out in the center, and 30 ft away a big wet spot. There was a car next to the pond, but no one out there. It bothered me enough to call the fire dept. They sent a guy out with a sled and dry suit. He found a large hole with a second bucket floating in it. They found a name/number from a distant town in the unattended bucket next to trap. No answer. They called in some divers (the pond is deep). While the divers were working the police located a relative of the name who lived nearby. They sent a car to the house and found the fisherman there. He had fallen through but gotten himself out and walked home (the car was not his).

The scary thing about this is that by all appearances the ice was safe. Near where he went through there where 5-6 holes by other fishermen who earlier had had no problem. Half-way out to the broken ice 1/2 dozen firemen and policemen stood in a group talking and the ice supported them fine.

I don't know the details of how he got himself out, possibly he had picks (but no fishing license according to the DNR officer), whatever, he is a lucky guy.

All's well that ends well. Still I thought the story might give pause to think for some of us who might talk ourselves into going out there without planning for the worst.

[stripermaineiac]

that's one of the reasons i stopped ice fishing. you never know when the ice is really safe. warm water springs in ponds create hollow domes under the ic. can't see them till it's too late. he was one lucky person.

[Swimmer]

That is the one reason I have never ice fished. Very nice of you George to err on the side of caution.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[FishermanTim]

Originally Posted by stripermaineiac

that's one of the reasons i stopped ice fishing. you never know when the ice is really safe. warm water springs in ponds create hollow domes under the ic. can't see them till it's too late. he was one lucky person.

I have had only a couple of times when I felt that the ice wasn't safe enough for me. It may be safe enough for anyone else, but I have a comfort level that I will not cross.

I was fishing a pond in Westwood this weekend, and the ice was solid, but not as thick as I would have expected after the prior 4 days of cold.
Needless to say I paid very close attention to the ice.
Saturday was fine, but on Sunday I noticed that the ice had melted a little more overnight. But early afternoon I could hear a little cracking. It was not the shattered glass, spider web kind of cracking, but enough to keep me alert and aware of my surroundings. Add to that the fact that water would flush up out of the holes when I walked up to them.
That was my cue to leave.

I did catch fish, but I am not about to risk all just for the chance to ctach a fish!

[OLD GOAT]

Thanks for keeping us on our toes Numskull

[Raven]

Had a friend drive me out onto the ice one day in his dual rear wheeled truck
to fish and i was quite afraid of plunging thru the ice regardless of how safe it was.

He assured me that it was extremely safe and that the ice was 12 inches thick
but you never know when your going to hit a thin spot until you do.

[justplugit]

Lost a family friend, a teenager, as he was out with a friend driving his
Jeep on ice on Lake George years ago.

[jimmy z]

I'm glad the guy is ok. Ice fishing never appealed to me, this being one reason!