Ice Fishing Safety Question?

[The Dad Fisherman]

Some things to think about too...in early season when Ice forms on a pond it usually starts to form from the shore out towards the center...or depending on tree line from south to north......because the north end will get more sunlight than the south end. This is why on early ice you can walk out a few feet on 2-3" of ice but go out a few more feet and in you go.

also in late season as the ice goes away it does it from shore first.

I saw a guy once fishing on a point of ice with tipups, while 30 yards away I was casting to open water.

[Jenn]

Ice IS a funny thing. I honestly have never ice fished....one thing I want to do but my current winter hobby takes top priority and therefore it has not happened yet.

Either way the only way I comfortably take my snowmobile across ice is when I know temps have been low enough for long enough and if I see trucks and shanties on the ice. I have taken my chances in warmer temps with slush on top and freaked the whole time.....not worth it and lucky I lived to tell the tale. I have also seen trucks parked on 2 feet of ice with a patch of open water 40 yards away. Holy hell it makes you think....just saying. Live life, take "acceptable risk", but do it within reason. I don't believe in missing out on life but ending it for one day of fishing isn't worth loosing your life over either.

[FishermanTim]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

Some things to think about too...in early season when Ice forms on a pond it usually starts to form from the shore out towards the center...or depending on tree line from south to north......because the north end will get more sunlight than the south end. This is why on early ice you can walk out a few feet on 2-3" of ice but go out a few more feet and in you go.

also in late season as the ice goes away it does it from shore first.

I saw a guy once fishing on a point of ice with tipups, while 30 yards away I was casting to open water.

Long sought for pond in Westford is like that.
In the years that I have fished there, I have fished later into the spring there more than anywhere else in Mass.
The shore that I use to access the pond is on the western side, and the shore is shaded by trees as far back as you can see, so the shore never receives a full day of sun during the winter.
I have fished there on the ice on the western half of the pond (6-8") where the other half was open water. As with the early season ice, safety becomes a priority when accessing the pond, any pond for that matter. I have also had the need to plank a few times, and fortunately the ponds I was fishing had shallow shores.

I will say once again...Be safe and don't take any unnecessary risks!