Thin Ice

[1Buckshot]

This is for us in the Great Northern area. You need to keep track of the ice conditions. Three years ago this could have been me. I was going to go out Ice fishing one last time for the year, luckily something came up and I had to work that day. Later that morning a man went to the same lake I was going to fish and fell through the Ice. He didn't make it. He fell through right about the area I usually fish. The next day as Search and Rescue were looking for him, they were falling through constantly. It had changed that fast.
Monty,

http://www.montanaoutdoor.com/2012/02/15/know-you-ice-a-thin-ice-story-turned-out-o-k/

Not that I want to rib a bunch of ice fisherman but this story is humorous yet also demonstrates the dangers of thin ice. To protect the identities of these guys I won’t mention any names.

Last weekend some of the local Walleye wranglers decided to hit it hard on the ice at Crooked Creek. The first day was a bust, but on Sunday the action kicked in. With the aid of a true “Pro” from Hell Creek the action got hot. The “Pro” managed to snag 5 “Japanese Sea Horses”. That’s right Captain, 5 guys fell through the ice on Saturday and on Sunday The “Hell Creek Hero” found and drug out 5 four wheelers. It’s easy to kid about it now, but I do hope that these guy’s learned a lesson.

I thanked God that they all walked away from what could have been a complete tragedy. As for the Hell Creek Hero “Pro”, he will remain a legend and was last week’s winner in tournament. By the way his expertise was rewarded quite handsomely with mucho dinero $. He has to date rescued over 100 for wheelers from the cold Missouri River bottom

One of the five guys is my daughter’s boyfriend who we lovingly nick named “Scout”. He’s a great kid and the name fits him quite well since he is an avid outdoorsman and has a good head on his shoulders.

I hope that each of you can take this story in with a big of humor. But more sore that you have yourself prepared for situations like this. Not everyone will be so lucky to have a hero show up! A life jacket and some parachute cord or rope are necessary items to keep on you rather than in the truck or tied to a sinking fourwheeler.

[Timothy]

Growing up in MI, where 20% of the worlds fresh water lies, I saw a lot of this sort of thing in my youth.  Then, it was cars and snowmobiles, not four wheelers as they really hadn't been introduced yet.

Far different thing when you're on a quiet lake versus a flowing river though!  Rivers are very, very dangerous when ice is involved.

[JC5123]

You think shrinkage would be a factor?

[tombogan03884]

We had 2 snow machines go through this last week end, at night.
"The Broads" (widest part of the lake) never froze this year.
Even some of the smaller lakes in the area have open water where I've never seen it before, at least not in Feb.
They had the Ice fishing derby last weekend, but the pond hockey tournament had to relocate to a different lake.