
Make Sure You And Your Vehicle Make It Home From Ice Fishing In North Dakota
The warm weather after the frigid cold snap seems like a perfect recipe for heading to the lake for some ice fishing, but there are still some perils to heed.

We hear the stories every year about someone's ice house or pickup falling through the ice, and unfortunately, those vehicles are not always unoccupied.
The record for the most vehicles falling through the ice at one time is 36, according to this story, Thankfully, no one was reported to have been injured.
In another story, over 100 fishermen in Minnesota had to be rescued after a sheet of ice drifted around 30 feet away from the shore.
Those are just some of the largest examples of when things can go wrong on the ice that, thankfully, did not end in tragedy. Looking through search results of people and vehicles falling through the ice over even the last couple years, the results are truly staggering
Here is some safety advice on how to make sure your trip on the ice brings you and your vehicle back home with a cooler full of fish:
Ice Fishing Safety
Ice fishing is expanding at a rapid pace. Despite the convenience and portability of open-water fishing, diehards enjoy the challenge of drilling holes in the icy water.
Every year, over 10,000 fishermen descend upon northern Minnesota for the world's biggest ice fishing event, with thousands more enjoying the sport throughout much of the Midwest.
You should know that no ice is "truly" safe to fish on before you even think about ice fishing. Ice fishermen with experience use a mix of common sense, past performance, and up-to-date knowledge.
You can't tell ice by looking at it or by measuring its thickness. The safety of the ice depends on a number of factors, including the amount of snowfall, the strength of the stream, the number of fish there, and the number of waterfowl in the area.
Because snow acts as insulation, ice areas covered with snow can be quite dangerous. There can be eight inches of ice on one snow-free section and just three inches on the neighboring section.
Warm water is drawn up from the lake bottom on some lakes when schools of fish or ducks congregate. Another thing that can melt ice is all that fin, foot, and feather activity. To put it simply, fresh ice is more stable than old ice, and transparent ice is preferable to hazy ice.
The strength of old, cloudy ice is roughly half that of fresh, clear ice.
Guidelines
An average-sized person, notwithstanding average beef and casserole-fed Midwesterner, can usually go out on four inches of fresh, transparent ice without fear.
If you can't crack the ice with a chisel, it's probably safe to walk on it. You can find the thickness using a tape measure in the event that the chisel succeeds in breaking through.
In cold water, a well-fitting life jacket will keep you floating in the event of a fall.
It is usually safe to use snowmobiles and ATVs for fishing when there is six inches of solid, clean ice. You should still inspect the ice every fifty yards.
Smaller vehicles and trucks will be able to drive on the lake if the ice reaches 10 inches. When builds to a foot of thickness, it is usually safe to drive a medium-sized truck; when there is fifteen inches, full-sized trucks are employed.
Extra Advice on Staying Safe
To get the latest ice report, call your neighborhood bait shop or getaway. Bait stores are often able to spot vulnerable spots or regions of weak ice. To illustrate the issue, consider the location of an aerator on a lake.
Take a fishing companion. Ice fishing is more fun and safer when you have someone to share the experience with. Even if it's a handy tool overall, a cell phone won't be of much use while you're trying to stay afloat.
Make sure someone knows when and where you're heading. Tell them when you intend to return—the most crucial thing of all. That way, if you end up being late, that individual can ask for assistance. Notify your backup person immediately if your plans alter.
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