To be totally honest, I am not really a fan of winter. I detest shovelling snow, and I dislike driving on snow covered or slushy roads. Winter means far less opportunity to get out in a boat and chase fish on numerous local lakes. Gone are the days of flip flops and board shorts while trolling for salmon. I wake up each day fully aware that the countdown to bass season is nearly six months away. There is one highlight to the winter season for me however. Living in Ontario pretty much guarantees that my friends and I will be standing on ice covered lakes taking advantage of the ice fishing season somewhere in the province. The recent “normal” cold temps over the past couple weeks has local lakes in Grey Bruce making ice, and eager anglers have begun to explore the smaller water bodies in the region.
Ice fishing is a tradition that has ties from one end of the country to the other. Each year thousands upon thousands of anglers hit the frozen winter wonderland in search of all sorts of finned adversaries and it seems to be ever so popular within the province of Ontario. From Kingston to Thunder Bay, ice anglers patiently wait for their favourite lakes to lock up with safe amounts of ice. Ice fishing is an enjoyable outdoor pastime which levels the playing field for plenty of anglers. You do not need a fancy boat with a big motor to get you where you need to go. Once lakes freeze with good ice, anglers are only limited to the distance they wish to walk or ride via ATV or snowmobile. A simple hand auger or chisel spud, some warm clothing and a handful of lures and bait is all you need to get started. The greatest limiting factor to winter ice fishing opportunities always revolves around ice conditions. No ice, no hardwater fishing, simple as that.
The idea of “safe ice conditions” is a concept that is lost on many anglers and those who snowmobile, ski or snowshoe across lakes in winter. This past week, the tragic news of a drowning death in eastern Ontario made headlines. The decision to drive a vehicle on ice conditions that were less than ideal produced a very tragic ending for a young woman. This will not be the last time someone in Ontario dies this season due to poor decisions and lack of respect for ice conditions. Ice fishing can be an incredibly safe and enjoyable activity, however understanding ice conditions and being safe and cautious are a must if you plan on stepping foot on the hardwater. In the 30 years I have been alive, I have spent plenty of time on ice. I love to ice fish and have no issues travelling hours or days to find ice conditions that I feel are safe. At the same time, I have fallen through the ice three separate occasions and have been in the company of others who gone through. Those experiences were not enjoyable and nearly every one of them could have been avoided. I cannot stress enough the importance of safety and caution when it comes to ice fishing.
Here are some simple guidelines to follow when thinking about heading out on the ice. First and foremost, invest in a survival suit. Survival suits or “floater suits” are designed for coldwater survival. These suits come in one piece and two piece models and are available from numerous manufactures. The idea of the suit is to provide floatation if one ends up in the water. They work, I know from first hand experience. The suit also traps body heat in the event you go through the ice which means it will take longer for hypothermia to set in and gives someone a much better chance of not only getting out of the water, but staying warm for longer. I always wear my suit, and the half dozen or so friends who I ice fish with wear them as well. If you are taking kids fishing on the ice, be sure they have a proper PFD on over top of winter clothing. Survival suits which fit children are hard to find, so a lifejacket is a must.
Secondly, never treat ice as “safe”. Ice is never guaranteed safe. Take a spud bar with you during the early season and constantly check ice thickness as you travel across a lake. There may be 4 inches of hard clear ice in one spot, but 50 yards down the lake, the ice may change and only be an inch or less. Spud bars are nothing less than a heavy ice chisel that can be driven into the ice as one walks across a lake. These bars are a cheap investment for a tool that quickly tells you whether or not the ice is thick enough in front of you.
The third guideline is to not fish alone if possible. If I head out to check the ice conditions on a lake early in the season, I go with a friend and I always tell someone else where I am going. Having someone with you makes rescue much easier in the event that one of you goes through the ice. Carrying a throw rope is also a smart idea, as are ice picks. Ice picks can be purchased at a local tackle shop, big box stores or you can make your own with some dowel and heavy gauge nails.
IF you happen to go through the ice don’t panic. I know this is easier said than done, but staying calm puts a lot of things in perspective quickly. You should be wearing a survival suit, so you are going to float! The ice you just passed was strong enough to support your weight, so head back the way you came. Once you come to terms that you just went through use your ice picks, grab the throw rope from a buddy or slide back onto the ice like a seal pup in order to get out of the hole you just made. A floater suit makes levelling out in the water pretty easy and getting back on the ice isn’t as difficult as one would think. Once out of the water, staying warm is the number one priority. Hypothermia kills, so get back to shelter and out of the wet clothing as quick as possible, and seek medical attention if hypothermia begins to set in.
As a general rule, you should not step foot on ice that is less than 2 inches. At 2.5 inches, hard clear ice will normally support the weight of an average grown man. At 3 inches, fishing on hard clear ice is generally safe. Snowmobiles and ATVs should not travel on ice until there is at least 4.5 inches of hard clear ice. Snow pack on top of ice acts as an insulator and can cause slush to build underneath the snow which will weaken ice. Current causes ice to form in a very random pattern. Never trust ice in current areas. Springs on the bottom of the lake will also create random and weak ice conditions which can be unseen when hidden under some snow. Constantly checking ice conditions as you venture across a lake is the only way to be sure that the ice you are walking on is adequate.
Each year the MNR and OPP issue warnings for areas of the province where the ice is not yet safe. Listen to these warnings. Remember Kempenfelt Bay on Lake Simcoe last year? Do you recall the number of ice anglers who had to be saved by in the massive rescue operation? Those anglers were foolish and did not heed dangerous ice warnings. They risked their lives and the lives of those who rescued them in an attempt to catch some fish. That is silly and extremely dangerous. With that being said, ice fishing is a wonderful winter activity that can provide fun and adventure for an entire family. Being cautious and putting safety first should be your number one priority, catching some fish is just a bonus! Happy New Year and safe travels on the ice.