Went through...

[jbhandjr]

...at Holmes Lake tonight.

Unloaded the Clam at the south boat ramp (Main body of water) and pulled it maybe 10' past the ramp when my right foot broke through and went to the bottom.  I was in with just one leg about mid thigh and somehow pulled back out and instantly turned back.  I don't really know what to think of this.  I went out last friday, 1/31, and the ice was easily, easily 9".  It has been cold since then.  Regardless, I consider myself fortunate that this happened close to shore and very close to my truck.  I think I had everything loaded in the bed and I was back in the cab before I even realized what happened.

Be careful out there.

[eepks]

Glad you  are ok

[Oldbear]

Thank the Lord you made it out.  Maybe use a spud bar but 9" of ice would of been fine but its the inconsistant ice that gets you in trouble. 

[kylerprochaska]

scary stuff... glad you made it out

[Wyoming_Ice]

Wow !!! Thank God that you are okay !
Are there springs in that body of water? That's pretty strange to have that amount of good ice and then to have it go bad with cold weather present.     

 Wyo Ice

[ULking]

Glad your ok!! that I think ik where you were at..there was a lot of open water from the warm up we had around the boat ramps and all the rocks! BE CAREFUL and use spud bars!!

[icefishnrancher]

I don't really know what to think of this.  I went out last friday, 1/31, and the ice was easily, easily 9".  It has been cold since then.

wierd for sure, we were fishing a couple refuge lakes sunday afternoon, nite time temps had been zero or below the previous 2 nites and the ice was heaving up and busting wide open in places while we were there. Cold weather is here again for now but i am sure those open areas that showed up Sunday will be unsafe along with being hard to see. Proceed with caution.

[Sandbilly]

Glad you are safe.

[okcableguy]

Glad you're ok but brings me to my comment on the FB page... WHERE WAS YOUR SPUD BAR? 

9" or not, that was a week ago and with our 50mph winds, you don't need warm days to break up the ice.  Not to mention any vegitation will create a weak spot.


USE SPUD BARS!  Ice God let us on ice in November, we have to respect that!

[MA Machine]

I am glad you got out ok.  That's a scary thing no matter how wet you get.  I am a believer that this cold weather did no one any favors in the Lincoln area.  It's enough to get people out and through the ice.  There are a lot of hidden bad spots and now we have snow hiding those.  Be careful, fish with a buddy, plan for the worst. 

[vizsla444]

jce is doing weird things in southeast Ne - lots of skim ice Holmes had lot of open water around the shores, dam, etc

[whitetips]

Glad you're ok but brings me to my comment on the FB page... WHERE WAS YOUR SPUD BAR? 

9" or not, that was a week ago and with our 50mph winds, you don't need warm days to break up the ice.  Not to mention any vegitation will create a weak spot.


USE SPUD BARS!  Ice God let us on ice in November, we have to respect that!

What he said!!!!!!!

http://neblandvm.outdoornebraska.gov/2013/12/ice-man-cometh/

Daryl B.

[jbhandjr]

I wrote to Metal Works tonight to see what they could fab up for a spud bar.  Jiffy makes one for $40 bucks (not sure where to buy it) but I've heard that the tip can bend so I figured Metal Works could make it thicker/stronger.

Unless...does someone have a better idea for making one?

[nate95366]

I have seen 1" wide section of a cold chisel welded onto a 4-5 ft section of re-bar with a small "T" of rebar welded to the top. I'd have to ask my brother where he got it, though...

[7lazy77]

Glad you are OK.  Once again... shows us that NO ice is safe.  Be careful out there.

[icefishnrancher]

Unless...does someone have a better idea for making one?

Farm store might have something???, or any local welding shop should be able to make you something, should only take them 10 mins. or so to make you one.  1" shaft with a flat iron welded onto it with the leading edge beveled like a chisel should work.   Bang away and stay dry!

[flyline]

I found a 6' digging bar at True Value on S. 70th street (close to Holmes).  They had another one. 

[weekdaywarrior05]

I made mine out of a welding chisel and a piece of pipe it works great

[2old2fish]

look at autions i found a railroad tie pry bar the one that has a bevel on one end and a narrow point on the other works great only issue is the weight but quess thats not all bad when checking ice