IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Ice Fishing Safety => Topic started by: CMMahy on Sep 28, 2010, 05:07 PM
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I'm really happy seeing this sub-forum created, there's plenty of good information to be shared with people who are just getting into the sport.
Here's my top picks for gear, and this is always with me every time I'm on the ice.
- Common sense (easily overlooked but the most important one!)
- Throw Rope with a float
- Around the neck Ice Picks
- Floater Coat (looking at upgrading to a full suit this year)
- Dry clothes/Blankets back in the truck, just in case I do go through.
I also try and pick my under-layers to be either wool, or some form of wicking fabric, so if I need to make the long, wet hike back to the truck (or some other safe place) it will hopefully delay the onset of hypothermia long enough to let me get dried off and warmed up. So far I've avoided going through the ice accidentally (except for Polar Dips) and hopefully I'll maintain that record.
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Here's what I take :
Ice Picks, throwable flotation device (seat cushion) with rope.
Extra cloths.
Fire starter / survival kit
First aid kit (in truck)
Cell phone
GPS
One of the best things I do, is before heading out I check this website.
Get up to date ice reports, and then check Weather reports. The weather can change in a hurry, but it also helps to know when a storm front is expected to come through.
Hope this helps,
Wiener
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I.D.I. Artic Armor
Chisel
Ice Picks
Cell phone(in zip lock bag)
Throw Bag
First Aid Kit
Flashlight
Matches/Lighter
Fire starter(cotton balls with petroleum jelly)
Repair Kit(with Duck Tape among other things)
Spare set of clothes, blanket, candles, matches and lighter in truck.
Also always let responsible person know where you are going, where you park, when you will be back. Also let that responsible person know of any changes in the itinerary.
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Thick ice.
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My "Must Have Ice Safety Gear"? A PARTNER!! Won't fish alone on early or late ice. Don't like to fish alone on anything less than 6" of solid ice. Wear the Ice Picks around my neck ALWAYS! :thumbsup:
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My #1 must have safety gear is a sharp chisel. This is a proactive approach to safe ice fishing. Before you take a step, punch a hole through the ice and stick your fingers in to check the actual ice thickness. Yeah, your fingers / hands might get cold, but that's better than your body. When I go onto the ice and I am not sure of the thickness, I punch a hole before each and every step and reach down and check the ice. It's hard work and slow going but safety should be the first priority.
Ice picks are the Reactive approach. After you go in, you use them to get yourself out. Too late at that point but nice to have just in case.
I always have my chisel with me wheather the ice is 2" or 24", I still have it with me. Comes in handy for doing other things too, breaking ice off your gear, stuffing tie downs through the ice, chipping out your holes etc...
I've seen alot of guys checking the ice with a nice 38lbs auger plus all their gear in tow....I've seen a guy go through the ice by "checking the ice" that way too. Had to help him out of the lake after I warned him the ice was too thin just beyond my tip ups. He took 2 steps beyond my lines and that was it. I had to slide my sled (I have a long tow rope) out to him so he could grab on and then pulled him out of the water.
I have the 2 piece Jiffy chisel and it is one of the best ones I've tried. I actually have 2 Jiffy chisels, I got a good deal on a new one last year that I couldn't pass up.
I also have an Arctic Armor jacket but only use it during early ice and late ice. It's too hot and doesn't breathe....creating condensation.
Common sense plays a big part too in ice safety, if you dont think it's safe, stay off the ice. Look around, Dont be afraid to ask someone how thick the ice is but better yet, bring a chisel with you and check it yourself.
JIGGIN.
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A quality compass, no batteries needed, GPS for accuracy and ice picks.
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All the survival gear listed is a great idea! I tend to forget about it sometimes as I just stash lighters and magnesium strikers in all my pockets, tackle and tool bags at the start of the season.
My #1 must have safety gear is a sharp chisel.
Me too, I carry the 4' JIffy spud bar, and use it to check the ice ahead of me when I'm on the early season trout ponds.
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Arctic Armor and ice spikes is all I need ;D
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My Arctic Armor with ice spikes in the pocket and I carry 50ft of rope with a carabiner on one end in the bottom of my bucket/sled.
J-
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My Artic Armor suit, hand picks around my neck, spud bar to pound the ice before each step and about 30 feet of line tied through the center of a softball to throw to anyone in case someone would fall through and I would need to reach them with a line. Fin
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Common sense, my jiffy chisel, and ice cleats because I hate falling down.
I have ice picks but I almost never use them. If I can drive a 1/2 ton pickup on the ice I don't see the need for picks.
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What I carry
Ice Awls
Whistle- Fox 40 Pea-less
Throw bag
Old cell phone (charged and in a sealed bag, no SIM card necessary for 9-1-1)
I keep the whistle attached to my coat zipper, the throw bag with my gear and the Ice awls around my neck. I made my own throw bag. I used a insulated water bottle carrier for the bag and 75' of rope. I also made awls for all of my friends and carry an extra pair in my bag. Also I think that crampons are very important. Not only for your safety, but if someone else falls in and you have a rope. The traction will be necessary to help them out.
Safety is very important and if you fish with friends you can (should) spread the tools. Have some carry the awls, others the rope, etc. Won't do you any good for one person to carry all the safety equipment and that person doesn't go fishing one day, or worse they're the one who falls in
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Arctic Armor!
Why do this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gOW8ZaYqHA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gOW8ZaYqHA)
When you can do this!
http://www.idigear.com/video3.php (http://www.idigear.com/video3.php)
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1- best judgement
2-full floatation suit rigged with picks
3- spot gps locator
4- sat. phone
5- angels on your side
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Truer words have never been spoken!
Arctic Armor!
Why do this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gOW8ZaYqHA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gOW8ZaYqHA)
When you can do this!
http://www.idigear.com/video3.php (http://www.idigear.com/video3.php)
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1 rescue quality whistle
1 set of ice awls
1 vhf portable radio in a water proof bag to contact the local FD dispatch (I'm a local firefighter)
1 PFD
a throw bag with 75' of rope
and a nebulus float
hot packs
back at the truck and in the shanty :dry clothes
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I agree with jiggin 100%. Agood ice spud is the first thing i make sure is with me. I also put ice picks around my neck. I am also fortunate to have a mustang survival suit. I think the most important thing is to just use yer head. I also like to check the ice every few feet with my ice spud. What amazes me is how many people that ice fish don't even own an ice spud! Seriously.
heres my list: Ice spud
mustang survival suit
Ice picks
Ice creepers
Length of rope
Change of warm clothes back in truck
This is a good post. Lets all play it safe.
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1- best judgement
2-full floatation suit rigged with picks
3- spot gps locator
4- sat. phone
5- angels on your side
i agree with angels on my side more than anything. i'm that guy that with say #### it even though i see springs big enough to swallow a car the previous day forming, then it snows over night... if i'm not working i'm fishing ;D
those angels must like me
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new to the site and just getting back into ice fishing after a long break. One item that I recently invested in was an Arctic Armor suit, really quite warm, not overly bulky and the reason that I bought it was that it floats. I figured a $300 suit that keeps me warm (and stylish) is way better that drowning through a cold hole in the ice. just my opinion.
Jim
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A PARTNER ;) With a vest and a rope :tipup:
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good topic
for one thing most of the stuff is always in the car / truck
uhf / vhf radio
first aid kit
blanket / towel
pants and shirt
rope, flares,candle
MRE
Winter rolls around I up it to a bag with hats gloves socks hot packs
throw rope
going on the ice idi gear picks studded boots and like several my chisel many uses mainly I use it as my cane out on the ice