Support Iceshanty... Get some great gear and forum goodies... Join The Iceshanty Hardwater Militia
I Initially planned to keep this tidbit to myself to spare embarrassment, but it might help someone else with more nads than brains. I attempted to fish Huddle Bay Saturday. I put 4 good perch in the bucket before I got restless and looking at my Navionics.Navionics told me there was a nice little flat just beyond the little islands headed towards Bixby. I flip the shack back and start walking. Straight up perch blind. I'll admit it. I was also swinging the spud once for every 2 or 3 steps I took. I took 2 steps without swinging on a clear transition in the ice and went in. I made more mistakes than I can even remember. As a result, I'll be thanking that Arctic Armor suit for the rest of my years man. The bibs preformed better than I ever could have imagined. I felt my legs start to float up behind me immediately after going through. Gave 2 hard kicks and bellied back up on the ice I came from. I've watched enough Youtube videos that these suit companies put out that it was all etched into my memory. I'm kind of shocked how good of shape I was in when I finally got to my truck. The outer layer of my suit flash froze like a brick. I had to keep high stepping to keep from freezing to the point of being immobile, but my core layers stayed safely warm. I'm slightly disappointed in my boots, but I guess I can only expect so much. Carharts and muck boots would have been an entirely different story. Stay safe guys. Invest in a good suit and swing hard with every step.
(Image removed from quote.)
That was you? I went out yesterday and some guy on shore told me about that. As others were heading in that direction I was giving them the heads up, even the ice skaters. Glad you made it out and it looks like it's time to invest in a new suit. I saw a guy passed the island on the right, come around the point from the main lake, pulling and pushing what looked to be a canoe. I know Damn well he wasn't on much ice. Just passed the break passed the island on the right, I was told the was 11/2 inches.
Well. I've got no room to call that guy crazy. But I hope he's prepared to swim if it happens.
Thanks for posting your horror story prchslyr and thankfully you got out and are OK.What type of boots were you disappointed with?
Great weekend Lance. Hope we can finally hook up right place right time. I'm dying to get schooled by you out there. And yeah, let's just say when I hooked the salmon, I knew what I had!71 degrees warmer now than 2 days ago and 63 degrees warmer than yesterday. Ouch. Back to scouting tomorrow.
I was wearing the newest Neos Overshoe. The Navigator. I guess I can only expect so much being fully submerged, but I firmly believe my feet would have been dry with the old version I had. I know no water came up the bottom of my bibs because the bottom of my pants were 100% dry. I took in a little water over the top of my bibs. A small portion of my chest and feet were the only things wet on my inside layers. Water soaked through my boots immediately. The hiking boot I was wearing inside them claims to be water proof too. I've walked through standing water with the old Neos I had and had no issue at all. I would have probably stayed out if I had the old set on. My coat was dry because I wasn't wearing it when I went in. I peeled my top layers off and threw my dry coat on. The only thing hurting by the time I got to my truck were my feet.
Be careful what you wish for. It can be frustrating.
I forgot to mention. To save people a trip, they cracked open the the ice at the end of the dock and fired up the bubbler, off huddle bay rd. We went out for a few hours and when coming off, saw water flowering over the top of the ice. What I don't get is, why would they do that crap, when they know people are out there and not do it at night when nobody's out? It's not deep there, but still, who wants to get wet. That access can't be safe now.
I'm always up for a serving of humble pie! I meant to ask were your boots real heavy on the walk back? I know mine were when I went in on shore last year. I knew I was fine being only waist deep so I just stood for a while to get a feel for it. The one thing I noticed is my boots were like lead bricks on the walk to the car.