Patience?

[gemcityslayer]

I know some guys have already been on the ice... and I know all of us are chompin' at the bit to get started...

I also know 99% of the guys on here know ice safety and have good common sense when it comes to early and late ice...  I decided to post this for the 1%.... or those new to this sport.

We are lucky to live where we do ... we get a foot or two of ice on our waters and for months on end...  Please be careful on this early ice and if you want to get out there make sure you go with a friend or a group of people.   

How is that for a ramble/rant?  Hopefully my last one of the year.  Good luck to all, please be patient and safe w/ the early ice.  I love this sport and season but it sure does make me cringe when I hear of people dying because they were not prepared or not patient enough.

[FrostBack]

This seems like a fitting place for this:

[massNtrash]

I know that supposedly you can take a car on 7 1/2 inches but I still feel ify even taking my wheeler out on anything under a foot. Or walking on anything under 4 inches for that matter.

[Wyoming_Ice]

Thanks for that post Gemcityslayer. That was a wecolme post in my mind.
Thinking about all of the gear and all of the iffy times that I have been out ( the last trip this spring ).
I still do not own a pair of $ 2.00 ice picks....time to fix that.   

 Wyo Ice

[prospector]

I for one need these reminders! Thank you.

[Dorado]

I know that supposedly you can take a car on 7 1/2 inches but I still feel ify even taking my wheeler out on anything under a foot. Or walking on anything under 4 inches for that matter.

Those guidelines are not applicable here in Western Wyoming, or anywhere else that gets a ton of snow on top of the ice.  The overflow and pressure ridges that are hidden under the snow make even taking a snowmobile out there a bit sketchy sometimes (OK my old underpowered sled anyhow)! 

I for one am not putting the boat away yet.  Knocked the snot out of the Macs last weekend on Fremont, and it ain't freezing up for a few months yet!!!

[Gimper]

I like to wait until at least 15 inches to take a vehicle out. Not that it takes 15 inches of good, solid, clear ice to hold up the vehicle, but it's nice when three or four other vehicles just happen to show up and park right next to me.

[massNtrash]

 
I for one am not putting the boat away yet.  Knocked the snot out of the Macs last weekend on Fremont, and it ain't freezing up for a few months yet!!!

I know the feeling I've been doing great on Boulder lately.

[gemcityslayer]

I know how bad some of us love to ice fish.... some of us are basically addicts and addicts don't always make the wisest decisions....   I know some people are itching to get on the ice... I'm just saying wait a day or two!  Or at least go with a friend like I said.  Then if you fall in it will be hilarious after you get pulled out and are freezing on the ride home...

Nothing hilarious about drowning / freezing all by yourself at the lake because you couldn't wait a few days!  I think falling in now is a lot worse than in March... it is -5 where I am at.  If you get wet late ice at least it is 50 degrees out

[doublehaul]

Here's a handy safety tip for early and late ice. Use a small backpack, 50' rope, and a small boat buoyee for worst-case-scenario situations.

[muskyon46]

Good reminder GCS, I make it a point to never fish early or late ice alone

[SLAYERFISH]

A spud bar tilts the odds in your favor. Without one it's a crapshoot and you're just guessing.   Also Wind is a player on early ice.  Just the speed of the wind can flex thin ice and cause it to break apart. Ive had it happen to me.

One good thing about early ice is the fish are usually close to shore anyway.

[wyofisher85]

I agree with slayerfish. I have fished when there was less than 2 inches before. It is a little nerve-racking. But using a spud bar is a good idea. Gets you on the ice safely and then you can just chip your hole. Dont have to worry about carrying the extra weight of an auger.....

[WYIfish]

I  use the trusty spud bar early  in the year and with the auger in the middle of the season around pressure ridges.

[appleye]

I always have a spud bar on early ice and I wear a life jacket and carry a rope. All that being said I'm the first one on the ice usually most years.