Good news: Ice season has started
“Ice Ice Baby!”
That song has been in my head for two weeks now, from the day I saw my first frozen pond of this season in North Dakota.
And the upsurge of traffic on social media has certainly confirmed that first ice is here in many parts of the ice belt. Crappie, perch, pike and walleye are hitting the ice daily in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Canada, as well as here at home.
The stores that were ahead of the curve and had ice-fishing gear hanging on pegs this past week have sold quite a bit. If you will recall, I warned of this a couple columns back, once first ice forms, you want to move fast or miss out on the good stuff. Having just returned from this trip that put me as far east as the Twin Cities, I can assure you, the 2014-15 ice season is on.
But before everyone who has not already hit the hard water rushes off to your favorite first ice spot, we have to think about safety, above all things.
Ice you may find might have set up a week ago or just the night before. Even if you see other anglers out there, it may not mean the ice will support you and the gear you have. And using a motorized vehicle? That needs to wait. (Unless you happen to be in one of the amphibious WILcraft or ARGO type vehicles, then press on ahead)
There is a widely recognized guideline that gives you safe ice recommendations for conditions, but ice varies and four-day-old cloudy ice versus new, clear ice can be drastically different.
Specifically, if you are one person walking, a minimum of three inches of ice is a must. A group walking single file needs four inches and one person on an ATV or snowmobile needs a minimum of five inches of clear hard ice. I think there may be only one or possibly two local waters that have that much already, but I haven’t been there to measure, and you should always verify ice conditions for yourself.
Accepted procedures recommend wearing a PFD or buoyant clothing, checking the ice with a heavy chisel or “spud bar” as you walk and having some rope your companion(s) can throw you in case you go in.
Probably the best item you can have is a set of ice picks worn around your neck. These are pieces of wood or plastic with a stout metal point, attached by a cord, that you stab into ice in the event you do go through. These are a MUST for every person who crosses ice — anglers, skaters, skiers, trappers etc. It is the best $7 you will spend on ice gear.
Be safe, use your head, and don’t go it alone until you know for yourself, your favorite lake is safe.
Fittingly, there will be a free ice fishing seminar day on Saturday at Snappy’s. Come and learn about this growing sport from some of the valley’s best ice men! Seminars begin at 9 a.m. and run until 1 p.m.
To celebrate the beginning of the ice season, some local anglers have gotten together and organized the first annual Ice Fishing Swap Meet. It will take place Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mark Weed Auto in Evergreen. Outdoor spaces are free and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Inside space is available, but must be reserved in advance. For more information, you can call Mark Weed Auto or me at 249-0556. Please, no unsupervised pets, kids or “Grumpy Old Men.”
I’ll see you this weekend.
Howe runs A Able Fishing Charters. Contact him at www.howesfishing.com or 257-5214 or by emailing Mike@aablefishing.com.