Cold weather has arrived and is slowly covering Michigan’s lakes with ice. Ice becomes solid and fishable when the weather is clear and calm, and it remains below freezing for a week or so. The estimated thickness of safe ice for foot traffic is four inches. It is important to understand ice formation and conditions and what that ice will hold before venturing out. It is also very important to utilize the right gear to ensure a safe and enjoyable day on the ice.
Lake ice can be fickle. Two lakes situated within five miles of each other can have very different ice conditions. One can have several inches of solid ice, while the other can be wide open. Depth, springs, and current can all have major impacts on ice formation. My little lake always freezes late, usually in January. Sixty feet deep, with springs and an outflow allowing for moving water, and that depth holds a lot of water above freezing all year long. Another lake, only five miles away, is only seventeen feet deep, about half the size and has no outflow. This lake can freeze weeks ahead of our little lake. It pays to know the lake you intend to fish.
Shelf ice is always a major concern, and it is important to understand this issue and how to deal with it safely. Shelf ice forms when the lake starts to freeze but does not completely ice over. I will see shelf ice on my shoreline for a week before the deeper areas start to skim over. This means there may be walkable ice on the shoreline, but not far out from shore. I have seen four inches along the shore and as little as one inch past the shelf. Then it snows, and all of the lake looks the same. There is no way to tell the new ice from the shelf. This is how you find out if ice is walkable. Anglers need to utilize a spud when walking out. Not a lightweight spud, a good heavy (at least ten pounds), long-handled spud. Here is why. Every step taken should involve a good stab in the ice as far as your arm can reach and that spud will allow. Practice close to shore and make sure the point of the spud is able to go through at least two inches of ice with every thrust. If it does not, it is either not sharp enough or not heavy enough. It only takes a few minutes to get in the groove and soon you will be spudding your way around the shallows. The point is: if the spud can go down 2 inches into the ice and water is coming up through that spot, it is not safe to walk on.
A few other things you may include in your safety pack for ice fishing are ice picks. Several companies manufacture them, and they can certainly be a lifesaver if someone goes through. They are made with a grip connected to a stretch cord that drapes around the angler’s neck, so they are quickly available if the angler goes through the ice. There are lots of videos online that will show ways to get out of that predicament. Just remember, wet clothes are heavy, and it is important to get out quickly. Most experts recommend kicking hard with the feet while using the picks to pull out of the hole in the same direction the bad ice was approached, not towards more unsafe ice. Once on the ice, it is important to roll away from the hole, again towards safer ice.
Float suits are now common on the market and are designed to keep users on top of the water. They do not help someone pull themselves back onto the ice, so it is still important to utilize the picks. The suits are not cheap, but they are cheaper than a funeral. I have worn one for several years now and hope I never have to use it for its intended purpose.
Once ice is safe, it still needs to be monitored closely, as there is always a false sense of security on ice. Just because it is safe one weekend does not mean it is the next. Always tell someone where you will be fishing, and always take a partner.
Ice fishing can be a wonderful way to spend the cold days winter will throw at us. Kids will remember ice fishing throughout their lives and it is hard to beat fresh bluegills in February. Have a wonderful and safe new year and I will see you on the ice.
