The Ice Moveth!

jujubeans · Feb 8, 2009

Guess most of you have heard about the ice fisherman in Lake Erie having to get rescued after the ice broke loose?

Well now a couple of them are trying to get back on the ice to get their stuff...I think if I was the coast guard, I'd have to push that ice flow a little further down stream...

Poorboy · Feb 8, 2009

jujubeans said:
Guess most of you have heard about the ice fisherman in Lake Erie having to get rescued after the ice broke loose?

Well now a couple of them are trying to get back on the ice to get their stuff...I think if I was the coast guard, I'd have to push that ice flow a little further down stream...

That Happens around here almost every year!! I mean Cmon Now, If it's going to be 50 degrees and windy and you still go out on the Ice then You should be Jailed for being Stuck On Stupid, and made to pay for the Rescue!!!! And maybe that will discourage these Morons and make them use their heads for something else

besides for keeping their ears apart!! Nuff Said

layoutshooter · Feb 8, 2009

It seems to be a growing trend over the last several years. It seems that many today don't understand anything about how ice is affected by the wind. We were always taught that you NEVER cross that last crack, the one that would separate you from shore if the wind shifted from on to off shore. Now a days it seems that that perch or walleye is worth more than your life. Now, there are a few out there that use large hoover crafts to go way off shore to fish the moving ice. That can be ok if you know how to handle the boat and keep an eye on the winds. Lake Erie winds can bite you in the butt if you stop paying attention to them. Layoutshooter

usafk9 · Feb 8, 2009

I personally enjoy the snot out of icefishing; although I haven't done it in years.

The article I read said that the LEO's lined the rescuees up single file and took all of their info. No crimes were committed, but they advised all if they went back out and had to be rescued, they'd be jailed.

I've only ever fished lakes inland from Lake Michigan, and have a healthy respect for late-season ice. These folks were just plain foolish. I've watched people fish 6' from open water trying to hook steelhead, and I thought they were crazy.

layoutshooter · Feb 8, 2009

I too love to ice fish but no longer get the chance. If you learn right you can "smell" good or bad ice. In over 40 years of ice fishing I never once fell through. It is not luck, it is paying attention to what is going on. Ice fishing is no more or less dangerous than any other outdoor sport. I have taken my car out on Lake Erie on many occasions but not in many years the, ice has not been like that in 20 years. When I was young there used to be a service that ran out of Brest Bay Marina in Monroe country, MI. They had several shanties for rent. They would buy a junker car every year and cut the top off. You would rent your shanty for a few bucks a day then you would pay a dollar each way for a ride to and from your rented shanty. Maybe if these colder winters continue we will get good ice again. The only thing that might interfere with that is the nuke plant at Newport, it really warms the water. Layoutshooter

chefdennis · Feb 8, 2009

I read on another board that 1 person died and over 100 had to be plucked off a ice float the other day off oak harbor ohio, a little west of toledo. Happens every year, but with the really cold spell they have had up there, its a bit early now....

layoutshooter · Feb 8, 2009

Even though Lake Erie froze from bank to bank this year it is not a solid sheet of ice. It is large sheets of moving ice. Pockets of open water can show up at any time. If you cross what I call the final crack you open yourself up for problems. When the wind blows off shore on Erie it will shift those ice flows. If there is enough room for the flow to move far enough you will not be able to get back. Just the same, if the wind shifts back the flow will be moving back to shore and will rejoin the shore ice if the wind continues for long enough. Lake Erie, as are all the Great Lakes, are kind of like reallllly big flowing rivers. There are many currents moving all year around. Just watch how much water is still flowing over the falls even with Erie iced up. Most of that water is passing through Lake Erie. Layoutshooter

Texpress · Feb 8, 2009

All sounds kinda scary to a southern boy.. Of course a 1/4 inch of ice means 90% of us can't get the truck outta the driveway. I love that "Ice truckers" show but again, kinda scary.

My grandfather did some quide work (Bass) after he retired. He always said those northeners come down here and want to go out when it's 35 degrees and raining. For us those were days ment to be spent by the fireplace. For the guys from up north, well they had come all that way and "35 degrees and raining didn't bother them in the least.

My luck the little house would fall through the ice.. Lol my wife would be at the insurance office before I hit the bottom.

layoutshooter · Feb 8, 2009

3-5" of ice can be very safe on the right water. The Soviets used to use frozen rivers to move thier mobile missiles on during the winter. It made it harder for us to follow them. I have fished ice in excess of 5' thick. Most of the time I fished 5-15" Layoutshooter

Texpress · Feb 8, 2009

Did you ever catch fish to big to come thru that little hole? One more dumb question.. how does the ice do on your line? Let me refrase that.. do you have to use higher test line to deal with the ice "edges of the hole" while your fighting the fish?

layoutshooter · Feb 8, 2009

Many times I have caught fish that were too big to be brought up threw the hole. It depends on how big the hole is. My Auger cuts an 8" diamiter hole. Not too many fish are that big around. If we are spearing pike through the ice we cut a 3'X5' hole. The shacks as you call them, shanties as we call them are for keep your holes from icing over. A fully "blacked out" shantie, that is a shantie that does not allow outside light to come in allows you to see into the hole. The water is normally very clear under ice. There are few things a pretty as a shantie lit up by "Ice Light" That is light produced when ice is shinned on by sunlight. It creates a very pretty "Blue Glow" inside the shantie. As you watch in the holes it is like watching fish in a aquaium. As to line weights. You generally use very light lines in winter. The fish are sluggish and line shy. For panfish I use 1-2lb test. It can break easy against the ice but that is half the fun. Layoutshooter

Texpress · Feb 8, 2009

When I first moved to central texas I wasn't use to the clear water here it took me a while to learn how to catch fish in clear water and yes even worse in the winter when they become even more line shy. I eventually got down to using 2-4LB test then one day a friend turned me on to a fly-rod.

I've been "hooked" on fly-fishing ever since. I fly fish every where I go now.

Stay safe on the road.
Blessings,
dave

mjolnir131 · Feb 8, 2009

i like using a fly rod to jig great of off bridges on along the bank with eep holes near shore

Texpress · Feb 8, 2009

mjolnir131 said:
i like using a fly rod to jig great of off bridges on along the bank with eep holes near shore

Yepper.. in the spring when they move into the shallows (to spawn) believe me having a 9'.6" rod does come in handy.

Be safe on the road.
Blessings,
dave

P51bombay · Feb 8, 2009

I heard somewhere they used pallets to "go out further"

inkasnana · Mar 3, 2009

layoutshooter said:
Many times I have caught fish that were too big to be brought up threw the hole. It depends on how big the hole is. My Auger cuts an 8" diamiter hole. Not too many fish are that big around. If we are spearing pike through the ice we cut a 3'X5' hole. The shacks as you call them, shanties as we call them are for keep your holes from icing over. A fully "blacked out" shantie, that is a shantie that does not allow outside light to come in allows you to see into the hole. The water is normally very clear under ice. There are few things a pretty as a shantie lit up by "Ice Light" That is light produced when ice is shinned on by sunlight. It creates a very pretty "Blue Glow" inside the shantie. As you watch in the holes it is like watching fish in a aquaium. As to line weights. You generally use very light lines in winter. The fish are sluggish and line shy. For panfish I use 1-2lb test. It can break easy against the ice but that is half the fun. Layoutshooter

Layoutshooter, you almost make ice fishing sound like fun. Notice I said ALMOST! I'm not that fond of ice and snow and cold anymore. lol