Published Friday, February 7, 2003
for safe ice fishing
Herald Staff Writer
Two years ago in December the body of an angler was pulled out from under the ice on Pymatuning Lake. The ice that he and his son-in-law were fishing through was less than two inches thick.
To avoid a repeat of that tragedy, local park rangers and a conservation officer offer some common sense ways to avoid trouble around the frozen fishing hole.
"You just need a lot of common sense. You should have four inches of ice to support someone when you ice fish," said John McCausland, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Ranger Supervisor at Pymatuning State Park. "And you have to be aware that it doesn't mean you have four inches of ice (thickness) ten feet away."
Joseph P. Russell, Waterways Conservation officer for the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, recalls getting ready to go out on the ice and check on some men ice fishing when they told him to stop.
"They said, 'Don't get too close, we only have an inch and a half of ice.' I asked them what they were doing out there then. I couldn't even check on them," he said. "They told me, 'We gotta get a fish.' There's no fish in the world worth that."
The one basic that was emphasized was simple: Wear a life jacket.
"Unfortunately, some of them don't, but it's for their own safety," said Rich Eggar, DCNR Park ranger at Shenango Lake.
"Very few of them have life preservers with them or insulated flotation jackets," said McCausland. Russell explained that a life jacket not only can save a person's life while ice fishing, but the extra layer can help keep them warm.
Another basic safety step that all three talked about was communication.
"Carry a cell phone. If someone goes through the ice or you happen to see someone go through the ice, you can call 911," said Russell. But cell phones can't save a life. "That guy whose father-in-law fell through the ice had a problem making a call. He couldn't find any place that was open to call so there was a delay in getting help," Russell said.
Eggar added, "I think that the only way to be completely safe is to stay off the ice, but if they do decide to go out on the ice, follow the safety tips, like letting people know where you'll be."
Russell concurred. "Let someone know where you're are going to be and when you're going to be coming off the ice."
Mixing alcohol and ice fishing was also nixed by the three. "You can get hypothermia within two to three minutes in a healthy young person," said Russell. "Those effects are even quicker for people with alcohol in their systems."
Another safety item that anglers can easily buy at a sporting goods store or make for themselves are portable ice awls. "They're basically ice picks on a string. It's good if you're out there out there by yourself. The commercial ones have a whistle on them to summon help," said McCausland.
Observing the ice formation is also an important factor in determining safety, Eggar said. "The strength and thickness is the main thing. It may be a certain thickness in one area and drastically different a few feet away."
And all three emphasized the importance of using your head when fishing.
"We can't legislate common sense. I've seen guys lay board from shore across water on the (shore's) edges just to get onto the ice," said Russell. "We can tell them, 'Hey its not a really good idea' but ultimately it's up to them to come off the ice or not. The biggest thing is just use your common sense."
For more ice fishing safety tips or instructions to make ice awls, check www.fish.state.pa.us