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Vehicle went through on Washington??


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I've been hearing sporadic reports that a vehicle went through on Washington today. Anybody have any info on that??

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Yep, when I saw the title, that's exactly what I thought.

I believe I have posted 4 times this season in the SC forum to not drive there.

Dangerous spot to say the least.

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Sad to say not all people are on this web site and are not well informed. No ice is ever safe, be carefully out there.

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Sad to say not all people are on this web site and are not well informed. No ice is ever safe, be carefully out there.

Well said. No ice is safe. Ever.

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Espeically when they drive in locations that are questionable at best and most winters, never safe.

Seems most times, when a truck goes through, it's in a location where peole should not have been driving ever.

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I'm curious. If we know this spot is historically not safe most winters I'm sure the DNR knows this as well. Why isn't the narrows area posted for possible thin ice?

It seems somebody drops in at that spot just about every year.

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The Dnr does post warnings about channels points aerators, etc. but I'm not sure putting up cones is such a good idea. It could give people the idea that the test of the lake is good ice. I think a simple map at each landing for historical bad ice spots would be great though. Many lakes have known spots, they are almost always similar in structure so people also need to take it upon themselves to learn about ice safety. Very sad deal.

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The state (DNR) doesn't post or sign hazards. They'd be liable for every one they missed. The counties post some of the hazards on the popular lakes and that's about it. Think the narrows on Madison, Rocky Point on Tetonka, the shallow bar on Frances...but there are plenty of places that aren't posted or signed that are hazards - the backside of the island on Emily, a couple nasty rocks on Madison, near the islands on Upper Sakatah.

Danger spots change from year to year, mostly depending on lake water level. Low water the last couple falls has made things a little more challenging. Good if you are into propellor and lower unit repair I suppose.

Ice is a whole other danger. Springs, running tile lines, inlets, and tradition dangerous spots are all hazards. Depending on flow, they also change from year to year. There's also something to be said about knowing how ice forms and retreats - It forms first and is strongest in shallow water and then moves deeper and weakens in shallow water first then moves to deeper water. It's also a good rule of thumb to never drive through narrows. That's true on shallow water water lakes like Washington, riverine systems like the Sauk Chain, all the way into northern Minnesota.

It was getting dark on lake trout opener on Saganaga about a month ago. We lost our trail in Canada for a bit and my brother in law was eyeing up a spot to cross south between two island. I tapped him on the shoulder in the two-up, took a timeout, and explained this rule of thumb. We walked up to the narrows, and sure enough, had we powered through we would have sunk that sled and taken a dip with no help for miles. Don't ever cross through a set of narrows that you don't know is safe.

Learn the lakes you fish slowly, ask around, and don't be the first set of tracks on a spot unless you KNOW its safe. Yes, someone has to be first but that's best left to people that KNOW the respective spot or lake. No ice is safe, we have to learn that every year it seems.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

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