Lake open ?

[theharvester]

They claim lake is open check their beltrami sheriff face book page check it out. The wind may blow the whole lake open

[SDPROV]

Picture they show is lower red open and a crack in upper red correct?? Lower red has been open all year.

[theharvester]

You would think they would know what lake the picture was. It did say rescues in progress. Somebody maybe could pull this up

[leech~~]

Just posted something on the rescue in the Ice Fishing forum page

[WallEYES]

Mr. Mortenson from Mort.s dock said 45-50 people being rescued since 930-10 am this morning...wheelers must stay

[DrillinHolz]

http://bringmethenews.com/2015/12/14/roughly-50-people-rescued-from-lake-after-ice-chunks-break-free/

http://www.valleynewslive.com/home/headlines/Rescue-Underway-on-Red-Lake-361817161.html?device=phone&c=y

[Weathertite]

Thank you for the up link Drillinholz , We all need to be diligent about ice safety for a while yet. Not worth anyones LIFE.  Mike

[DrillinHolz]

Not a problem!  

[Todd Caswell]

Iv'e said for along time that if you need to be rescued from the ice you should have to pay a hefty fine $1000.00 or more, I could care less that these people have no regard to the own lives or there family's but to have no regard to the EMT people that have to save there sorry asses bothers me. You just can't fix stupid..

[Jmlsmp]

Well then I guess in your opinion Rodgers should be fined $10,000 or $100,000 for letting people out if the person that paid them to go out of the access gets fined $1000. A smart fisherman should know to fish on the side of the lake that the wind is blowing to. But to each their own. I'm just glade that everyone got off safe. But it's funny how people throw a lot of stones saying that they are so much smarter that others. Wait until the first access lets wheel house out with wheelers and side by sides. They are going to have 2000 houses house go out in the first 48 hours. Pray that their will not be problems like we are having now. 

Edited December 15, 2015 by Jmlsmp

[kelly-p]

That crack showing up across URL in the 12-13 Modis Sat. View will most likely be a lot bigger the next time we get a clear Satellite  view of the lake. There must be some very big ice piles out there somewhere for that much ice to open up. Perhaps the piling happened over on the Bands waters? I do not know, the next good Satellite view will show a lot. That I know of it did not affect anything along the east side as everybody was fishing east of what opened up.

The first news stories were wrong as someone must have confused LRL with URL. LRL with it's deeper water has not frozen over yet this year. There will be open water out in URL now so everybody please forget about following your GPS blindly across the lake to your favorite spot. 

 

This from Roger's Facebook page.

This morning after checking ice conditions the crew returned for breakfast, they were pleased that we had gained ice and the temps were dropping. Bill looked out the window and noticed the ice opening up, it had split in two locations leaving 3 fisherman stranded on a ice floe. Bill told us to call ice rescue as he did not know the extent of the circumstances at that time. Bill then grabbed the boat and got the three stranded on the ice floe. Ice rescue arrived as the gals in... the office called guests out on the ice and had them begin to meet at a central location for rescue operations. Ice rescue found a spot 600 yards away were the ice sheet started to come together. Fisherman were escorted by foot off the lake with their gear by ice rescue and a sheet of plywood was eventually used to drive wheelers off the ice by ice rescue. Everyone was off the lake and safe with in a couple of hours. Our bridge floated on a ice berg a quarter mile away and was later recovered by Bill. Our access is currently closed and we will keep you posted. A special thanks to guests, staff, DNR and rescue operations.

 

 

[carp master]

2 hours ago, Todd Caswell said:

Iv'e said for along time that if you need to be rescued from the ice you should have to pay a hefty fine $1000.00 or more, I could care less that these people have no regard to the own lives or there family's but to have no regard to the EMT people that have to save there sorry asses bothers me. You just can't fix stupid..

You're right you can't fix stupid. Such an Ignorant post. 3 more inches of ice and the DNR chart said cars would be able to drive on it. I have fished URL the Last two weekends and there is plenty of ice. Mother nature does what she wants to. There is a reason we have emergency responders. However, zero people were rescued today by emergency responders 3 people we rescued by the resort and the rest WALKED off the ice. Learn your facts before you run your mouth.

Also most of the news channels said URL was open when they were showing Lower Red. Our media in the US boggles my mind. Whatever gets better ratings I guess.

[BringAnExtension]

Rather than point fingers at anyone, I just thank God that everyone was ok.  We are all anxious to get out ice fishing, but let's be careful.  

[Weathertite]

I have only been on this lake one time in my life , that was back in 1985 when I attended Bemidji state university. Does this type of thing happen a lot on this lake and does it solidify the further into winter you go ? Just curious what to expect as I plan on making quite a few trips up there this year. Thanks Mike

[onceacop]

It's more common on the great lakes, not so much inland MN lakes. We often times drug a canoe with us ice fishing off the French river north of Duluth. If we get the 4-7" of snow wed... that could have waited. We are ready anytime for a good dump, if that happens it will be a disaster... Not seeing below zero weather in fcst....LOTW resorts chomping at the bit too.

 

[cookie129]

Since lake of the woods is open water the snow should not hurt them The colder ice making air comes in after the snow. Lets all hope it just clips us

[minnowdragger]

A $1000 fine? Are you serious. So if you drive your car on an icy road and go in the ditch that should also warrant a fine right? Don't be stupid. Things happen.

[VermilionGold]

4 minutes ago, Scaup3 said:

Diving on an icy roads is completely different than going out on ice that you know is marginally safe at best.  It's called common sense.  Lots lacking in this thread.

Marginal ice (where there was ice), one of the largest bodies of water in the state, and winds up to 30 mph.  To say common sense was lacking is an understatement.

[ozzie]

so basically you are saying if you ice fish and something happens out there you should be fined heavily because your stupid to ice fish?  Not in your exact words but basically it is what you are saying...cause if you ice fish you know that it doesn't matter if you are on 2 inches or 2 feet something can always happen and you are saying if it does happen fine them and a sizable amount.  Get real and get off your all mighty soap box!!  things happen everyone got off the ice safely and the rescue team was able to get some real world training in.  

[kelly-p]

"Does this type of thing happen a lot on this lake and does it solidify the further into winter you go ? "

That I can remember this has happened twice before but not to this extent. The first time it was 2 fishermen that were sent floating  when a large crack opened up. They were 2 area law enforcement personal.  The 2^nd time it happened those 2 were some of the responders which led to some good natured ribbing.  What is hard for me to figure out is that yesterday we had a north wind. The south shore and Roger’s should have been the safest area to go out from with the wind towards shore.  This ice sheet or at least part of it moved INTO THE WIND????? The only explanation I can think of is that a huge sheet of ice miles across broke loose and pivoted  with the western edge of the sheet heading south with the wind somewhere over in the Bands water and that pulled the eastern edge of the sheet out from Roger’s. I have lived here my entire life and have never seen anything like this. I have seen the ice sheet breakup when it was 8 to 10 inches thick but I have never seen an entire sheet twist around like this.  When we get a good Satellite view maybe we can figure it out then.

Every road on the lake had people out on the ice yesterday so it is not like Roger’s did anything different.

As far as Todd Caswell’s post  the rescue people and First Responders are local volunteers. With much of their equipment and training expenses paid for by local  fundraisers and money from the Lake Assc..  Seeing as we are 60 miles from Bemidji, response time could be 1 ½  to 2 hours, it was felt by the community that we needed to do something.

All in all it is ice fishing.  It is never completely safe and nothing should ever be taken for granted. URL is one of the busiest and biggest lake in the State. I think the roads have done a pretty good job of keeping people safe. If I remember right URL had more hours of fishing pressure last winter then LOW. I feel that the roads, including Roger’s have done a pretty good job.

[ozzie]

boy comprehension is not your thing Scaup3...the point I was making is that no matter the thickness ice is never "safe" and to fine someone for going out and having the unfortunate situation that they need to be rescued is ridiculous!!  First responders know that they are putting their lives on the line in all situations that they are called upon yet they still take the job and show up to help others.  I appreciate them for this but it is a risk that is involved in the job even for volunteers!!!

[Todd Caswell]

These same people are the reason we have warning labels on everything nowdays..

[DRAGFOOT]

It seems like we read about something like this more frequently than we should be. I have no problems with Ice fishing, have all the gear myself, just prefer to mainly soft water fish. But I swear to god that a large portion of people that ice fish, their brain starts to short circuit come early ice and to a lesser extent late ice, most of those people are f*&$#n nuts, ignorant or just plain stupid. If the ice is even remotely questionable, which it clearly is/has been, what in the h e double hockey sticks are you thinking? If you are one of those people, I am not sorry if I offended you and you are an idiot. Everybody take a deep breath, we'll have safe ice soon enough, you will be ok! Remember, its just a fish!

Edited December 15, 2015 by DRAGFOOT

[Todd Caswell]

11 minutes ago, DRAGFOOT said:

It seems like we read about something like this more frequently than we should be. I have no problems with Ice fishing, have all the gear myself, just prefer to mainly soft water fish. But I swear to god that a large portion of people that ice fish, their brain starts to short circuit come early ice and to a lesser extent late ice, most of those people are f*&$#n nuts, ignorant or just plain stupid. If the ice is even remotely questionable, which it clearly is/has been, what in the h e double hockey sticks are you thinking? If you are one of those people, I am not sorry if I offended you but you are an idiot. Everybody take a deep breath, we'll have safe ice soon enough, you will be ok! Remember, its just a fish!

Yep they haven't wet a line for the past two monthes, missed the best fishing of the year but first chance they get they will risk there own lives and the lives of others to go look down a hole. I walk when others are using 4 wheelers and will use my wheeler when others are driving out, Attending a winter drowning victims funeral will change your mindset forever..And if it doesn't you should have clearly paid more attention to what the family was going through..

Edited December 15, 2015 by Todd Caswell

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Some people's opinions just make no sense. 

Personally In my opinion the responders are trained for things like this. I can't say for sure, but I would guess that most of those who were rescued were tax paying citizens that went out of a resort and paid for a service access where the resort checked the ice and staked off an area that was safe. The ice was found to be plenty thick, it just happened to have moved. This wasn't a bunch of idiots just venturing out with no clue on what was going on, this was a group of paying customers spending money at a local resort for the safety and services provided. 

It looks to me like the whole entire event was a success. How many taxes, fundraisers, and vol. help has been invested into the URL community by resorts, customers, and local people? My guess is quite a lot. I'm sure the entire URL community resorts & locals are hurting with the reduced cash flow due to the crazy weather. It appears that they are all taking precautions and doing everything they can to support their way of life and to keep customers safe and happy.  To me a guy getting on his soap box complaining about the resorts, customers, and community of URL having to use a safety rescue crew for something like this is retarded to say the least. They all paid for it and had to use it. So why should those involved be fined or pay a fee? They already pay taxes and raise money for the emergency response team. Now I can understand your complaint if it was a couple idiots going out on unchecked ice and being stupid about it, but it was people doing the correct things utilizing professionals and resorts that checked things out and decided they were safe. An unfortunate event happened, but all were safely secured due to working with professionals. 

[RainyRat]

Lots of people do things every day that are risky.  Things like talking or texting while driving, driving on busy or snow/ice covered roads, drinking, drug use and smoking.  The list goes on and on.  All of these can result in death and the need for some emergency personnel to intervene.  Still people do it.

 

It is not my job to judge any of these people.

 

If you feel so strongly I would think your energy would be better put to use to educate people to try to prevent it from happening in the future rather than trying to place blame after the fact.

 

Just my 2 cents…

[Bryce]

So how do things work up north? Here by all the lights it works like this. Have a fire? The fire trucks show up and put it it out. Afterwards a bill shows up. Need to get to the hospital? The ambulance comes and hauls you. You pay for that as part of your hospital bill. Go in the ditch? Tow truck comes and pulls you out...after processing your credit card. Now for the most part anyways, nobody plans on burning down their garage, having a medical emergency or hitting the ditch but it happens. How are these fishermen any different?

 

[Jmlsmp]

I wonder how many people have been killed or injured  driving up to red lake the last 10 year vs how many have been killed or injured actually ice fishing on red lake. 

I guess it's true that most of us "ice fishing nuts" do take some chances, but I do believe that most us take calculated risks and are willing to help the next guy if they get into trouble. I know for myself I always keep picks in my pocket incase I fall threw and always have a throwable incase someone else falls threw. Last year I had to use it on someone the fell threw a local lake down by the city. Glade I had it and everything worked out.

The people that got stuck on the ice were in no direct danger. They just need to find a way off the ice. I was fishing on red a week and a half ago and the same thing happen with a couple of dozen people on the other side of th crack. Rodgers just boated them and their gear back. I personally went out of another resorts west of their because I did not want to cross that crack and did not have to where I went out of. My buddy that was fishing out Rodger yesterday told me that they may have jumped the gun a little bit by calling in the the first responders. He never felt that his life was in danger or nervous about the ice underneath him. 

[Todd Caswell]

1 hour ago, RainyRat said:

Lots of people do things every day that are risky.  Things like talking or texting while driving, driving on busy or snow/ice covered roads, drinking, drug use and smoking.  The list goes on and on.  All of these can result in death and the need for some emergency personnel to intervene.  Still people do it.

 

It is not my job to judge any of these people.

 

If you feel so strongly I would think your energy would be better put to use to educate people to try to prevent it from happening in the future rather than trying to place blame after the fact.

 

Just my 2 cents…

Pretty weak analogy to someone going out on unsafe ice conditions, in all of your examples these are poor decisions, sure we all may do some of them from time but the end result doesn't put the EMT in direct danger liker it does when a person goes through the ice because of a poor decision. Again if you aren't going to think about yourself or your own family, then think about the guy and his family that is going to pull you out of the drink.. 

[carp master]

Agronomist hit it on the head. My last post was out of anger reading about all the comments on Facebook dissing ice fishermen. Nobody was stupid like some people on this thread are saying. People were fishing on the SOUTH side in a NORTH wind. They were to theoretically the safest people on the lake, however the ice somehow shifted north in a north wind. Nobody could have predicted that. Also, nobody was "rescued" like the news is trying to make it, everyone walked off 1/3 of a mile down shore. In all reality anyone fishing on the lake including some people in this thread dissing other people when they fished Red in the past weeks themselves could have fallen victim to this. This is why we have emergency responders, for emergencies no one could have predicted. 

Scaup, are you serious? I just read your report from Friday and your dissing people for being out after it has been below freezing for a few days. Grow up. We don't need this kin of negativity in the ice fishing community