Bad ice on the bay

[luckystrikeicehouses]

Very poor ice on the bay, Friday, yesterday I followed a launch from Bayview with 10 guys in an enclosed trailer break threw, 150' in front of me, everyone was able to swim and get out of the water and I went to radio help. This was about 1/3 of the way out into the bay. Today, Saturday 4 seperate wheelers went threw the ice and the rescue squad had the hoover craft out helping everyone. The wheeler's today that went threw, where from 1/2 to 3/4 of the way out to Pine Island. I personally saw Friday's breakthrew and drove by the other 4 today. In my opinion the Bayview, people mover tralier was overloaded, 8x10 enclosed trailer, 10 guys and all their gear on two tires = bad news. The incidents today I did not personally witness but they looked to be on the marked trail and normally loaded. Do not believe the reports of 6-7" in the bay, where these people went threw it was 3-5" thick. The lake side did have 6". With the wicked south wind today the bay is going to be a crap shoot to travel out over!!!! (until we get some significant cold wheather for 3-4 nights at least). If you go out, go lightly loaded and bring a throw cushion, rope and a life jacket!!!!!

[nd_bart]

Thanks for the update. I am getting anxious to get across Pine Island myself but your information put a little reality back into my plans.

Bart

[JEV]

I was also out over pine on Saturday. We were on a wheeler and drove by the guys trying to get their trailer out that was still attached to their four wheeler. We took our time and never had a problem. A person hears all these reports of people busting through. It makes me wonder why they break through. My buddy and I couldn't believe how people drive out there. We were taking our time and plugging away and people were just flying by us on sleds and wheelers. Some were pulling heavy trailers behind there wheelers and they still were driving way to fast in my opinion. When we got over pine we were set up in 19ft of water. Every once in a while some fool would fly by and I know they were doing 30 to 40 MPH. The water in our holes would just bounce up and down. Some people just don't have a lick of sense on early ice. You would think after driving by all those marked holes in the ice of where wheelers have gone through people would be a little more cautious.

[RDM]

First time post for me, had to let you all know that yes the ice in Four mile Bay was bad, fished Thursday by the airport 4" ice heavy current 1oz jigs to get down, 1/2 oz and I put my transducer 5' outside my house to pick up my jig, fishing was ok, Friday we fished over pine, was right behind the transport that went through, the "kid" driving the wheeler pulling the transport had no clue. No rope had to supply that, there was a guy that was wet to his waist hanging on to the transport with his shirt and jacket pulled up to his shoulder blades, (Plumbers Back). We unhooked my clam and had him jump into that and pulled him to safety, we then packed up all the gear and went to the other side of pine. Choppy ice was the norm and pulled up slush with each fish, lots of 13"-14" fish. The ride back across the bay was no treat as it was pock marked with holes that people had went through in. Saturday was much of the same, went out a different way and saw a wheeler with the handle bars sticking out and a guy sitting next to it with all his gear. Not Good. On the lake side of pine there was a crack 2' wide, that's what the wind will do. Did a check later in the day and the crack closed up, pulled the pin at 3:00pm and went to the Wigwam and watched the headlights weaving across the bay. Good fishing but you have to know what you are doing. The way I saw it the people that went through were either in a place they should not have been or were stupid ie: 10 Guys in a transport on a single axel each weighing between 175 to 200 lbs, 50+ years of age no rope and a "kid" for a guide. Early ice is best! But use your head, we don't need any "headlines" about a bad day on the ice.

[widetrack]

I still find it amazing that after people witness all the mayhem, they continue on there way, and head out fishing anyway...

And I thought I was nuts...

[boener]

I agree with you widetrack!

You could be a redneck if you watch someone fall through the ice, help them out and then drive out deeper!!!

[widetrack]

My thoughts exactly...

[hip_hop_fisherman]

Quote:

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You could be a redneck if you watch someone fall through the ice, help them out and then drive out deeper!!!

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My thoughts exactly! I want to be out there just as much as the next guy, but I'm not going to head out there thinking "ok if I just go a little slower maybe I won't go through" and if I have to help someone out, I'm definitly turning around. We'll have plenty of ice in time.

[icefishingdude]

Ive been thinking this way for two weeks now listening to people talk about going up to the lake....give it a couple more weeks and it will be that much safer and better for everyone..

[RDM]

5 1/2 Hrs on the road one way and not enough beer to just sit in the cabin you gotta go out deeper, plus the water is only 7 ft or so in the bay and we did not have 10 guys on a single axle. Once again the people we saw in trouble were in trouble for a reason, too much weight or in an area they should not have been in. You should not need a sign for every bump in the road, use your head.

[widetrack]

Ok, I gotta ask... So if it's only 7 feet deep, do you just bob up for air from time to time or what???

[boener]

Thats the secret Wide Track!! Drop to the bottom and thrust up with both legs....once your head pops out of the water, take a deep breath and do it all over again!!

I dont think I would have drove 5 1/2 hours after reading some of the reports?!?! We just need to use a little common sense..bottom line.

[LoveToFish]

I understand where you guys are coming from, being uncertain of the ice is kind of scary, but RDM must have known what he was doing because he didn’t have any trouble. Although seeing poeple ahead of me go through might have sent me running for shore. Despite all the ice trouble, I am heading up this weekend and plan on being smart about the ice. Besides, there is some risk in everything we do, I mean, I might reck on the way up there, but it is a ( what I consider small ) risk I am willing to take. Later guys, I’ll let you know how the fishing is, I hope .

[Northlander]

Why were they pulling a crew of that many people out in a inclosed trailer? That sounds crazy to me with the reports from the past week. I wouldnt use that resort ever again thats for sure. I hope their stay was free and they got a big Steak dinner after that one!

[12lb8oz]

and a free pair of underwear to change into.

[Northlander]

LOL!

[only ice]

I was up there and fished the 9th, 10th, and 11th. I didnt see the trailer with the 10 people go in the bay but it was there when we came off the lake and headed in. If they did have ten or so people in that trailer I understand why it went down. On Thursday and Friday the halled houses all day, that takes a toll on thin ice. we had no trouble getting to Pine with one man to a wheeler. The only advice I cane give is DRIVE SLOW!! and Never Go Out in the DARK!! this time of year!!

[RDM]

That's what I mean by using your head. First Ice Is Still Best!