Ice thickness and safety…part 2

[RogersResort]

Now on a serious note:

The majority of the ice on the lake is safe for travel even with a one ton diesel truck, all of the resorts have invested much time and money in trying to make travel on the lake a safe as possible as practical, some have even risked their lives just to make sure. We do it not only for the monetary reward but some of us actually enjoy spending the whole night out there in a nice warm plow truck.

One topic that seems to keep popping up over and over is the thickness of the ice, fishermen have been finding anywhere from just 12 or 13 inches in places up to 20 inches further out in the main part of the lake. Well I personally have been on the lake everyday since the middle of November and what I have seen is some of the most unpredictable ice conditions that I can remember. The worst ice here on the south shore is in the first mile and along the edges of the plowed roads under the berm that the plows have piled so neatly along the edge of the roads. The cold weather that we all have been so patiently waiting for has arrived and along with it has come quite a few cold weather cracks, normally these are not a problem unless you get 2 or 3 of them right close to each other on one of our plowed roads, until these cracks heal properly they should be crossed with caution. To many times today I have seen trucks racing down the road at 30 mph plus and then bouncing over the bridges, this just places more strain on an already fragile surface, until we get 24 inches of good soild ice I am asking everyone to please slow down, it only takes just a couple more minutes to get where you are going and it is a whole lot easier on your equipment and the ice road. After you get on to the main part of the lake and get off the plowed roads be my guest and give it all you got, I can use the extra bucks that I charge pulling fishermen out of snow banks.

Jerry@ROGERS’

[MJP]

Thanks for the report Jerry. You know what you are doing and all of us anglers need to respect what you, and others that are on the ice all the time, say on reports. Be safe and thanks again.

Matt Phelps