ALLEGAN, MI (WHTC) – As winter ice fishing conditions improve, Allegan County Sheriff’s Captain Frank Baker has these tips for those of you heading out onto his county’s 1008 square miles of water in over 277 inland lakes and ponds:
- Dress appropriately and in layers. Clothing that is made from man-made fibers does not protect the wearer for long when wet. Wool insulates better from the effects of hypothermia when dry or wet. Wear insulated and waterproof boots and bring extra clothing.
- Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. A good plan can help first responders find you quickly if you do not return on time.
- Always go out with a partner or friends. If someone falls through the ice your partners can provide help and can call 911.
- Wear a life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) over your coat.
- Stay off river ice and ice covering moving water. Moving water can cause weak areas in the ice that are not easily visible.
- Test the Ice before going out on it. Ice is rarely uniform in thickness. It can be safe in one area and only an inch thick just 10 feet away.
- Thick Ice is not necessarily strong ice. Even thick ice may be weak, especially if it has frozen and thawed repeatedly or if it contains layers of snow or water.
- Snow acts like an insulating blanket. The ice under the snow will be thinner and weaker. A new snowfall can also insulate, warm-up and melt existing ice. Ice with layers of snow may not support anyone.
- If the ice begins to break under you slowly lay down to disperse your weight and roll away from the area in the direction you came from.
- It doesn’t matter how well you swim. After as little as five minutes, cold water begins to rob you of your ability to move your limbs. This makes it very difficult for you to get out of the water, no matter how well you can swim!
- Minimum Ice Thickness for New Clear Hard Ice: The following ice thickness recommendations for safe loads are valid ONLY for ice that is clear and sound, with no flowing water underneath. Ice thickness should be checked in several locations. Again, this is only a recommendation and is no guarantee that you are safe from ice breakage or falling through – 3″ (7cm) or less STAY OFF; 4″ (10cm) ice fishing, walking, cross country skiing; 5″ (12cm) one snowmobile or ATV; 8″-12″ (20-30cm) one car or small pickup; 12″-15″ (30-38cm) one medium truck (pickup or van)
