Have you ever fallen through?

[Crappie Kid]

Have you ever fallen through?

I went through once when immediately walking off shore in pretty shallow water (Long Lake @ Wilson Road). I was up to my waist in ice water and my pull along sled was dumped over. That pretty much ruined my day.

One other time I moved my new van to another place on the ice, got out and drilled into about 2 inches of ice. With my heart pounding I slowly got back in and drove back the way I came. This spring fed lake (Phantom Lake, Mukwonago WI) was 12 inches on one end and 2 inches 100 yards away. Fortunately I was alone and the van was completely empty (including seats). That almost ruined more than my day.

Be careful out there. A fish is not worth you life.

[castlerocky]

NOT YET!!!! but let me know were your at so I can fish somewhere else.LOL

[tly]

Yes, but it was my own fault. April is not a good time altho we gots of pan fish. Water was 4' so continued to shore.

Real concerns are lakes with lots of structure where there is seldom big ice over shallows, or lakes with lots of carp etc that keep ice at a minimum (ie Cristmas Lake in Mtks MN)

Scares the heck out of you. Never let auger, tackle pail or fish pail go, it happened so fast but could have had severe consequences in deeper water.

This year gonna have grandkids so will be even more careful.

[Private Eyes]

Yeah I did and it was pretty nuts and a really bad week-end,one of the worst in my life. It happened a few years back, I bought a brand new ATV just shelled out over 6k I was really excited (never was able to buy new before) so I thought Id go up to my dads he lives in Forest Co. WI. Way the heck up north and has got some good ridding acres but the Peshtigo river runs right over his driveway and it had a nice layer of ice on it. So I unloaded quickly got on, It was only the second time I started my new ride, I was pumped and I looked down at the river then hit the throttle and flew down the river until I got about a quater a mile then hit a spring spot broke completly through and this was a big and deep section of the river! I can remember jumping of and crawled up onto the ice then I wathced my brand new ride sink bubbles were comming up all over and I could see all the lights still glowing as it sunk under then I lost it, amazingly it then rolled up-side down and a tire was about a foot under the ice, I crawled up to the hole reached in then wedged the tire to the ice so the current wouldnt take my atv away. The worst wasent over as I tryed to make it to the river bank I broke through several times I got to the river bank witch was swamp muck with poor ice, I keep breaking through the ice on every three steps and falling into muck, I knew if I stopped moving I could easily freez to death because it was below zero plus getting dark so I kinda rolled my way out to a dead tree stump by this time I seen my dad light off a flare and heading my way with a lot of rope (he was in Vietnam so he was fully prepared, LoL ) yes he got me out and back to the warm house, by then it was dark. The next day we came back for what he calls search and recovery mission, he brought two huge truck winches on sled with a lot of cable and straps, it took about 18 hours to get the atv out because the river had frozen over and we had to cut, chisel and pull all day!! The ATV was never the same but I am ready to but a new one this winter!.... Be extra carefull on rivers and if they have springs never ever ride them!!

[hearttxp1]

Never fallen thru. But I did step in a 10" hole once !! Water in the boot and got wet up to my knee. Had to sit in the shanty and dry off.

[RK_unlogged]

Hiya -

Yep - twice. Once in late March heading out crappie fishing. Was stupid and walked through a bank of rushes that had been getting warmed by the sun... Went in about to my waist. Wet and cranky, but pretty harmless.

Other time, when I was in High School, was a lot scarier. We'd had a big snowfall then a January thaw. Headed out with a friend to his fishhouse where we'd been fishing walleyes for the last week or so. Ice was about 20-22 inches thick. He was getting the house ready while I ran around and punched some holes around the edge of the bar we were on for tip-ups and hole hopping. Brought the auger back to the house and headed back out with the scoop to go clean out holes. Walking to a hole and all of a sudden I was in the water. No cracking, no nothing - I just stepped into open water. Went all the way in, and since there was so much snow I couldn't see the hole at first. To this day I'm not sure exactly how I got out. My friend stepped out of the house just as I was coming out of the hole and he said I looked like a walrus on a National Geographic special. I was in and out so fast my clothes under my coveralls hardly got wet. After I got my wet stuff off we went and looked where I'd fallen in. There was a 3-4' oval-shaped hole with perfectly smooth rounded sides. Wasn't a spear hole or anything - it was like someone had poured boiling water on it. It was over 22 feet of water. The only thing I've been able figure is that with the warm weather there was snowmelt that collected in a depression on the ice and just burned its way through.

People I've told the story to have asked me how on earth I can go through that and still walk out on 4 inches of ice every season. It's never bothered me. I went back out to the same spot the afternoon it happened. It was just such a freak deal that there's no way you could ever account for it. It's like being hit by lightning...

What it did do though was remind me that no ice is safe. Even in mid-winter I carry picks around my neck and have a rope and float cushion in the portable all season...

Cheers,
Rob Kimm

[Joe Carlson]

Yep.

January 19th, 1991. LOTW. My brother was driving. 1976 Chevrolet pickup, tooling along, driving across the lake in search of fish. We were over 40 fow when I heard a make you sick to your stomach long "CRAAAACK". The truck went through the ice so quick, my brother was still talking about his job back home as the cab filled with water in an instant. Evidently didnt have much floor in that old truck underneath the mats (rusted out) because I remember watching the horizon dissapear in a flash as our entire rig seemed to sling shot right underneath the 24" sheet of ice ahead of us as the ice below us tilted at a 45 deg angle.

I thought we were both gonners. I thought this is it...saw my entire life flash before my eyes. To this day I dont know how we got out of that truck, and back to the surface. We were both taken to the local ER and treated for hypothermia and exhaustion. My brother took in a lung full of water....nearly died.

To this day I have not set foot on the ice.....nor do I plan to ever again. NEVER, again.

Joe Carlson

[ScottL]

Is that you Grampa Joe? Long time no talk.
Regards,

Scott Lee

Since there is six times as much water as dry land on earth, any fool
can plainly see the good Lord meant for man to fish six times as much as he works.

[daveddd]

Once in lake st clair walkin on an ice jam,once in the Detroit river.Couple years ago in mitchells bay i was just sittin fishin maybe 1 block from shore & saw about 6 atvs go through.There are visible open water pockets,warm weather & still people go out even in cars.Just sit there & watch the show.

[Eye Spy]

I went through at Whites Landing on the Sandusky Bay (Lake Erie) in 02. I just left my shanty and was going to look around. I hadn't gone 15' and I went right through. I immediately put my arms out, caught myself, and pulled myself out. I went in up to my waist, but was out so fast, I didn't even get very wet. It was enough to scare me though. There are a lot of warm springs out there, so you really have to be careful. We see people go through every year.

Ryan

[Splash]

If youve never fallen thru the ice chances are you arent much of a duck hunter. I fell thru once in some cold cold water and used the barrel of my gun to push me up as my waders filled so fast I couldnt get upright. Still use that gun, works great. I dont drive out unless i have old people along. dont feel like driving home in a brand new pickup and having to explain why I HAD to buy a new one.

[orchard frank]

My lovely trooper of a wife put one leg through a pressure crack over deep water on LBDN several years ago in a spot I had just walked across, very scary. When it was all over I believe the conversation went something like "That is the LAST @#%&%#@* time I am going ice fishing until we buy the *&%$##@ survival suits you keep saying we should get, you *&%$**#@!!!" We ordered 2 Mustangs that day, use them all the time now, not only ice fishing but early spring and fall open water too. Now we're motorized with a snowmobile and shanty, still wearing the Mustangs. The more you use them the better they get.

[ifishmn]

I used to x-country ski a bit, and once after a fresh snowfall on a "new" lake to me, I skied over a spring.... down I went. Luckily it was only about 4 feet deep, but, try getting out of 4 feet of water with skis on!! Talk about a struggle, seemed like forever, but I did finally get out. By the time I got back to town, I was REALLY cold, and had the first symptoms of hypothermia. A neighbor saw me and gave me a ride the last 1/2 mile home, never been so cold again. Still like to be on the ice, just don't like one particular lake!!
JPalmer

[daveddd]

Reading splash above i forgot another time i went through & maybe nearly died.Hunters beware,i was walking along railroad tracks & went down into the ditch & it's full of cattails.The ice was 12" thick but what you dont realize is the rotting weeds make the ice very bad & wow i went through & never touched bottom.I was only 5ft from each side of the bank but nearly went under.Nobdoy would have found me till spring.

[rats1955]

I fell through an old spear shack hole. It had frozen over about 1/2 inch and then it snowed. I had no clue it was there. I fell in with one leg and it pushed me to the left side of the old hole. My upper hip smashed into the jagged ice on the edge of the old hole. It ruined my fishing for the rest of last year due to the hip injury. I still have some pain in my hip and there is a rather large dent in my hip where I assume I have some muscle damage. I never want to do that again.