Ice fishing can be fun. Erect a shelter of some sort and spend the day fishing for trout, walleye, bass, perch, burbot and any other finned creature available in Columbia Basin waters.

Back in the Midwest, where the temperatures drop to well below zero for long periods of time, entire villages of ice huts spring up. Anglers spend days, if not weeks, in these villages. The more elaborate ones have plowed and named streets.

The huts are as fancy as the owner’s imagination and depth of pocketbook allow.

Although it is possible to safely ice fish in the Basin, the ice doesn’t get thick enough to satisfy us. Dennis note: The only time I felt safe on ice while fishing was during a trip to Canada. The ice was 2- to 3-feet thick and we reached the ice huts in vehicles. It was a wonderful experience and a lot of fun. If the ice reached a depth of at least 12 inches of around here, we would be on the ice with the rest of the anglers.

Local lakes and ponds are beginning to freeze with the current cold weather. Fish and wildlife doesn’t measure ice on lakes, so anglers are on their own. However, they offer some tips to consider when heading out for an ice-fishing trip: Don’t fish alone. Let others know exactly where you and your fishing partners are going and when you plan to return.

Keep fishing holes small and few. When drilling fishing holes with an ice auger, keep the diameter under eight inches. Bigger holes are not necessary to land fish and can create a safety hazard for others.

Watch your step. Avoid ice fishing near feeder streams or known springs; brush, logs, plants or docks. Also stay away from multiple ice cracks or ice that is popping or otherwise audible, plus and dark-colored ice that may be weak.

Spread out. Too many people congregated in one area may be more than the ice can safely support. Disperse weight and fishing holes.

Be prepared for weather conditions. Dress in layers and wear thermal underwear, fleece or wool, and wind and waterproof outerwear, especially for feet, hands and head. Take extra clothes, food, water, sand for traction, and a sled for easy on-ice transport of all equipment.

Be prepared for emergencies. Carry equipment such as ice picks or awls, rope, and personal flotation devices. Also pack a first-aid kit and matches for starting a fire.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers the following guide for traveling on ice: 2 inches or less, stay off; 4 inches, ice fishing or other activities on foot; 5 inches, snowmobile or ATV travel; 8 inches to 12 inches, car or small pickup travel; 12 inches to 15 inches, medium truck travel.

Remember that these thicknesses are merely guidelines for new, clear, solid ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe. White ice, sometimes called snow ice, is only about one-half as strong as new clear ice so the above thicknesses should be doubled.

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/nwhookandbullet/fishing/article_9cf62b34-2299-11e1-a400-0019bb2963f4.html

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