Freezing Fishing Adventures

Imagine walking out onto a frozen lake on a crisp and clear summer day, your eyes still adjusting to the glint of the sun. You choose the perfect fishing spot, amidst the vast expanse of the lake, and proceed to slice a large hole completely through the ice until the water stares back at you. You look for your ice chisel and widen the hole to get a better view. Next, you get your portable seat and make yourself more comfortable. Suddenly, your line starts wagging. You feel something desperately gnawing at it. The flag on the tip-up starts shaking vigorously. Congratulations! You've caught a fish!

That is what ice fishing is all about. It is the sport of catching fish using lines and hooks, or even spears, through a small opening on a frozen body of water. Anglers wait on their portable stools, or sit more comfortably in a warmer cabin somewhere in the middle of the icy lake.

Ice fishing is a popular sport in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Germany and Russia. In the United States, people in the states of Alaska and those surrounding the Great Lakes endure the long, cold winters just to engage in this activity. Still, while it does sound like a leisurely way to spend time, ice fishing can be a dangerous sport. Playing or working on a frozen surface of a lake can be a matter of life and death.

There are basically four things to consider when planning an outing on the ice: equipment, clothing, physical condition and procedures. Equipment refers to devices used for testing and measuring the ice thickness. Frozen ice needs to be at least four inches thick to support humans and about a foot to support vehicles. Sometimes the ice breaks and moves with currents, leaving some areas that refreeze with thinner ice. To measure safety, fishermen would need ice chisels, augers, ice drills or measuring rods that can be hooked under the edge of the ice, and a ladder for cleaning ice out of the holes. It would also be a good idea to bring ropes and ice rescue picks. Physical condition refers to how fit a fisherman is. He must be able to endure long periods of physical exhaustion, especially if an emergency arises. Emergencies can either be rescuing someone who falls into the ice, or falling through the ice himself. The fisherman must know how to swim or at least be able to stay afloat while awaiting rescue. Clothing is also important. The clothes must provide ample protection from low temperatures while still allowing for mobility. Boots or waders should be avoided as they can be easily filled with water and impede movement should one fall into the ice. A flotation device such as an inflatable jacket should also be worn at all times.

Finally, procedures refer to basic safety measurements such as letting someone know of the fishing plans and the time of return, never go out on ice cover alone, especially if the ice cover seems dubious. It also includes surveying the ice, looking for signs of recent changes in water levels, listening for loud cracks or booms from the ice, which can mean the ice is about to break up or move and listening for hollow sounds while probing your way using the ice chisel. If there are hollow sounds, this means that there may be air space underneath the ice sloping down from the bank, which is very unsafe.

To enjoy the full benefits of ice fishing, safety must never be compromised.

Article Source: http://www.christiannotepad.com

Joseph Brown is the author of "Le Fishing" blog.