Category Archives: Safety

Safety on and about Lake Champlain

Essential Ice Fishing Safety Gear

Essential Ice Fishing Safety Gear

With the arrival of winter, Lake Champlain’s hard water anglers have brought their ice augers out of storage. Before you bundle up and head out on the ice, review this checklist of essential ice fishing safety gear so your trip is fun and safe.

 

1. Ice cleats or creepers.

Ice cleats or creepers attach to the bottom of your boots. They can have adjustable straps or be rubber overshoes with metal teeth or spikes. They  provide more traction on slippery ice and can help to prevent falls.

 

2. Ice chisel or spud


An ice chisel or spud is a long-handled blade that comes to a point on one side. You use an ice chisel to punch a hole through the ice before you take a step. This helps you to check the ice thickness.

 

 

3. Ice safety picks.

Ice safety picks are two spikes that are usually connected by a cord. The ice picks are stuck into the ice and used to pull you back onto the ice if you happen to fall through. Always bring two ice picks and wear them around your neck so that they are within quick reach.

 

4. Floating rescue rope.

A floating rescue rope can be used if someone falls through the ice. You can help them by throwing the rope to them from a safe distance. If you should fall through, throw one end of the floating rope to a rescuer.

 

 

5. Ice fishing suit.

Many ice anglers wear ice fishing suits or flotation suits to help to keep them warm, but the suits can also make it easier for you to climb out if you fall through the ice.

 

 

6. Hat.

When spending cold days outdoors on the ice, a significant amount of body heat can be lost through the head. A thick hat that covers your ears is important to help keep body heat.

 

7. Mittens.

Mittens keep your hands warmer than gloves because they trap more body heat. If you wear base layer gloves underneath your mittens, you can just take your mittens off and still have your fingers free when you need to tie lines or take a fish off of a hook.

 

8. Hand warmers.

Hand warmers are a good way to help keep your hands warm during ice fishing season. Buy a pair of hand warmers to put into the pockets of your jacket or inside of your gloves.

 

 

9. Sunglasses.

The reflection of the sun’s rays off of the snow and ice is very hard on the eyes. Make sure you have a good pair of sunglasses that block at least 99% of UVB rays and a minimum of 95% of UVA rays.

 

10. Cell phone or radio.

You will need to have a cell phone or radio to make calls for help in the event of an emergency. If you plan to fish in a remote area, make sure you have a radio in case your cell phone won’t work. Pack cell phones and radios in sealed, moisture-proof bags.

 

11. PFD.

You wouldn’t want to leave the dock without a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD) in the summer months, and winter shouldn’t be any different. Always bring a life jacket or personal flotation device with you when ice fishing.

 

 

Now, you’ve got your gear ready to go. Get out on the ice and enjoy your ice fishing safely.


 

Other Lake Champlain Ice Fishing Articles:

12 Ice Safety Tips From Vermont Fish & Wildlife

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Offers 12 Ice Safety Tips

12 Ice Safety Tips From Vermont Fish & Wildlife
Recent cold temperatures have formed early season ice on Vermont ponds, lakes and rivers. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department reminds winter enthusiasts that ice should never be considered safe and ice conditions vary.

“We are urging all outdoor enthusiasts – people going ice fishing, cross-country skiers, hikers, and snowmobilers — to be extremely cautious and prepared if they are going to venture out on any ice,” said Vermont Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter. “Ice conditions can vary dramatically on different parts of a lake. Remember, even though it may look thick enough on the surface, moving water from currents, rivers and springs can cause ice to form unevenly.”

12 Ice Safety Tips From Vermont Fish & Wildlife. Ice fishing for perch

Lake Champlain Ice Fishing for Perch and Panfish

 

“Once we have sustained cold weather to form good ice, activities such as ice fishing can be safe and a lot of fun,” said Porter, “but when we go onto the ice, we need to use good judgment and observe several safety precautions.”

12 Ice Safety Tips

  1. Leave your car or truck on shore. Every year several motor vehicles go through the ice on Vermont lakes, and some people have drowned as a result.
  2. Leave information about your plans with someone — where you intend to fish and when you expect to return.
  3. Wear a personal flotation device and don’t fish alone.
  4. Fish with a friend. Ice fishing is a great sport to share with family members and friends, and having a partner with you increases both the fun and the safety.
  5. Ice varies in thickness and condition. Always carry an ice spud or chisel to check the ice as you go forward.
  6. 12 Ice Safety Tips From Vermont Fish & WildlifeBe extremely cautious crossing ice near river mouths, points of land, bridges, islands, and over reefs and springs. Current will almost always cause the ice to be thinner over these areas.
  7. Avoid going onto the ice if it has melted away from the shore. This indicates melting is underway, and ice can shift its position as wind direction changes.
  8. Waves from open water can quickly break up large areas of ice. If you can see open water in the lake and the wind picks up, get off!
  9. Bring your fully charged cell phone with you.
  10. Carry a set of hand spikes to help you work your way out onto the surface of the ice if you go through. Holding one in each hand, you can alternately punch them into the ice and pull yourself up and out. You can make these at home, using large nails, or you can buy them at stores that sell fishing supplies.
  11. Carry a safety line to throw to someone who has gone through the ice
  12. 12 Ice Safety Tips From Vermont Fish & Wildlife. Ice fishing shantiesHeated fishing shanties must have good ventilation to prevent deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Open a window or the door part way to allow in fresh air.

 

For guidelines on ice thickness and safety visit Ice Safety.

 

 

Other Lake Champlain Ice Fishing Articles:

 

Fishing Access Areas Not Safe for Swimming

Fishing Access Areas Not Safe for Swimming

Fishing Access Areas Not Safe for Swimming
The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department reminds the public not to swim at fishing access areas due to safety concerns. The primary use of the fishing access areas is for launching and retrieving motorboats.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department maintains more than 180 developed fishing access areas on lakes and rivers throughout the state. These areas have allowed uses determined by law, and swimming is not one of them.

The access areas were purchased and are maintained with funds derived from the sale of fishing licenses and motorboat registrations, as well as a federal excise tax on fishing equipment, fishing tackle, and gasoline for motorboats. These funding sources explicitly prohibit activities that are in conflict with fishing and boating.

Fish & Wildlife regulations prohibit certain uses of fishing access areas including, but not limited to — swimming, littering, camping, picnicking, making a fire, parking of vehicles not related to priority uses, and commercial activity.

“It’s great that people want to get out in the water, but a boat ramp is not the right place to go swimming,” said Mike Wichrowski who oversees the Fishing Access Area Program. “There’s a reason motorboats aren’t allowed in swimming areas, and swimming isn’t allowed at fishing access areas — it’s simply not safe.”

Vermont game wardens have responded to several incidents in recent weeks involving people swimming at fishing access areas. In some cases people, including children, were swimming right at the boat ramps while boats were being launched, risking injury or preventing the launching of boats.

“We understand that people want to go swimming, especially during hot weather, but we are urging folks to swim at locally approved swimming areas,” said Colonel Jason Batchelder. “Finding a safe swimming area is easy in most communities. Just ask at a general store or other place where people gather.”

The fine for swimming at an access area is $162.

 

US Coast Guard Cautions Boaters This Spring

The boating season is starting early for 2016 season, thanks to the mild winter. But, the lake temperature is still dangerously cold in the event of a boater going overboard.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.mychamplainvalley.com

Lake Champlain water temperatures arestill in the low 40’s… still very, very, cold. Water temperatures this cold can do a number on the human body. Hypothermia is one of the main concerns from the US Coast Guard. Make sure you have your life jackets with you, and preferably on you Another added step of safety, primarily during the spring season, is wearing a wet or dry suit. This will significantly increase your survival rate in the event of an emergency.

See on Scoop.itLake Champlain Life

Vermont F&W Urges Caution on Ice

 

Vermont F&W Urges Caution on Ice

Vermont F&W Urges Caution on Ice

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is reminding those going out on the ice to use caution, particularly given recent warm temperatures and rain.

Vermont game wardens are reporting that ice conditions are a concern on several Vermont lakes, ponds and rivers, and it is possible that ice may remain thick, but may have become structurally weak and be melting from underneath as well as at the surface.

 

“With the heavy rain and unseasonably warm weather, some areas of the state are seeing thinner and less predictable ice than we would expect this time of year,” said Col. Jason Batchelder, chief game warden. “We would encourage all recreationists to take care out on the ice.”

F&W Tips for Ice Safety

* Leave information about your plans with someone — where you intend to fish and when you expect to return.

* Cautious foot travel only (no motorized vehicles) is safest under current conditions.

* Ice varies in thickness and condition. Always carry an ice spud or chisel to check ice as you proceed.

* Wear a personal flotation device and don’t fish alone.

* Be extremely cautious where ice will be most thin — near river mouths, points of land, bridges, islands, and over reefs and springs.

* Avoid going onto the ice if it has melted away from the shore. This indicates melting is underway, and ice can shift position as wind direction changes.

* Waves from open water can quickly break up large areas of ice. If you can see open water in the lake and the wind picks up, get off!

* Bring your fully charged cell phone with you.

* Carry a set of hand spikes to help work your way onto the surface of the ice if you go through. Holding one in each hand, you can alternately punch them into the ice and pull yourself up and out.

* Carry a safety line that can be thrown to someone who has gone through the ice.

 

More Articles About Lake Champlain Ice Safety: