Tag Archives: Ice Safety

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:

 

Ice Shanties Must Be Removed Before Ice Weakens

Ice Shanties Must Be Removed by March 29th

Ice Shanties Must Be Removed Before Ice Weakens

Ice Shanties Must Be Removed

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department reminds ice-anglers to remove their fishing shanties from lakes and ponds before March 29.

Vermont state law requires that all fishing shanties be removed before the ice becomes unsafe or the ice loses its ability to support the shanty out of the water, or by the last Sunday of March, whichever comes first (this year, the last Sunday is the 29th).

All fishing shanties are also required to have the name and address of the owner attached.

Chief Game Warden Jason Batchelder said, “ice conditions can deteriorate quickly with warmer weather, so we urge owners of shanties to get them off the lakes while it is still safe to be on the ice. The law exists to help ensure that shanties don’t become a boating hazard and create debris that will wash up on shore.”

Fines for leaving a fishing shanty on the ice can be up to $1,000, and shanties may not be left at state fishing access areas.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

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Ice Fishing Safety Tips from Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

It’s winter, and that means it’s time for ice fishing.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department offers these ice fishing safety tips for those of us who’ll be going ice fishing this winter.

“Once we have sustained cold weather to form good ice, ice fishing can be safe and a lot of fun, but when we go onto the ice, we need to use good judgment and observe several safety precautions.” ~ Major Dennis Reinhardt, Deputy Chief Warden, Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife.

  • Ice Fishing Safety Tips from Vermont Fish & Wildlife DepartmentLeave 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.
  • Leave information about your plans with someone — where you intend to fish and when you expect to return.
  • Wear a personal flotation device and don’t fish alone.
  • Ice varies in thickness and condition. Always carry an ice spud or chisel to check ice as you proceed.
  • Be extremely cautious crossing ice near river mouths, points of land, bridges, islands, and over reefs and springs. Current almost always causes ice to be thinner over these areas.
  • 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.
  • Ice Fishing Safety Tips from Vermont Fish & Wildlife DepartmentWaves 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 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 purchase them at stores that sell fishing supplies.
  • Carry a safety line that can be thrown to someone who has gone through the ice.
  • Heated 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.

Ice Fishing Safety Tips from Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

 

 

  • For guidelines on ice thickness and safety visit Ice Safety.

 

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Ice Fishing Auger w/ Reverse

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Cold Lake Champlain Ice

Ice on Lake Champlain

Lake Champlain ice is still too thin to support recreational use, but it starting to form, and Lake Champlain’s winter activities will soon be underway.

 

Dates of Lake Champlain Ice Closing

Following are the dates of Lake Champlain ice closing since 1970. The data is from the U.S. Weather Bureau or National Weather Service records.

Lake Champlain ice fishing

Lake Champlain ice fishingLake Champlain ice skatingLake Champlain ice skating

2014 February 12
2013 Not Closed
2012 Not Closed
2011 Not Closed
2010 Not Closed
2009 Not Closed
2008 Not Closed
2007 March 2
2006 Not Closed
2005 March 8
2004 January 27
2003 February 15
2002 Not Closed
2001 March 2
2000 Not Closed
1999 Not Closed
1998 Not Closed
1997 Not Closed
1996 February 5
1995 Not Closed
1994 January 23
1993 February 7Lake Champlain skiing
1992 Not Closed
1991 Not Closed
1990 Not Closed
1989 February 22
1988 Not Closed
1987 February 18
1986 February 10
Lake Champlain ice surfing1985 Not Closed
1984 Not Closed
1983 Not Closed
1982 January 28
1981 January 14
1980 Not Closed
1979 February 11
1978 February 5
1977 January 16
1976 Not Closed
1975 Not Closed
1974 Not Closed
1973 February 20
1972 February 10
1971 February 2
1970 January 21

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Fishing In A Winter Wonderland

 

Fishing In A Winter Wonderland

By Captain Mickey Maynard of Lake Champlain Angler Fishing Charters

 

 

The Lake Champlain ice fishing season usually begins around early December when bays and passages on the north end of the lake first freeze. Fishermen gather at some of these early spots like the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge connecting Rouses Point, New York and Alburg, Vermont. Other early spots include Missisquoi Bay, the bridge at Hog Island, and Kings and Catfish Bays on the New York side. Keep in mind that the best fishing occurs on newly frozen areas, so wise anglers will follow the ice as it progresses. All of these spots will freeze before the adjacent broad lake, creating excellent perch fishing conditions. Of course care should be taken when fishing on the relatively thin ice in these circumstances.

As the colder weather sets in, the ice makes its way south. Some of the next good areas to consider include the bridge at Isle La Motte and the cliffs at Alburg. By this time Monty’s Bay with its several holding areas and Deep Bay at the Point Au Roche State Park are heating up. On the Vermont side the “Gut” is now holding fish too. By the time Algonquin Bay is frozen on the New York side most of the lake north of Malletts Bay has closed on the Vermont side as well. Areas to the south like the narrows at Ti, Bulwagga Bay, Port Henry, and Whalons Bay also begin to freeze at about the same time. Converse and Arnold Bays are now worth checking on the Vermont side. Many of the spots mentioned thus far are good perch or pike locations.

As the deeper water freezes, the smelt fishing heats up. Port Henry, Westport and Willsboro Bay are all good smelt fishing locations. Shanties are available for rent out of Port Henry and Westport and at Port Henry a taxi operates to usher the fishermen on and off the ice or from one to another of the numerous shanty towns that cluster over the hot spots.

If cold weather persists, the lake on occasion will close over at its deepest and widest spot, between Burlington and Port Kent. When this happens everybody’s favorite perch spot is open for business: Plattsburgh Bay. Areas around Valcour Island, accessed from Peru Dock, can also be productive. The sand bottom south of the lower mouth of the Au Sable River is a good area to fish for salmon and big perch. Willsboro Bay is also a good location for these species. On the Vermont side, Shelburne and Malletts Bay are great spots to pursue big perch and salmon.

US Coast Guard Captain Mickey Maynard has over 40 years of experience fishing and guiding on Lake Champlain. His charter service, Lake Champlain Angler Fishing Charters, caters to New York and Vermont anglers alike with numerous points of rendezvous across the wide expanse of this 120 mile-long world class fishery.  The Captain welcomes one and all to join him aboard his fleet of specialized vessels to tackle a long list of cold-water or warm-water species that inhabit Lake Champlain. For more information and to book trips, contact Captain Mick at (518) 578-9273 or www.lakechamplainangler.com.

This post originally appeared on Eric LaMontagne’s Think You Know Champlain? blog for Lake Champlain International (LCI). Support them in their efforts to protect our lake!