Ice Fishing With Gary Engberg

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• Going Ice Fishing? Experts Have A Few Safety Reminders For Anglers

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  The ice fishing season got off to a slow start in Wisconsin this year thanks to mild weather and a lack of ice cover. However, as temperatures drop and ice cover increases, the number of anglers out on the ice also goes up.

  There are several things Wisconsin’s ice fishers can do to stay safe, according to professional angler, guide, and outdoors writer Gary Engberg.

  A life jacket or flotation suits made for cold weather are always a good idea, Engberg said. Also, he stressed, don’t go alone, carry a cellphone, and tell people where you’re going.

  Engberg also suggested anglers take a path that’s been used before, and for at least the first few times they go out onto the ice, to not bring along children or dogs.

  Engberg also said to watch out for pressure cracks in the ice, and, in case of a worst-case scenario, to wear an ice pick around your neck.

  “Ice picks are one of the most important things,” he said. “If you happen to go through, you can always dig these in the ice and get yourself out.”

  Engberg also suggested that anglers wear ice creepers, also known as ice cleats. Essentially, they’re equipment for feet that could be of help when walking on ice.

  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers safety tips for ice fishing on its website. They include many of Engberg’s suggestions, along with some of their own:

  • Dress warmly.
  • Avoid areas like inlets, outlets, or narrows that may have a current that could thin ice.
  • Look for clear ice, which is generally stronger than ice that has snow on it or bubbles in it.

  A full list of suggestions is available on the DNR’s website. The agency also advises that anglers carry safety gear, including ice claws or picks, a life jacket, and a length of rope. That cell phone should also be in a waterproof bag. For anglers who’d like to make their own ice claws, the DNR offers a how-to guide.

  And the agency stresses there’s “no such thing as 100 percent safe ice.” Ice conditions can vary so it’s important to know conditions before going out on the ice. The DNR doesn’t monitor ice thickness or local ice conditions. However, local bait shops and fishing clubs often have the latest details on ice thickness and areas that are especially dangerous.