DNR: Exercise caution during ice fishing activities

Looking to go ice fishing? State officials warn anglers to be prepared and know what conditions are safe before heading out.

In a Friday press release, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urged awareness of continuously fluctuating temperatures and how that can affect ice safety.

“Even during consistent cold stretches, pressure cracks in the ice can develop within hours,” said Lt. Skip Hagy, DNR law enforcement supervisor in Newberry, in the press release. “There is no such thing as, ‘safe’ ice. Always check conditions for yourself, don’t rely on what you see others doing.”

The DNR added that river mouths and other places where river or lake currents may be located are often places of unstable ice. Reservoirs with changing water levels are also places to use caution.

In 2020, license sales substantially increased, which indicated that more anglers were out and about fishing. While the DNR has seen a slight decline compared to the 2020 license year, conservation officer Michael Olesen of Chippewa County said they are still currently seeing above-average sales of licenses compared to the three years prior to 2020.

If you’re headed out fishing, the DNR encouraged anglers to keep themselves and others safe by doing the following:

• Go fishing only if you're feeling well

• Practice proper social distancing at least six feet away from people who don’t live in your household, wear a mask and get vaccinated if you haven’t already done so

• Keep a face covering handy for when social distancing cannot be maintained

• Frequently wash your hands with soap and warm water, or use hand sanitizer

“If an individual has had a recent known exposure or has any current symptoms it would be advised to avoid entering other people’s ice shanties to help prevent any potential spread or exposures of COVID-19,” said Olesen via email.

The DNR also recommends all ice anglers use extreme caution when venturing out on the ice. Anglers should use special caution on ice on flowing water systems, such as the St. Marys River. Due to changing conditions, ice can shift without warning and result in dangerous situations. Typically, if there are other shanties and anglers on the ice this usually indicates it is time to fish. Olesen said first-time anglers would find it beneficial to get advice from local bait shops on fishing locations, times to fish and gear to use.

Anglers can often assume that ice is safe based on the time of year, but officials said there are many factors that can affect ice conditions. Water currents, a layer of snow insulating the ice, and heavy winds can all influence the safety of ice, especially on the Great Lakes, Olesen said.

“New anglers often overlook the Michigan DNR fishing guide, leading to these anglers not knowing the seasons and size limits and other laws regarding ice fishing,” Olesen said in an email. “Leaving tip ups out unattended or poles unattended in their shanty, they must be under immediate control. If you leave your fishing spot for any reason pull in your lines. This also helps prevent mortality of undersized or non-target species.”

Olesen said anglers are currently fishing in bays in the St. Marys River and Munuscong Bay and Fowlers Bay are two of the most common areas being fished at this time.

A typical ice angler would carry with them an ice auger, either hand or power; spud; bucket; ice scoop; sled or shanty to carry gear; ice rod and reels; tip-ups; bait of choice; and extra lures such as tear-drops, Swedish pimples, jigs, jigging lure or spoons. Bringing water and a snack is also recommended.

Here are some ice fishing spots to try in the Upper Peninsula along with the types of fish that can be found there, according to the DNR website:

• Munising Bay in Alger County: splake, lake whitefish, round whitefish, coho salmon and burbot.

• Keweenaw Bay in Baraga County: brown trout, lake whitefish, lake trout, coho salmon, splake, smelt and burbot.

• Les Cheneaux Islands in Chippewa County: yellow perch, northern pike and splake.

• Munuscong Bay in Chippewa County: yellow perch and walleye.

• Little Bay De Noc in Delta County: walleye and yellow perch.

• Lake Gogebic in Gogebic County: yellow perch and walleye.

It is important that anglers never assume that just because someone is on the ice that it's safe ice. Olesen recommends anglers always check it themselves and seek local knowledge of any body of water they plan to venture out on. To check for safe ice, it is good to do test holes as they travel to their fishing location(s).

If you fall through the ice, DNR officials said the most important thing to do is remain calm and return in the direction you came from. Additional ice safety tips include wearing ice picks around your neck so they are accessible if you need them, using a spud, auger, stick or axe to check the ice before you go on it, and wearing a life jacket.

Olesen said learning the proper techniques to remove oneself from the water after falling through the ice can be extremely important.

Here are the steps to take if you fall through the ice, according to Olesen:

1. Brace yourself for the initial shock of the cold water and the realization that you have just fallen through the ice.

2. Immediately call for help if there are other people around.

3. Keep as calm as possible. The physical pain of being submerged in freezing water combined with all the physiological changes can easily lead to panic.

4. Focus your energy on getting out immediately, rather than waiting for help.

5. Grab onto the top of the ice and use your forearms and elbows to prop yourself up. Then position your lower body horizontally and kick your legs as forcefully as possible in hopes of propelling yourself out of the water and onto the ice.

6. Roll your body or army crawl across the ice and away from where you fell in once you're out. Once you've propelled yourself out of the cold water, resist the urge to stand up and run for the shore because you may fall in again.

7. Retrace your footsteps back to safety.

“It is advised that anglers try and avoid river mouth openings as that tends to have much thinner ice than surrounding areas without current,” Olesen said in an email. “It is a good idea to fish with a partner. Providing an itinerary of time of departure, location and time of return.”

Here are some general tips for those who plan to go ice fishing this year:

• Use the time of day to your advantage. The most success is seen around dawn until mid-morning and again from late afternoon until sundown, especially for panfish and walleye.

• Utilize an electronic fish finder. These help locate fish and make it easier to determine if your holes will be active and how present fish are reacting to your fishing methods.

• Be prepared. For ice fishing, sometimes, a shanty is almost a requirement. Many portable shanties are available at your local sporting goods store, although some anglers build elaborate but removable shanties on the ice.

• Anglers should dress in layers with a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating middle layer, and a breathable outer shell. Waterproof boots are a must and a pair of moisture-wicking socks under wool socks will help to keep feet warm and dry. Bringing a scarf, hat and gloves are also recommended. Bring an extra pair of gloves in case you get the other pair wet.

Ice shanties need to be removed at the end of ice season by 12 a.m. on March 31 in the Upper Peninsula. After this date, shanties need to be removed at the end of each day. It is also recommended to remove shanties when ice conditions become unsafe, regardless of date. For additional information on ice shanties, visit www.michigan.gov/dnrdigests.

— Contact News Reporter Taylor Worsham at tworsham@sooeveningnews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Sault News: DNR: Exercise caution during ice fishing activities