You hear the mumbles and grumbles on the street, "Sure is cold today", or "winter has definitely arrived". Yet some people get excited about the wicked bite of a frost-filled night, the bumps and blurps and gurgles and cracks heard along the shoreline of any northern Minnesota lake as the water thickens, forming an icy-hard canopy.
Yes, that's right, ice fishing season has arrived once again. Well, almost.
Though some anglers tip-toe across the thin skim of ice, or slide themselves along on a 4x8 sheet of plywood for stability, it's wise to wait until there's an ample amount of clear, solid ice for walking. How much exactly is "ample?" The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends four-inches of new, clear ice for foot travel.
However, other variables, such as current or even active schools of large fish like carp can comprise the integrity of the ice. Even though our area lakes are freezing quickly, they still need some time to develop sufficient ice for foot travel.
Anglers must also keep in mind that not all lakes freeze at the same time and one entire lake may become encased in ice in various stages; a portion of the lake might freeze one day and another portion may not freeze until several days later.
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Boulder Lake, for instance, froze solid early this past week. However, by Wednesday afternoon, a large area had reopened and the wind split, cracked and compromised the once smooth surface as water lapped upon the ice sheath's jagged edge.
This exemplifies why it is so important to frequently check the ice for depth and consistency as you walk your way across the newly frozen lakes. The ice can vary in thickness as little as a footstep apart. Unfortunately I experienced a situation like this first-hand a few years ago.
It was early in the ice season and anglers were just beginning to venture out on some smaller lakes and ponds, so I decided to head to a small lake, actually more of an oversized puddle, in the Paul Bunyan State Forest. The smooth, snow-free surface made it difficult to find foot traction, but easy to peer into the underwater world.
I cautiously checked the ice every few feet and as I slipped and stumbled with Bambi-like assuredness, discovered that the ice was indeed three to four inches thick. After opening a few holes and dangling a line without luck, I headed out a little farther. A definitive line of snow separated two sections of ice, although it appeared harmless at first glance, but I should've checked first. I stepped over the line and raised the chisel to cut a quick hole.
One chop and the chisel unexpectedly sank halfway up the bar, the rope pulling on my wrist. The ice subsequently disagreed and with a groan, split right along the dividing line. The piece I stood on began to submerge and quickly flooded with water.
Fortunately a quick step and a half had me standing on the safe ice once again. Yet after such a horrible lapse in judgment and some rattled nerves, I decided dry clothes were better than a few fish in the bucket and headed for the truck, reminding myself that no fish is worth someone's life.
