News Release Archives - December 2008

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December 1, 2008

Current Ice Conditions Unsafe

North Dakota Game and Fish Department water safety coordinator Nancy Boldt advises winter anglers to remain patient because current ice conditions are not safe enough to support much weight.

“We have received several inquiries from anglers wanting to know if ice conditions are thick enough,” Boldt said. “The simple answer is no. Even in the dead of winter we aren’t going to tell people ice is safe, because there are so many variables.”

Mild conditions have been the norm for much of November, and Boldt said several days of high temperatures below freezing are needed in order to start producing stable ice. “We just haven’t had that consistent stretch of freezing temperatures to form solid ice,” she said.

Boldt recommends anglers and trappers visit with locals, including other anglers and people at local bait shops, before going on any lake, especially one that is unfamiliar. “Word spreads and they often have first-hand knowledge of the conditions,” Boldt said. “But it is also important to take it upon oneself to study ice conditions before accessing any of North Dakota’s frozen waters.”

Some tips to be aware of are:

• Snow insulates ice, hampering solid ice formation, and makes it difficult to check thickness. Snow also hides the blemishes, such as cracked, weak and open water areas.
• Avoid cracks, pressure ridges, slushy or darker areas that signal thinner ice. The same goes for ice that forms around partially submerged trees, brush, embankments or other structures.
• Ice thickness is not consistent and can vary significantly even in a small area. Ice shouldn’t be judge by appearance alone. Anglers should drill test holes as they make their way out on the lake, and an ice chisel should be used to check ice thickness while moving around.
• Daily temperature changes cause ice to expand and contract, affecting its strength.
• The following minimums are recommended for travel on clear-blue lake ice formed under ideal conditions. However, early in the winter it’s a good idea to double these figures to be safe: 4 inches for a group walking single file; 6 inches for a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle; 8-12 inches for an automobile; and 12-15 inches for a pickup/truck.

These tips could help save a life:

• Wear a personal flotation device and carry a cell phone.
• Carry ice picks or a set of screwdrivers to pull yourself back on the ice if you fall through.
• If someone breaks through the ice, call 911 immediately. Rescue attempts should employ a long pole, board, rope, blanket or snowmobile suit. If that’s not possible, throw the victim a life jacket, empty water jug or other buoyant object. Go to the victim as a last resort, but do this by forming a human chain where rescuers lie on the ice with each person holding the feet of the person in front.
• To treat hypothermia, replace wet clothing with dry clothing and immediately transport victim to a hospital.

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