Went through, This ever happen to you?

Went out to a lake that I fish once or twice a winter last weekend. On my way back I was following a snowmobile track to make for easy walking. As it got close to shore the track went in the opposite direction I needed, so i continued to walk about 30 ft from shore. Couple minutes later I went through the ice. I didn't notice that one of the docks from a cottage had a bubbler. The ice was all frozen over, just super thin by the dock. Just enough ice to hide the bubbler. Anyway, got out just fine, only fell though to my waist and I have a float suit. Super scary though. I can definitely see somebody in the same situation getting through it much worse than I did. Did good fishing though, 6 lakers 2 whitefish.

Yeah, it's COLD eh!?

Similar story:

Couple years ago I needed to pee, and had kids and guests outside at my shack, so I jumped on my sled and headed to a nearby island 100m or so away. Stopped the sled 10 feet from shore, left it running, and walked toward the island to do my business in the trees....as I get within a few feet of solid ground, SPLASh, waist deep into the water...I hopped out, onto land and yelled a couple words that sounded like 'brother trucker'. Looked out to my ice shack, no one there paying attention to me... looked down the shoreline...all the ice looked the same...dark and untrustworthy. South facing shore of the island. The sun on the rocks had loosened up the shore ice just enough to make it sketchy. So I'm looking at my machine, idling a few feet from the now human sized hole of open water, wondering if it's gonna go down, and how I will get back to it. I travel down the shoreline a hundred feet or more until I find a better looking spot. I layed down and rolled across the few feet of questionable ice, and then crawled out further, and then on foot, circled wide to get back to my sled, and got the heck away from that shoreline.

Unpredictable. I found myself in a similar situation this weekend. Followed a snowmobile track for somewhat easier walking but noticed a very dark spot ahead. Took a hard left as I knew the ice had approximately 5 inches on white on top everywhere I had been. Most bubblers are on timers. This guy may or may not have had it directed out to the middle of the bay. I didn't have my spud and didn't want to take a dunk so I traveled to, what I felt was more stable ice. I was wearing my floater. You just never know. I'm glad you got out unscathed.
I hope you threw out whatever underwear or briefs that you were wearing.
Keep your head up and your stick (or body) on the ice!
SS77

Nice job Drew! Anyone without experience and some common sense could have easily had a bad day. BTW I would have p##### outside of the hut. LOL
SS77

I would have p##### inside of the hut?:-)

I would have p##### inside of the hut?:-)

Gross! Is that the secret sauce of pulling all those fish out of Simcoe? Lol

Pee in the hole and wait for the fish to float up?

I m surprised that where there are bubblers that they are not marked usually not deep in that area its not difficult to put a pipe with a red flag indicating danger I think commen sense.Scarey situations.

I would have p##### inside of the hut?:-)

Hahaha... I usually do...outside.
Like I said, there were kids running around, and other adults hanging around inside and out, it just seemed the easiest option at the time.

I believe it's law that you are to mark any openings you make in the ice using bubblers. Pretty sure whoever makes that opening is liable for anything that may happen there too. But nothing is perfect, maybe the sign is nailed to the other side of the dock, and your approaching on the opposite side.

There may have been signage. Bite was good, so I stayed out a little longer. It was pretty dark by the time I walked off. Good chance I just didn't see it. But off memory, I definitely didn't see anything.

All things aside lucky to talk about it stay safe and good luck.

I didn't trap this year and not seeing the family jewels go into hiding till July is good by me lol . Even chiseling I get an annual dip around beaver houses and feedbeds . LOL Super nice feeling way back in bush and pants freeze solid so you can't reach to strap snowshoes on and 3 plus feet of snow . LOL You survived .

TD

Hey Drew

I always carry 1 0r 2 empty mayo jars and they have come into use countless times over the years

So that's where the tangy flavour comes from!