OUTDOORS
JIM MORRIS
About the only good thing I can think of when it comes to these very frigid temperatures is that ice fishing has begun.
That time when it’s too cold to be out in a boat or on a bank has given way to ice fishing, which is considerably warmer if you dress properly and use a shanty to protect against wind. You can even use a small heater in a shanty.
The main thing about ice fishing is safety. Veteran ice anglers know the rules and most follow them. If you are new to the sport or just want to take a walk (or skate) on some frozen water, here are the tips sent out this week by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources ... and a few more I have picked up through the years.
• Always remember that ice-covered water is never completely safe. When there is a doubt, don’t go out. Most experienced ice anglers say 4-6 inches with no open water is safe.
• Always go out with friends and let others know when you will be on the ice and when you will return. Don’t walk on the ice close together. Keep a few feet of space between each other.
• Take your cell phone. Put it in a sealed plastic bag.
• Wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket or float coat. Life vests provide flotation and protection from hypothermia.
• Check with local sources about any unsafe ice. Bait shops usually hear about bad ice. If you are going to a state park, check at the park office. If skating, check for designated areas. Avoid streams where water is moving beneath.
• Dress in layers and add extra clothing for the head, neck, sides and groin, which are the primary heat-loss areas. Wool and modern (wicking) synthetics are good fabric choices for clothing; cotton is slow to dry when wet. Keep an extra set of clothes in your car in case you need dry clothing. Hand and foot warmers are handy.
• Carry two screwdrivers to create leverage for pulling yourself out of the water. They are much more effective than bare hands. Also, carry a whistle or other noisemaker to alert people that you are in distress.
• Don’t drink alcohol. It does not warm you up — it cools you internally.
• Never drive a vehicle, snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle onto ice. Leave this to professional guides. This is dangerous and most insurance policies will not cover the vehicles of ice fishermen that have gone through ice.
• Wear ice cleats to give you stability while walking on ice. They strap on your boots. Tackle shops or outdoor shops usually have them.
• If you are going on big ice — such as Lake Erie — hire a licensed ice-fishing guide. For a list of guides, visit wildohio.com or call (419) 625-8062.
Antique tackle event
If you saw the notice for the antique tackle clinic at the Second Time Around Fishing Tackle Shop, 8642 North Dixie Drive, and had the impression it was this weekend, it’s actually next weekend, Jan. 15-17.
The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Admission and consultations are free. For more information call (937) 475-7997 or (937) 423-3331.
Tom Petkewitz also has a display of antique lures at the Dayton Hunting and Fishing Show, which runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Airport Expo Center.
Contact this reporter at
(937) 225-2409 or
jmorris@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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