On thin ice

STATEWIDE - Although it feels cold and ice is forming, the ice is way too thin, now, as a Naples boy discovered recently.

According to Deb Turcotte, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW), the boy ignored advice by friends and father, went out onto the ice, on foot, and fell through. He was only immersed up to his chest, Turcotte said, but suffered mild hypothermia.

Matthew LaRoche, superintendent of the Allagash Water Way for the Maine Department of Conservation, advises people not to go out with a snowmobile on ice that is less than six inches deep. He points out that, as well as a safety issue, it can be an economic one - the driver has to somehow get the submerged snowmobile, or other vehicle, out of the water, which can be an expensive proposition. In the case of the Allagash, driving anything larger than a snowmobile on the ice is forbidden, but the owner of a car or truck that goes through the ice is also liable for recovery costs.

Fern Bosse, of Norway, an avid outdoorsman who has years of ice-fishing experience, says he won't consider going out anywhere on ice until its safe everywhere. He avoids "white ice" which contains air bubbles and snow.

Turcotte points out that in years past, the Warden Service (part of IF&W) suggested measuring the thickness with an auger or chisel frequently, not just once. She also had other suggestions. If alone, wear a life jacket. It's better to have a partner. Stay off cracked or squishy ice. Avoid places known to be above currents or springs.

"An old rule of thumb is to stab a chisel into the ice. If it sends out cracks in all directions, it's too thin. Get off,"says Bosse. "Old trappers used to carry a six-foot pole along. If you do fall through, chances are the pole will span the gap, providing a way to get yourself out."

Bosse strongly recommends using the IF&W (maine.gov/ifw/) website, which  has a lot of useful, accurate of information on the subject.

The website will be updated for this year's ice fishing, probably within the next few weeks, Turcotte says.

"We wait until a little closer to the time people want to use it," she says.

On many lakes in Maine, the season for ice fishing begins December 1, but on some it doesn't begin until January 1. On a few lakes it's forbidden altogether. Charts at the website indicate which are which. The dates, however, relate to the legality of fishing, and are not based on ice conditions.

"You can't predict what Mother Nature is going to do," says Bosse. "Last year, the big ice fishing derby on Sebago Lake was cancelled because they didn't have ice."