In advance of the Winter Free Fishing Weekend this Saturday and Sunday, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging anglers to use caution when going out onto frozen lakes and rivers.
Recent warm temperatures and snowfall have undermined ice in some areas, producing less-than-ideal conditions.
“Ice conditions really vary from lake to lake this year,” said Sgt. Mike Hammill, DNR District 2 area law supervisor. “Overall, the ice conditions are poor compared to previous years.”
Hammill’s district includes Luce, Mackinac and Chippewa counties. He said some lakes have heavy slush covering the ice.
“I wouldn’t recommend anyone drive their cars or trucks onto the ice at this point in the season,” Hammill said. “Most areas I’ve been in have 10 or more inches of ice. However, some of the deep lakes north of M-28 that receive a lot of snowfall only have 4 to 6 inches of ice.”
Some of the lakes in the central Upper Peninsula have springs that are reportedly more active this winter, contributing to the undermining of ice strength.
In the western Upper Peninsula, ice conditions also vary widely. Lake Gogebic slush conditions were reported as heavy. Last week, the Upper Peninsula’s largest inland lake had 8-10 inches of solid, clear ice, topped with 8 inches of slush.
A few days ago, two snowmobilers went through the ice of Lake Gogebic. Both riders got out safely with no injuries.
“It really depends on the snow depth,” said Sgt. Marc Pomroy, DNR District 1 area law supervisor, referring to the ice reliability in the region. “Farther south, conditions are OK as there is not a lot of snow hence the slush is able to freeze. Overall, conditions are typical.”
The DNR has produced a list of ice safety tips including information on things to consider before you go out, what to know about ice, venturing out on the ice and what to do if you fall through.
Among them:
- Tell someone where you are going and what time to expect you back. Relaying your plan can help save your life if something does happen to you on the ice.
- Ice conditions vary from lake to lake. Find a good local source — a bait shop or local fishing guide — that is knowledgeable about ice conditions on the lake you want to fish on.
- You can’t always tell the strength of ice simply by its look, its thickness, the temperature or whether or not it is covered with snow.
- Clear ice that has a bluish tint is the strongest. Ice formed by melted and refrozen snow appears milky and is very porous and weak.
- Ice covered by snow always should be presumed unsafe. Snow acts like an insulating blanket and slows the freezing process. Ice under the snow will be thinner and weaker. A snowfall also can warm up and melt existing ice.
- If there is slush on the ice, stay off. Slush ice is only about half as strong as clear ice and indicates the ice is no longer freezing from the bottom.
- Be especially cautious in areas where air temperatures have fluctuated. A warm spell may take several days to weaken the ice; however, when temperatures vary widely, causing the ice to thaw during the day and refreeze at night, the result is a weak, spongy, or honeycombed ice that is unsafe.
- The DNR does not recommend the standard “inch-thickness” guide used by many anglers and snowmobilers to determine ice safety. A minimum of 4 inches of clear ice is required to support an average person’s weight on the ice, but since ice seldom forms at a uniform rate it is important to check ice thickness with a spud and ruler every few steps.
- If you are walking out onto a frozen body of water with a group, avoid crossing ice in a single file. Avoid standing together in a spot. Spread out.
- Remember ice does not form with uniform thickness on any body of water. Underwater springs and currents can wear thin spots on the ice.
View the entire list of DNR ice safety tips.
The National Weather Service has forecast much colder temperatures in the region for the weekend, which may help to improve ice conditions in the days ahead.
Winter Free Fishing Weekend is Feb. 13-14. Resident and non-resident anglers may fish without a fishing license. All other fishing regulations, including daily bag limits, remain in effect. Recreation Passports also are not required this weekend for entry to state areas where fishing is available.
The DNR also reminds anglers ice shanties in the U.P. must be removed by midnight March 31 or sooner if conditions become poor. For the Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waters and the northern Lower Peninsula (Oceana, Newaygo, Mecosta, Isabella, Midland, Bay counties and all others north), March 15 is the deadline for ice shanty removal. March 1 is the deadline in the remainder of the Lower Peninsula and Feb. 21 is the deadline for Lake St. Clair. See the DNR Michigan Fishing Guide for more details.
For more information, visit the DNR’s webpage at: www.michigan.gov/fishing.
/Note to editors: An accompanying photo is available below for download and media use. A suggested caption follows. Credit: Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Angler: Caroline Furmanski, 8, of Escanaba happily holds up her yellow perch catch from Little Bay de Noc in Delta County. Winter Free Fishing Weekend is Saturday and Sunday and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is urging anglers to use caution while venturing out onto lake and river ice./
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