Went to Norton Bay this morning to fish. Ice seemed fine but there is some open water. We drilled several holes and proceeded to fish. The ice was 4-6 inches in all the holes. Walked to the sled to get a new lure and my foot went through, just thought it was an old hole. At about 11 am I went to get another lure and fell through the ice. It was about 1 in thick right next to the sled. We witnessed another guy go through the ice with one foot and fall on top the ice. You can’t tell where it is one inch or 6 in.
I bought an Arctic Armour suite a few years ago and it lived up to it selling point of floating. I went in both feet and straight down but bobbed up like a cork and laid back on the ice and got myself out. Be very careful with the higher temps, my hardtop fishing is done for the year.
I bet that made your heart tick up a couple beats. Thanks for the warning and I’m sure glad we didn’t have to read about you in the paper. If ice is iffy I wear a Mustang survival float coat MC1504.
Glad you got out! Ya when the ice thickness varies like that a guy has to be very careful. Kinda figured the ice there was getting bad since the ice at CJ Strike in the Bruneau Arm was real bad & breaking up plus it’s usually almost as warm of climate at Salmon Creek Falls Res. as it is at CJ