If you do go out on any of the lakes be sure to take an ice spud and check the ice EVERY STEP to make sure you do not hit a soft spot and go through, this is doubly important during first ice and I would never go out without checking each step. This is a good practice even after the season gets going if you are on an unfamiliar body of water. I know of several lakes that have underwater springs close to shore and even in the dead of winter the ice in those areas is thin and honeycombed and there is real danger of going through.
Also take a couple of screw drivers, ice picks, or some other such object to help you crawl out onto safe ice again if you do go through. You can run a cord from handle to handle, then string it through your coat sleeves. That way they are right at hand so to speak.
BE SAFE, NOT SORRY!
Rocky Clark
Burt Lake - Indian River, Michigan - Cheboygan County
Chain-of-Lakes - Ellsworth, Michigan - Antrim County
Lake Charlevoix (South Arm) - Ironton, Michigan and Glenwood Beach (North Arm) - Boyne City, Michigan - Charlevoix County
Otsego Lake - Gaylord, Michigan - Otsego County
If you have any information you would like to
share, let me know at woodsman@charter.net
and I will post it here for all to benefit from.
Tight lines,
Rocky Clark
Ice Conditions sent in by other
Ice Fishermen!