With the arrival of frigid temperatures throughout the state, Nebraska Recreation and Parks encourages individuals to be cautious and use the next security ideas whereas ice fishing:
1. Inform somebody your plan. Whether or not you might be fishing alone or in a bunch, inform somebody the place you can be fishing in case bother arises.
2. Check the ice. The minimal thickness to assist one particular person is 4 inches of clear ice; 7.5 inches will assist a bunch weighing as much as two tons or an all-terrain car. Use an ice chisel or spud bar to strike the ice and consider circumstances as you enterprise out.
- As winter progresses, ice adjustments. Cloudy ice of frozen slush is about half as robust as clear lake ice, so individuals ought to double the minimal thickness when encountering such circumstances.
- Ice close to shore could also be weakened by warmth from the bottom, or thinner due to rising water ranges. If temperatures are under freezing, however heat through the day, fish early and go away earlier than ice melts close to the shore.
- Be particularly cautious on any ice that has shifting water under it. Water motion hinders freezing inflicting hard-to-detect skinny spots.
- Supplies embedded in ice, corresponding to weeds or logs, additionally weaken ice. Massive objects on the ice, corresponding to duck blinds or ice shacks, can soak up the solar’s warmth and soften ice.
3. Put on ice picks. If the ice breaks, picks assist grip the ice to tug your self out of the water.
4. Put on ice cleats. Keep away from falls by carrying ice cleats to keep up traction.
5. Layer your clothes. Start with an artificial layer, corresponding to thermal underwear or fleece, adopted by a layer of wool. Wool offers glorious insulation and heat even when damp. Outer layers could embody sweatshirts and jackets lined by heavy parkas, bibs or coveralls. Carry at the least a few pairs of gloves or mittens. Take away layers during times of exercise, corresponding to manually drilling ice holes, to keep away from sweating, and add layers during times of inactivity.
6. Carry additional clothes. Hold a set of dry garments in your car in case you get moist.
7. Carry a protracted throw rope. A rope could be thrown from a protected location to retrieve an individual who has fallen by way of the ice. An enormous loop on the top with a float hooked up will assist the imperiled particular person seize it with their arms as an alternative of chilly fingers.
8. Keep away from alcoholic drinks. Alcohol can have an effect on judgment and improve possibilities of hypothermia.
Buy a 2025 fishing allow, discover a water physique close to you, or uncover extra fishing sources at OutdoorNebraska.gov/Fish.
