Ice fishing requires great deal of safety measures

SHERIDAN — When the creeks and lakes freeze up for the winter, fishermen from all around hit the ice to try their hand at ice fishing – which often proves to be a difficult activity as far as preparation and safety, according to avid fisherman Travis Blaser.
When it comes to safety, falling through the ice is the most daunting hazard, Blaser said.
“We do not recommend people going out on less than 4 inches of solid, clear ice, and it is good for people who believe there is 4 inches of solid, clear ice to test it with some sort of hard object before they venture out,” Wyoming Game and Fish Assistant Fisheries Management Coordinator Mark Smith said.
The recommended ice thickness only increases as the weight of the desired objects on top of the ice increases, with snowmobiles and ATVs at 5-6 inches, cars and small trucks at 8-12 inches and medium trucks at 12-15 inches.
To test the ice thickness, Blaser recommends using one of two tools: an ice auger or spud bar.
“It [spud bar] is a 10 to 15 pound metal bar with a sharp end,” he said. “You hit the ice every couple of steps, and if the spud bar goes through in one to two hits, it means it [the ice] is 1 to 2 inches. It is a lot of work doing it that way. You can check it with an auger as well, taking two to three steps and drilling with the auger, but it can get difficult and drain the batteries.”
As the ice begins to form at the start of winter and thaw going into spring, it is especially important to check the ice thickness, Blaser said.
“Early and late ice are the most important times for ice safety,” Blaser said. “Ice forms pressure ridges, where two chunks of ice meet in the lake and build on top of each other then melt throughout the day.”
To further prevent any accidents with falling through the ice, Blaser recommends fishermen carry ice picks, small devices hung by a lanyard on the fishermen to give them something to grab onto the ice if they fall through. Blaser also recommends using float suits that will keep the fishermen afloat if they go through the ice.
“That [float suits] coupled with ice picks is really your best bet for safety on the ice,” he said.
Blaser has also discovered the Wilcraft, an ice fishing ATV that just floats like a boat if it falls through the water.
To get ready for the fishing trip, Blaser does a fair amount of research regarding the body of water he plans to visit. He focuses on depth contours, detailing the exact structure of the lake on a digital or paper map.
Blaser also finds that many anglers use the Navionics app, which allows individuals to analyze the lake at each step, studying the depth ranges and pinpointing fishing spots.
He also looks at the Wyoming Game and Fish stocking reports to see what fish are in what bodies of water, usually trout and some occasional walleye. He also determines if the lake is frozen or accessible.
As far as gear, many people use fishing huts to stay warm on the ice, requiring propane to heat the area. To bring the hut to the desired spot, a sled is necessary, unless the fishermen plan to use an ATV instead. Blaser prefers to move around across the lake, which does not require a hut. Fishermen also have to charge batteries  for items such as fish finders and the ice auger.
“Then, you have bibs, coats, whatever winter gear you are going to wear to keep you warm,” Blaser said.
Ice cleats are also vital to keep fishermen from slipping on the ice, especially during early and late ice, he said.
“There is a decent amount of prep,” Blaser said. “There is fly fishing and there is open water fishing and a lot of that style you just grab your fishing rod and go down to the lake. Ice fishing is a little different.”