Ice safety urged for anglers and winter enthusiasts
As ice begins to form on area lakes and waterways, many anglers and outdoor enthusiasts are venturing out to have a good time or catch the big one.
One popular winter spot is Mitchell’s Bay on Lake St. Clair in Chatham-Kent. But the lure of Mother Nature’s splendour can catch you off the hook if you’re not careful.
“You have to watch it out there,” warned Cole Bailey, an ice fishing expert and co-owner of Angling Sports Bait and Tackle in London. “You get varying ice conditions because there’s a lot of current coming through that lake with all the rivers that feed it. The wind, if it blows the wrong direction, it’ll break up the ice.”
Bailey said being prepared means having the basics in equipment that could save your life if you find yourself in trouble.
Starting with a set of ice picks or ice claws, as their called. “They’re usually hanging around your neck by a draw string,” explained Bailey. “You grab hold of them and you stab them into the ice. What that will allow you to do is you pull yourself up out of the water and you can roll away to safety.”
Cleats are also essential said Bailey. “So without a proper pair of boots with cleats on them, you’ll be slipping and sliding all over the place.”
A spud bar is also a must-have, he said. “It’s a big, heavy two-piece chisel that you ram into the ice and you’re able to check for thickness.”Cole Bailey of Angling Sports in London holds up a spud bar for checking ice thickness, Jan. 17, 2022. (Bryan Bicknell / CTV News)Finally he said never to go out without wearing a floatation suit. “That’s another very important piece of equipment that will go a long way in making sure you’re safe out on the ice.”
OPP also warn those who love the outdoors in winter to consider the risks associated with their recreational activities.
“Whether or not it’s the rivers in our area, the creeks, the water ends up fluctuating underneath,” said OPP Insp. Shawn Johnson. “So it can be thick in one area and all of a sudden because it’s free flowing, you get into a thin area. So you could be participating in some outdoor activities and next thing you know, you find yourself in danger.”
Area municipalities are also warning outdoor enthusiasts that it’s not safe to skate or play hockey on storm water management ponds.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.