Our regional fisheries biologists preview the upcoming season in their annual Ice Fishing Preview. This is an informative guide to what fish have been stocked and where, and biologists’ picks of great ice fishing hot spots!

To view the preview on our website, visit http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/reports/weekly_biologist/index.htm

For a printable pdf version, select this link: http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/reports/pdfs/2010icefishpreview.pdf

Happy Fishing!

In this edition you can get information about the new process to apply for a chance at a moose permit, great stuff about monitoring efforts of Maine’s hibernating black bears, tons of news, information and reports, including the latest ice fishing reports from all the regions around the state.

Tom Remington

Chris Bubier of Wilton caught a 3.13-pound (or 3 pounds, 2 ounces), 17-1/4-long white perch on Jan. 24 at Parker Pond in Jay. The pond also is known as Mirror Lake or Little Parker Pond.

Mr. Bubier had the white perch weighed on certified scales at Rick’s Market in Wilton. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Fisheries Biologist Dave Boucher confirmed the record-setting weight.

The previous record was set by Jeff Paquette of Freedom, who caught a 3.02-pound white perch (or 3 pounds, 1/3 ounce) at 7:15 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008, at Ellis Pond in Brooks. Mr. Paquette’s fish was weighed on certified scales at 8:30 a.m. by Paul Flynn, the owner of Freedom General Store, and was witnessed by three people.

According to Biologist Boucher, it’s unusual for two record-setting fish to be caught in such a short period of time.

“When Chris caught the fish, he didn’t think much about it,” Boucher said. “But when he read about the record he said that he thought his fish would beat it and decided to call me and check. It did.”

IF&W and the Maine Sportsman newspaper, which is edited by avid outdoorsman and TV personality Harry Vanderweide, jointly announce new records and the publication maintains the record book.
The Maine Sportsman sponsors “The One That Didn’t Get Away Club,” which it boasts as “an association of fresh water anglers who have landed a big one in Maine.” Anglers who have caught what they believe may be the biggest of any fish species during a calendar year may fill out an application and be entered into a contest. There is a $5 application fee and winners receive a patch.

For contest rules and an application form, visit www.mainesportsman.com, scroll down and click on “applications.”

Posted by Tom Remington

Craig Coulombe and Willfred Gagne, both of Farmington, were pulling the shack on a trailer from Embden Pond to Webb Lake.

Coulombe, who was driving his 1999 Dodge 1500, was traveling on the north end of Webb Lake to the Dummers Beach area, where he dropped off the shack.

When leaving, the men became disoriented by the snowstorm and told Game Warden Kris MacCabe that they believed they were driving northbound when in fact they were heading south.

Warden MacCabe said the men drove the entire length of the lake before going into thin ice and open water at the narrow part of the lake by Webb River.

Wardens MacCabe and Josh Smith responded to the ice anglers’ call for help. Neither fisherman was hurt.

Today, a tow-truck operator was attempting to get the truck and trailer out of the lake. Breaking ice was delaying the process.

Tom Remington

IF&W and the Maine Sportsman newspaper, which is edited by avid outdoorsman and TV personality Harry Vanderweide, jointly announce new records and the publication maintains the record book.

Jeff Paquette of Freedom caught the white perch at 7:15 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008, at Ellis Pond in Brooks. The fish was weighed on certified scales at 8:30 a.m. by Paul Flynn, the owner of Freedom General Store, and was witnessed by three other people.

IF&W Fisheries Biologists Bill Woodward and Scott Davis, based at IF&W’s Sidney office, inspected the fish and confirmed the record.

The previous record was set on Feb. 9, 2002 by Michael Frechette of Sanford, who caught a 2.84-pound white perch on Square Pond.

This is the second record-setting fish caught in 2008. Carter McLaughlin, 11, of Mapleton caught a 5.24-pound, 25.4-inch Arctic Charr on Aug. 20 at Pushineer Pond in T15 R9.

The Maine Sportsman sponsors “The One That Didn’t Get Away Club,” which it boasts as “an association of fresh water anglers who have landed a big one in Maine.” Anglers who have caught what they believe may be the biggest of any fish species during a calendar year may fill out an application and be entered into a contest. There is a $5 application fee and winners receive a patch.

For contest rules and an application form, visit www.mainesportsman.com, scroll down and click on “applications.”

Tom Remington

Valentine’s weekend is the time to do it as the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife promotes Family Fishing Days.

On Saturday, Feb. 14 and Sunday, Feb. 15, people can fish for free on Maine’s waterways. This free fishing event is open to any person except those whose license has been revoked or suspended. All fishing regulations apply.

For a complete list of fishing regulations, including limits and sizes, visit www.mefishwildlife.com and click on “fishing.”

Fishing, whether on open water or on ice, is one of the most popular activities in Maine, drawing thousands upon thousands of residents and out-of-state visitors to the state’s nearly 6,000 lakes and ponds and almost 32,000 miles of rivers and streams.

Approximately 286,000 people annually purchase fishing licenses in Maine, and the sport has a $300 million impact on the state’s economy.

This weekend is the first of two free fishing weekends offered this year. The second is May 30 and 31, the weekend after Memorial Day.

“Family Fishing Days provide the perfect opportunity for adults to introduce children to fishing,” said Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin. “It’s a wonderful chance to make memories and be encouraged by the young ones to buy a fishing license and spend more time on Maine’s waterways throughout the year.”

Want to continue the fishing experience throughout the year? Fishing licenses are available for purchase on IF&W’s Web site, www.mefishwildlife.com, at any of the more than 285 MOSES licensing agents statewide, or at town offices and other locations.

They also are available at our main office at 284 State St., Augusta.

Now Gov. Baldacci is seeking a license fee increase and he seems determined to either get the increase or merge the fish and wildlife into one huge natural resources entity, of which nobody wants to see. An article by Kevin Miller of the Bangor Daily News says that Baldacci is threatening sportsmen to either accept the fee increase or he’ll merge the departments.

Baldacci spokesman David Farmer stressed that the consolidation proposal is being put forward as an alternative to higher user fees. If the sporting community can live with the fee increases, then the consolidation proposal goes nowhere,

Sure sounds like a threat to me.

Generally speaking sportsmen are content to pay reasonable fee increases when they can see value for their dollar. What’s getting really old is paying extra for the license in order to pay for things that have nothing to do with hunting, fishing and trapping. Maine has to find a way to make up the shortfall by collecting fees from those who use and don’t pay, admittedly a difficult task.

I can assure you though that consolidating departments and morphing Inland Fisheries and Wildlife into a huge natural resources kind of department would be the biggest mistake Maine could make. Just look around at the states who have. First and foremost, it saves no money but more importantly two things happen.

One, fish and game doesn’t get the attention it needs. Monies are moved around and license fees continue to escalate in order to pay for more non-game activities and services. This results in the second problem. Time and again when talking with other sportsmen in other states and even looking at surveys taken, one of the biggest complaints by sportsmen who have stopped buying a license is that they feel they have no say anymore with fish and game.

Where once sportsmen organized into clubs in order to have input into the management of game no longer exists to the same degree. Ask any sportsman and they’ll not give a real positive impression of their own fish and game departments. On top of that bury the fish and wildlife into a huge, bureaucratic nightmare of a “superagency” and what little confidence left gets further eroded to efforts of futility, devaluing the experience and rendering a license purchase a waste of time and money.

Maine Senator David Trahan, (R) Waldoboro, who sits on the Fish and Wildlife Committee says he wants people to know “Over my dead body”.

“I’m not interested in having this discussion about consolidating these agencies into one,” said Sen. Dave Trahan, R-Waldoboro, a member of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. “I just want people to know that. My position is ‘Over my dead body.’”

George Smith, Executive Director for the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, says he opposes both of the governor’s proposals.

SAM’s executive director, George Smith, has promised to fight both proposals to increase fees or merge the agencies. Smith and other several other speakers said the state needs to find a way to get kayakers, hikers and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts to help pay for the services that game wardens and DIF&W biologists provide.

The chairman of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, Bruce Bryant (D) Oxford, also thinks Maine has to find ways to get those utilizing services to pay to play.

Sportsmen complain about the fee increases. Others don’t because they enjoy the benefits bought and paid for by the sportsmen and yet these same free loaders are making much of the demand for bigger and better services.

There is one thing that is certain. We can get mad at the governor. We can berate the fish and game department but if we don’t stop placing demands for more and bigger, how can we expect to keep fees down? Granted our departments have to hold the line on spending but at the same time we need to stop demanding.

Tom Remington

Region A – Southern Maine:

Ice conditions in southern Maine have continued to improve since Jan. 1st. Some of the smaller to medium sized ponds are covered in a blanket of ice 8 or more inches thick. Cold temperatures have thickened the ice on lakes that “buttoned up” early, but persistent winds have delayed ice formation on the region’s largest lakes, including Sebago.

Cold weather and windy conditions appears to account for the overall lighter than anticipated early season angler turn out observed and reported on many area lakes and ponds. Although, that said, some bait retailers have reported brisk bait sales.

I recently spoke with one angler who fished for bass with his son opening weekend. The wind was so strong that one of his ice fishing traps was propelled at such a high speed it traveled clear to the other side of the lake and could not be recovered.

A few of our project waters surveyed this winter have produced slower fishing so far this season, including Crystal Lake (Gray) and Sabbathday Lake (New Gloucester). Ironically these two lakes produced outstanding early season action last winter under the same stocking programs. Most of the 2009 angler reports from other waters have been very favorable, especially those targeting brook trout. Waters including Keoka Lake, Bear Pond, Otter Ponds, Center Pond, and Thomas Pond have produced very good early season action for 12- to 14-inch brook trout, including some double digit catches.
– Francis Brautigam, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Gray

Region B – Central Maine:

This is the second winter we have focused on evaluating the effectiveness of stocking large fall yearling brook trout to provide winter fisheries in waters that lack the habitat to provide over summer survival. Although successful anglers have certainly been happy with their catches, the results of last winter’s surveys indicated that approximately 16 percent of the brook trout stocked were harvested during the first winter. Since many of the surviving trout will not survive through the following summer, returns to anglers will have to improve if we to maintain this program.

Biologists from our research unit in Bangor also have been conducting surveys at Biscay Pond where anglers reported nice catches of brook trout, splake, brown trout, smallmouth bass, and white perch. A group of anglers surveyed by the research biologists caught and released two brown trout, one 18 inches and the other 24 inches in length! Anglers report many of the fish they are keeping are full of smelts. Though many anglers were fishing Nequasset Lake this weekend most reported the fishing to be slow for brook trout and rainbow trout.

We have some good fishing for other species, as well as for brook trout. Lake St George and Parker Pond have been very good fishing for salmon and brook trout. We have also received reports of good rainbow trout fishing in Lake George, Canaan. Large pike have been recently caught at North Pond in the Smithfield. Some humpback white perch are beginning to show in Great Pond, Belgrade.
– James Lucas, Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist
and Joe Dembeck, Research Fisheries Biologist, Sidney

Region C — Downeast

Anglers in eastern Maine’s Hancock and Washington counties are catching colorful brook trout at several “magnet waters” where stocking and management is designed to create winter fisheries for trout from 7 to 18 inches.

Regional Fisheries Biologist Rick Jordan said, “we chose ponds with good access and adjusted our stocking plans to add 12- to 14-inch fall yearling brook trout to more numerous stockings of 6- to 9-inch fall fingerling trout. In addition, many of these ponds were stocked with retired 16- to 18-inch adult brook trout that had been used as brood stock in our hatcheries.” The management goal in the magnet waters is to attract families to fish together as well as to interest new anglers in fishing by offering good catch rates for a variety of fish sizes. The program is gaining in popularity, and anglers are enjoying the action.

Anglers wishing to fish these waters can go to Craig Pond in Orland, Lower Hadlock Pond in Orland, Keene’s Lake in Calais, Indian Lake in Whiting, Montegail Pond in Twp 19 MD, or Keeley Lake in Marshfield. In addition, Foxhole Pond in Deblois is stocked with trout from 6-18” long and is open to kids only under the age of 16. The pond is located 0.2 mile east of Route 193 opposite the Deblois airstrip.

For anglers hoping to catch salmon now that ice thicknesses have exceeded 12 inches, proven producers are Cathance Lake in Cooper, Brewer Lake in Orrington, Molasses Pond in Eastbrook, and Long Pond in Mount Desert. West Grand Lake is closed until February 1.
– Rick Jordan, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Enfield

Region D – Western Mountains:

The ice fishing season at Spring Lake, where we stocked 500 large fall-yearling brook trout and 100 salmon this past fall, is off to a slow start. So far, the cold and windy conditions have kept anglers away, but the hardy few that have fished the lake have had good fishing for brook trout and lake trout. Most of the togue, however, are running thin and fifty percent of the total catch is below the 14-inch minimum length limit. Anglers fishing Clearwater Pond and Porter Lake report catches of brook trout, salmon, and togue. Crowell and Norcross Ponds and Webb Lake continue to reward anglers with excellent action and 12 to 15 inch brook trout.
– Dave Howatt, Fishery Biology Specialist, Strong

Region E – Moosehead Lake:

The ice fishing season is in full swing in the Moosehead Lake Region as the cold temperatures firm up the ice on the lakes and ponds in the area. While anglers must always take care while traveling on the ice, most areas up this way are safe with 12-16 inches of ice. The snowmobile trails in the Moosehead Lake – Jackman area are in great shape thanks to the cold temperatures and fresh snow.

Corey Hegarty of Sally Mountain Cabins in Jackman reports that the fishing on Big Wood Pond and Little Big Wood Pond has been terrific so far this winter. Anglers are catching nice colorful splake in the 16-17 inches range along with salmon mostly in the 14-16 inches range but with a few as big as 18 inches. It sounds like the smelts may be biting too for the anglers that know where to jig on Big Wood Pond. Corey reports that the cusk fishing on Little Big Wood Pond has been really good with one lucky angler getting a 9 ½ lb fish. That will make enough chowda’ for the rest of the winter!

We checked a number of anglers on Moosehead Lake this weekend. The anglers in the Rockwood area were picking up a number of the smaller togue that are available for harvest. We also saw a few brook trout on the ice this weekend. January is typically the best month of the ice fishing season for catching brook trout. Folks are still just getting their ice shacks out and we anticipate the fishing activity to pick up over the next few weeks. Don’t forget that the 2nd annual Moosehead Lake Togue Derby is scheduled for Jan 30-Feb 1. Be sure to pick up your tickets at Indian Hill Trading Post, Kineo Flies, Moosehead Bait and Tackle, Northwoods Outfitters, or the Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center. Derby ticket sales end at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31. There will be lots of great prizes including $1,500 for the best togue.

Some young anglers were taking advantage of the good weather to fish Drummond Pond in Abbot. This pond is open to fishing for children under the age of 16 in the winter months and is right on Rte. 15, so access is easy. We stocked this little gravel pit pond with fall yearling brook trout and a few retired broodstock brook trout this fall. There are also a few pickerel and perch in the pond which helps to keep the flags flying. We want to thank the local folks that keep the parking lot plowed so the kids can have a nice place to get out of the wind and fish. Attached is a photo of some very successful Guilford/Parkman anglers with a nice pickerel and brookie from this past Saturday. Nice catch!
– Tim Obrey, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Greenville

Region F – Penobscot

With nearly two weeks of the 2009 ice fishing season in the books, the reports from around the Penobscot Region are that ice is safe and the fishing has been fair to excellent. Waters stocked with fall yearling brook trout including Molunkus Lake, Upper Cold Stream Pond, Cold Stream Pond, and Upper Pond having been giving up good catches of fish on most days.

Salmon are biting at Pleasant Lake in Island Falls and East Grand Lake. However, anglers fishing in the eastern part of the region (West, Duck, Nicatous and Spring lakes) report that the salmon fishing has been a bit slow this year so far, but many believe that this is due to noise of the ice forming on lakes. Due to the recent cold snap and lack of snow the ice is building quickly and creating quite a racket out there. Hopefully once things settle down, the fish will start biting.

Both Schoodic Lake and Cold Stream Pond now have 6-10 inches of ice across the entire lake. I suspect lake trout enthusiasts will start pulling their ice shacks out to the deeper waters this week in hopes of catching a “lunker” togue. East Grand Lake continues to produce a quality lake trout fishery, and in recent years we’ve been hearing about some good sized cusk as well.

Regional personnel conducted creel checks this past weekend at Lower Sysladobsis Lake (Dobsis), Junior Lake, Scraggly Lake and Pleasant Lake, all located close to the Penobscot/Washington County line in Lakeville, Pukakon and Kossuth Townships. With ice thickness varying between 10 and 14 inches, ice shacks are sprouting up everywhere throughout the project area. Nice sunny weather and low wind brought good numbers of anglers looking for salmon, whitefish, lake trout and white perch.
Anglers on Dobsis iced a number of salmon, mostly 3 year olds in the 16- to 17-inch category. Lake whitefish were the primary focus at Junior, with a couple fish hitting the 17-inch mark. A few togue were also reportedly taken from Junior in the first week of the season. Scraggly provided white perch action for a number of parties, as well as an occasional migrant salmon from fish stocked in Junior.
Pleasant only had a couple of groups, but all had fast action for salmon in the 16 to 19 inch range. All anglers interviewed were having fair to good success, and most importantly, were having a great day out on the ice.

Finally, this past weekend the Maine Youth Fish and Game Club held its annual ice fishing event at Pickerel Pond. Nearly 200 young anglers participated this year, with many handsome fish being caught over the course of the day. While waiting for the flags to fly, the youngsters ate hot dogs, drank hot chocolate and took turns sliding down the hill out onto the pond.
– Richard Dill, Regional Fisheries Biologist, Bangor

Region G – Aroostook County:

Traditionally, anglers seeking to ice fish the Musquacook Lakes area of the Allagash region used the Realty Road from Ashland. However, the Realty Road from Six-Mile Gate to 21-mile is not currently being plowed. Anglers should access the Realty Road at 21-mile across the Rocky Brook Road and South Branch Road, which lie to the north of the Realty Road. As always, extreme caution is necessary when using these roads which are maintained and plowed for forest management including the transport of wood products with large trucks.

The Fish River Lakes of Long, Cross, Square and Eagle Lakes have had for decades a shortened season from that of general law. January 15 was a traditional “opening day” on these waters for years; 2009 marks a major change in season length, 2 months to 3 months. Biologists from Ashland checked anglers on Long Lake on the new opening day recently, as well as Saturday, January 2nd. These days proved to be brutally cold with low temperatures and high winds; despite the conditions anglers were out in force. We measured more than 30 trout and salmon, the largest of which was 5 lbs 10 oz. Numerous shacks dot the shoreline of Long Lake; these shelters provide some protection from the elements as well as a means to fish for rainbow smelt, the primary forage for salmon and trout, and a highly sought after game fish as well. These shacks commonly have long cut-out “race-ways”, providing a wide view under the ice. Sit at one of these “holes” for just a short time and you’ll likely see some of the huge schools of smelt for which Long is famous. On these days we were out, patient anglers were seeing numerous salmon swim by the holes in shacks, a sign that fishing will get better as the season progresses.
– Derrick Cote, Fishery Biology Specialist, Ashland

Posted by Tom Remington

The tournaments are open to adults and youngsters and subject to all ice fishing regulations as set by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Competitors may fish for togue, pickerel, pike and muskie. Says Maine IF&W fisheries biologist, John Boland, “ The Sebago Lake Rotary has always coordinated with Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to ensure their events are consistent with our fishery objectives. The derbies have been a wonderful success-encouraging families to take advantage of ice fishing and most importantly, raising money for charity.”

For the Statewide Derby, first, second and third place cash prizes will be awarded for the largest fish of each species. All anglers who weigh their fish will be eligible for the grand prize drawing of a 2008 Chevy 4 x 4. Other prizes include a choice of 2009 Ski Doo or Can Am ATV, Kittery Trading Post gift certificates, Mission Trailer and Ice Shack and fishing trip to Libby Camps in Ashland, Maine.

Weigh Stations for the Sebago Lake Tournament are Raymond Beach on Route 302 and Jordan’s Store on Route 114 in Sebago.

There are twenty-two weigh stations from Cross Lake in Aroostook County to Acton in York County. Fisherman may fish all legal waters throughout the state.

The Maine Chevrolet Derby 2009, hosted by the Sebago Lake Rotary Club is a fund raiser for The Good Shepard Food Bank which supplies 500 food pantries throughout Maine; Camp Sunshine; Maine Children’s Cancer Program, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Rotary Foundation, the DARE Program and local charities selected by the statewide weigh stations.

Says derby organizer Tom Noonan of Raymond, “Over the years we’ve had thousands of fisherman participate and raised over $350,000 for charity. We are recognized by Field & Stream Magazine as one of the five best ice-fishing tournaments in the nation. Our hope is to become the nation’s largest Ice-Fishing Derby and generate awareness and funding for all our charities.”

Other events scheduled in conjunction with the Sebago Lake Derby are a Kid’s Derby on Thomas Pond in Casco on Friday, Feb 20, 9 am to noon; a motorcycle and car ice-racing event in Windham Friday evening from 6-10 pm; the Maine Children’s Cancer Program Polar Dip at Raymond Beach noon, Saturday Feb. 21; hot air balloons, helicopter rides and a general aviation fly-in all day Saturday and a Snowmobile Radar Run at Raymond Beach from 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday, Feb. 22.

Maine fishing licenses and Derby entries may be purchased at the weigh stations and at the Kittery Trading Post. Entries along with a complete set of rules, prizes, weigh station locations, and registration information is available on line at www.icefishingderby.com or by phoning 1-888-ICE-FLAG. The entry fee is $30 per person for the Sebago Tournament, which includes a free entry into the Statewide Tournament, $20 per individual for the Statewide Tournament. A Kid Pack entry is $50 for Sebago and $30 for Statewide. The Kid Pack includes entry for an two parents and up to 6 children under the age of 18.

The Maine Chevy Derby Fest Awards Ceremony and truck drawing will be held Tuesday, March 10.

Posted by Tom Remington

A Massachusetts man went through thin ice on South Twin Lake, near North Twin Dam on Indian Purchase 4 near Millinocket, at approximately 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, 2008.

The area where the man went into the water is in close proximity to where a Connecticut man died in early April 2008 when snowmobiling onto thin ice near moving water on North Twin Lake.

On Saturday night, Dennis Belmonte of Middleton, Mass., was riding in a group of four snowmobilers when they became disoriented trying to follow directions they had been given to a trail. Three of the snowmobilers made it to safety as the ice gave way under them, and Mr. Belmonte, 43, went through the ice. He was able to kick and grab himself onto safe ice, and is unharmed. The rental sled he was driving is in approximately 30 feet of water.

According to MWS Sgt. Ronald Dunham, it was the men’s “good fortune” that they turned away from the area of North Twin Dam to get off the thin ice.

Sgt. Dunham and Warden Andy Glidden investigated the incident.

“There are certain locations in the state that never freeze. Locals usually know about these. Unfortunately visitors do not,” according to Major Gregory Sanborn of the Maine Warden Service. “Recreationalists not familiar with a particular body of water need to use extreme caution. Never follow a track just because it’s there. Also, be aware of any moving water, such as inlets, outlets and culverts.”

It takes colder temperatures to freeze water in culverts, inlets and outlets because it is in motion, Major Sanborn said.

“Areas of moving water never freeze to the point of being safe to cross or ride upon,” Major Sanborn said.

In many parts of the state, lakes and ponds may appear to be frozen, but safe ice conditions cannot be assumed. Most of the bigger lakes still have open water. Also, recent snowfall is covering lakes and ponds, thus slowing the icing process.

If you must go on the ice this winter, the Maine Warden Service offers these tips for ice safety:

· Never guess the thickness of the ice – Check it! Check the ice in several different places using an auger or some other means to make a test hole and determine the thickness. Make several, beginning at the shore, and continuing as you go out.

· Check the ice with a partner, so if something does happen, someone is there to help you. If you are doing it alone, wear a lifejacket.

· If ice at the shoreline is cracked or squishy, stay off! Watch out for thin, clear or honeycombed ice. Dark snow and dark ice are other signs of weak spots.

· Avoid areas with currents, around bridges and pressure ridges. Wind and currents can break ice.

· Parents should alert children of unsafe ice in their area, and make sure that they stay off the ice. If they insist on using their new skates, suggest an indoor skating rink.

If you break through the ice, remember:

· Don’t panic.

· Don’t try to climb out immediately – you will probably break the ice again. Reach for solid ice.

· Lay both arms on the unbroken ice and kick hard. This will help lift your body onto the ice. Once on the ice, roll, DON’T WALK, to safety.

· To help someone who has fallen through the ice, lie down flat and reach with a branch, plank or rope or form a human chain. Don’t stand. After securing the victim, wiggle backwards to the solid ice.

Posted by Tom Remington