OUR PLACE
With the cold weather hitting sudden and hard the urge to head out on the ice can be tempting.
Geneva Lake is one of the last lakes in the area to freeze but some of the smaller lakes give the appearance that the ice is thickening. Lake Como is one of those lakes and many are asking about ice integrity on it. Two Sundays ago, fishermen were spotted out on Lake Como, barricades were quickly placed by the boat launch as the ice was questionable at that time. Since then, we have had consistent cold until this past weekend. Ice checkers were out on the lake before the warmer weather this weekend and pretty solid 4 to 5 inches with some open water spots in some areas.
Tread with caution. With the warmer weather this past weekend the integrity of the ice very well has changed. Safety is always the number one priority when heading out on the ice and caution always has to be taken. There is no such thing as safe ice. With fluctuating weather ice integrity can be different from day to day. Each lake and each area of it has different components that affect its freezing. The DNR does not monitor local ice conditions, but local bait shops and fishing clubs do sometimes have day-to-day updates from fishermen who venture out onto the lakes. There are some safety precautions you can take before heading out onto the ice. Do not head out alone, always go with someone and let others know where you are going.
Do not travel in areas you are not familiar with. Avoid inlets or outlets that have currents that may reduce the thickness of the ice. Clear ice is generally stronger than ice with bubbles in it or snow on it. Be prepared with safety tools like ice claws and picks, a life jacket, and rope, and don’t forget your phone. Always dress warm and in layers and prioritize safety. If the worst-case scenario should happen and you fall through the ice stay calm and act quickly. Leave your layers and heavy clothes on as they trap air and create floatation, go towards the area you came from, place your hands and arms on solid ice, and use your ice picks to pull yourself up onto the ice, kick your feet and dig your picks in to work yourself out of the water, do not try to stand up lay flat on the ice and roll away from the broken ice, get to a warm place and get help. Better still, don’t go out there at all.
