Fluctuating temperatures have made for a rocky start to the ice fishing season, but the Ontario Conservation Officers Association (OCOA) knows its just a matter of time before anglers are back on Canada's slippery shorelines.
In anticipation of this, the non-profit group comprised of active and retired natural resource law enforcement officers have offered the following safety tips:
- Check ice thickness and conditions frequently
- Don't fish alone
- Be prepared for an emergency - wear ice picks or a floater/ survival suit, and have a whistle or cell phone on-hand
- Let someone know where you will be and when you plan to return - including where your vehicle will be parked and the route you plan to take
- Stay off rivers and away from locks, where ice can be less stable
Clear ice should be a minimum of 10 cm for walking and ice fishing, 12 cm for one snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle, 20-30 cm for a car or small pickup truck and lastly, 30-38 cm for a medium truck, according to the release.
“Ice conditions vary greatly from one end of the province to the other,” said Sean Cronsberry, president of OCOA. "While some areas in northern Ontario have had safe ice since early December, other areas in southern Ontario are still ice-free."
"I strongly encourage anglers who are planning a fishing excursion to check the ice conditions often, plan ahead and be prepared. By following some simple safety measures, it could save your life or the life of someone else.”
More information on natural resource regulation and enforcement can be found here, or the Ministry of Natural Resources' 2020 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary.
Anyone with information about a natural resource or public safety-related offence is encouraged to contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry violation reporting line at 1-877-847-7667 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
