[Guest]

Just got done reading hatchmasters post about williams fork...When does ice usually start to rot and what are the signs to look for unsafe rotting soft ice? Already been thru once this year although it wasn't that bad I'm trying to avoid doing it again.

 

[jigsallot]

F/G- start augering the ice. if it comes up in chunks and not flakes, turn around and get back on shore. Jigs

 

[pikester]

Ice can still be fairly thick, like 6-8," but if it is rotten you are really puting yourself at risk. The auger trick mentioned is a good one. Rotton ice tends to fall apart in shards that slip against each other.

 

[tubby]

if it looks kinda "honeycombed" may not be a good sign either.
Of course if you can see the ice as far as no snow and a big bubble is follwing you around uhhhhh tell it bye-bye and get off the ice

 

[born2fsh1]

If the ice does not hold you, it's no good. ;D

 

[jaquomo]

If it starts to sag while you're fishing, like a trampoline, probably going fast. A bunch of us got caught on 11 mile a few years ago on the day the ice went. Fishing was hot so we all stayed out there (like, 20 people), even though the ice was sagging and we had to keep moving. When we went to leave, it had melted back so far that our plank bridge was floating. We all went into chest-deep water, dragging our stuff and holding augers over our heads, to get to shore. Nice!