|
|
Posts: 7049
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | With fall slowly turning into winter, the weather is only getting more and more extreme, and to a degree somewhat dangerous. What precautions do you take to deal with these conditions? | |
| | |
Posts: 56
| Everything has a back up. Imagine if you have no one other than yourself to rely on and plan for the worse. Late water fishing on isolated water is not for the novice. Fishing without a partner is only for fools or experts. Remember, an expert is only better than a novice as long as nothing goes wrong to affect the outcome.
Steve | |
| | |
Posts: 880
Location: New Berlin,Wisconsin,53151 | Slamr,
I make sure that the boat is not cluttered and put more things in the storage compartments. In summer you can have stuff all over the place, but you don't need to trip over anything when the weather gets nasty. It's the only time that I wear a jacket, I keep the throw handy and have the bait retriever in the boat. I tend to move alittle slower and don't take chances, it's not worth it. When out alone I'll tell more people where I'm going and what time I'll be back. The only time I've gone into the water is ice fishing and the water is #*^@ cold. Go slow, don't take as many chances, and you'll live to fish another day.
Netman | |
| | |
Posts: 32889
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Water in the 50 degree range and below kills in minutes. Wear your survival suit or at least a vest at ALL times, the vest alone can give you an extra few minutes by insulating the body core some. If you are alone, carry a tote in your rig with a blanket, extra warm clothes, etc. If you do not have an easy way to get back in your boat (a ladder or step system installed), you should NOT be out there alone at all. If you do go in, use the cavitation plate on the motor as a step to get back into your boat, and get wrapped up in the blanket before you try to motor in. If it's below freezing or close and you are wet, you have minutes, and only a few, before hypothermia effects your ability to move, reason, etc. I've seen anglers in the early stages of hypothermic shock, and once you get there if you are alone, you are a statistic. | |
| | |
Posts: 341
| Here's my check list:
Extra clothes.
Kitty liter or sand for icy launch.
Vest.
Hot Coffee.
Blanket.
No clutter.
Shovel.
| |
| | |
Posts: 4266
| I'm backed up for the house as well as the car. Besides a shovel and cat litter, perpare to be stuck for hours.
In the car, blankets, boots, clothes, LOTS OF HAND AND BODY WARMERS!!!! And I mean a lot, not just 10. If you're stranded in a storm it will be hours before you are found or taken care of. Huddle everyone in a mass of blankets and open up about 5 body warmers for each person. One for your neck, one in each hand pocket, and one for each pant leg or foot. Not the little hand warmers, the body warmers that are 3x5. Flashlights and exta batteries. The small Mag-Lights act like a lantern when you take the top all of the way off, and put small kids at ease. Bottled water is something that you can take along on every trip.
At home I bought a Mr Heater "Buddy Heater" that is designed to burn inside. Battery operated lanterns and candles.
So many times people wind up without power when ice storms hit. No power= no heat. The buddy heater hooks up to a propane cylinder and will heat my entire house to about 60 degrees when it's in the teens outside (tried it out last year). I have a 30 and an 80 pound cylinder in the garage. Having a gas stove helps too. Fire up the oven and leave the door open. Partition off one room if you want.
If it's a long time........shut off your water supply after filling jugs. I can't tell you how many times we had to thaw frozen pipes and services back when I was working. Fill jugs, and then shut off the main valve and drain the lines. It could save you thousands if your power is out for a few days.
Have a good battery operated radio or TV.
I love when the newscasters on TV tell you where the power is out. Who the hell do they think is watching?
Beav | |
| |
|
Harsh Winter Conditions - Safety Tips?