March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Be alert to ice conditions as ice fishing season opens

Make no mistake about it, the recent spell of rain, fog, and drizzle have made ice conditions hereabouts treacherous, to say the least. Granted, in the northern tier of the state, Ol’ Man Winter sealed lakes and ponds with enough frozen water to make ice fishing reasonably safe. Still, larger bodies of water have been kept open by wind and wave action – Moosehead Lake, for example.

From central Maine to the southern tip of the state, however, anyone with an urge to swim a bait beneath ice is advised to exercise extreme caution and good judgment. No question, a few inches of clear, hard ice is incredibly strong. In fact, old-time woodsmen claimed that two inches of clear, blue ice were enough to hold a team of horses. That may be true, but I wouldn’t want to be driving the team.

Soft weather, however, does to ice what Delilah did to Samson when she sheared his locks. A lake or pond’s solder-like seal quickly corrodes when layered with water or slush; fog, of course, chews into ice like rock salt. Therefore, ice that was as hard as pavement a few days ago now could be porous and spongy. It happens that quick.

There haven’t been any reports yet of ice caving in to the weight of cars or trucks, but not surprisingly, a few ATV owners have discovered their vehicles are not amphibious. Tomorrow is opening day of ice fishing for salmon and trout species. Again, be extra careful when venturing onto the ice, especially in this neck of the woods. Check the ice periodically with a chisel and be wary of inlets, outlets, spring holes, thoroughfares, pressure ridges – and don’t even think about driving a vehicle onto the ice. There isn’t a salmon or a trout in this state that’s worth the loss of a vehicle or, worse yet, a life. Also, keep in mind you’re responsible for removal of the vehicle.

A reminder regarding ice-fishing shacks: make sure the lake or pond where the shack is situated is open to ice fishing. Opening dates vary; also, check regulations in regard to limits and number of traps allowed.

The law also requires shack owners to paint their names and addresses on the outside of the structures in 2-inch high letters. Shacks may not be placed on the ice of any inland waters more than three days before the opening of the fishing season. At the close of the season, the shack must be removed within three days.

Word is that a few coastal municipalities have adopted their own ordinances concerning ice-fishing shacks, therefore it’s best to check with the town office before towing a shack onto the ice. Last but not least, pick up your litter. You lugged it out, you can lug it back just as easily. Keep in mind a warden can write you up for littering as well as for fishing violations.

You may have heard that on Jan. 4 the carcass of the horse found shot to death in a St. Albans pasture will be exhumed for further examination. According to Fisheries and Wildlife Warden John Whalen, who investigated the shooting, Larry Lary of St. Albans recently admitted to shooting the horse with a Ruger bolt-action .25-06 rifle. Because of a dispute existing between Heidi Schreiver, owner of the horse, and Lary, he was charged with aggravated criminal mischief and summoned to appear in Skowhegan District Court on Feb. 10. The horse was valued at more than $1,000.

The carcass will be taken to a yet undetermined area where an attempt will be made to locate and retrieve the bullet for the purpose of matching it to Lary’s rifle. Since the end of the hunting season, further investigation into several shooting incidents involving domestic animals has shown that the incidents were not “hunter related,” as alleged.

Another example is the shooting of 14 domestic ducks and three geese on the Allan Arbo property in Dixmont. Further investigation by game wardens Pat Devlin and Doug Tibbetts resulted in two teenage boys being charged with shooting domestic animals. The ducks and geese, which were contained in a fenced farm pond, were shot with a .22 cal. rifle and a shotgun. Arbo is requesting financial restitution for the loss of the fowl.

Sad it is to see youngsters who are allowed the unsupervised use of firearms displaying such irresponsibility and disregard for the property of others. Aside from outright cruelty to animals – the ducks and geese were left lying on the pond – that was blatant maliciousness. The subjects certainly can’t be considered hunters.

You know winter has arrived when the Eddington Salmon Club announces the dates for its fly tying classes. If you’ve become afflicted with the virus identified as salmo salar and would like to learn the art of fashioning hairwing Atlantic salmon flies, look no further than the Eddington Club located at the intersections of Routes 9 and 178.

Starting Jan. 6 and continuing into March, “beginners only” classes will be conducted Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. Expert instruction from some of the area’s foremost tiers guarantees you’ll have a boxful of tried-and-true “fish taker” patterns come opening day. For further information contact Don Decker at 989-4545.

From one outdoors addict to another, here’s wishing you the best of health, happiness, and hunting and fishing in 1993.


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