Caution on ice, I lost a friend

Champlain Islander · 03-15-2006, 07:40 AM

Just a word of warning to those who are still able to fish hard water. On Monday a bunch of us were fishing in a sheltered bay in 5' of water for bluegills and crappie. There was thick fog and we walked along the shore to a landmark to get to the holes. At 9:00 am we could hear a wheeler coming from a local access spot and then heard the sound start to go west of us towards deeper water with poor ice. We yelled warnings but he couldn't hear us over the sound of his machine. He was obviously lost in the fog and strayed away from shore where he could see trees as a landmark. We heard the ATV break through and we started to yell. We didn't get a response so we called 911 and started out with ropes to try and find the person. After 5 minutes of running through the fog we finally got a answer back and the guy said he was in the water. We heard him one other time and when we got to the site he was gone. The ice was only about 1/2" thick and we couldn't approach more than 30 yards from the hole due to less ice there. Within 10 minutes the vol fire dept was on the scene with ice rescue gear and an ambulance waiting on the shore. They were all in the water and retreved the body within 20 minutes but couldn't bring him back. He was in 12' of water and was a real experianced fisherman who was out there every day. I will miss him greatly and hope everyone out there usescaution on the ice.

Guss · 03-15-2006, 08:16 AM

That is so sad to here, you guys must have felt so helpless looking in that fog, I have been there and it is not fun (snow not fog).

Well at least he gave it his all, fishing everyday, thats living.

Chuck7 · 03-15-2006, 11:21 AM

WOW ..I really feel for you and his family.That is terrible. Thanks for the warning.
Chuck7

The Rev · 03-15-2006, 04:52 PM

Sorry to hear that.. I will certainly keep you and his family in my prayers.

bhensley · 03-15-2006, 10:40 PM

Sorry to hear about your friend. His friends and family will be in our prayers. Thanks for the warning.

live2hunt009 · 03-16-2006, 04:01 PM

Sorry to hear about your friend that a horrible loss. I will keep you in my prayers.

m.t.hands · 03-17-2006, 12:27 AM

man i hate to hear that CI, you can never be too careful, i have heard people running on the lake in boats that i know if i can't see they cant either

, its just not worth it, take care man, prayers for you and the other families involved

Phil from Maine · 03-18-2006, 10:16 AM

I'm very sorry to here about your friend CI and wish it did not happen. It is so sad to have this stuff happen. To you, his friends, and most of all his
family our prayers are out to you folks. I have not been around this but had a friend go to his armpits when a hole had opened up and was coverd with snow. We were glad to have been there to get him out. In a earlier post " amount of ice" I tried to suggest that the ice is bad here. Now our smaller lakes are" ice free " and we are finding that hard to believe it has been a strange year for us. But, still people are driving right by open
water in pick-up trucks. A no brainer but some it does not seem to bother!
I hope that no more will have to suffer from a loss like your friends and his
family did.

Champlain Islander · 03-18-2006, 04:14 PM

Thanks to all you kind people with your encouragement and prayers. The funeral was today and now he rests in peace.

deer-hunter18 · 03-29-2006, 11:38 AM

Oh my god CI, i am very sorry to hear about this. Even the most experieced people can get lost in the fog! At least you guys tried your hardest to get to him. Again sorry to hear about your friend.