Quinte Fishing

Hello everyone,,i'm trying to explain to my 17 year old son how dangerous quinte can be.. Im looking for any stories about ice conditions falling through etc. He's young and invincible and can't figure why I won't go out until better freeze up. I've grown up fishing quinte and do respect it like im assuming most guys on the site does. Any stories / info is appreciated. Thanks for any replies..

jkd24,

Your son is probably like most of us when we were 17. He is insane about fishing and you can't really scare him with his own mortality. I have gone partially through the ice a number of times in my life, mostly at pond edges, creeks, etc. Nothing serious until ten years ago or so when I was anxious to be the first one out to a certain feeder creek that is "money" at first ice. I was roughly 25 yards ahead of my buddy, walking fast, when I noticed the ice didn't feel right. Next thing I knew, I had fallen chest deep and was supported by my auger. I crawled back out once only to break back through (the water was certainly well over my head). I kicked and muscled my way out, soaked almost to the neck line. I had to walk about a 1/4 mile to the truck. I had so many layers on that luckily, I did NOT get that wet, or cold by the time I got to safety, but it was not windy that day. Regardless, I was lucky to be alive. I had several things going against me and several for me. Against: 1) I was in a hurry, 2) I was not measuring the ice after a couple of early holes, 3) I had been there before and was "sure" it was safe, 4) I was NOT wearing a life jacket. For: 1) I had a buddy with me, 2) I had my sled trailing 10 yards behind me (would have provided a way for my buddy to pull me out, had he needed to), 3) I had my auger across my chest and it stopped me from going all the way through, 4) I was in exceptional condition at the time. Lessons learned: 1) wear a life jacket when traveling across the ice, period, 2) go with a buddy, 3) check the ice frequently with a spud bar, or by cutting a hole, 4) pay attention to the ice, especially in areas with snow, current, cracks, new ice, old ice, ... 5) carry your auger across your chest (ice guard on), 6) carry a rope coil for rescue. Some people add making sure you have ice picks and some other useful things like having a spare jumpsuit out on the ice, or a blanket. I try to always carry spare gear at least in the car. I am much more cautious than I used to be. When the ice is thin or starts to go bad, I get off the ice, not matter how good the bite is. Finally, impress upon him that kids do die. By now, he probably knows someone who has been killed in a car accident.