Deputies urge caution on ice after warm spell
ESCANABA — The second half of February has already brought some unseasonably warm weather to the Upper Peninsula. Delta County Sheriff’s Department officials said local ice anglers should be able to stay safe on the ice if they take some simple precautions. Using caution and always being aware of ice conditions is key, they said.
Deputy Jon Creten said that despite the high temperatures seen in Delta County last weekend and early this week, ice conditions have been close to normal for February so far.
“The ice is holding up very well,” he said.
Deputy Mike Groleau said the current warm spell has still had some effects on ice conditions in the area — particularly pronounced in areas south of Escanaba, which have become less accessible for ice fishing.
“As soon as the weather warms up, we’re going to end up with a lot of pressure cracks and a lot of ice shoves,” he said.
In the hopes of helping anglers stay safe, Groleau and Creten offer some ice fishing safety tips. Creten said that, for the most part, the ice near the Kipling Boat Access Site should still be okay for fishing.
“Right now, we’ve got pretty good ice off of Kipling,” he said.
The same is not true for ice elsewhere in the area.
“There are some dangerous points to stay away from,” Creten said. Specifically, he advised anglers to avoid Butlers Island, the mouth of the Days River, and Saunders Point.
Groleau said poor ice conditions in these places may have been exacerbated by the warmer weather seen recently.
“Places like that are going to be a … larger area where the ice is bad,” he said.
Creten encouraged ice anglers to regularly check ice conditions, as these can change rapidly during periods of warm weather.
“Watch the ice on a day-to-day basis,” he said.
Groleau said, as always, ice anglers should take ice picks with them when they go fishing.
“Bring ice picks with you — wear them around your neck, in case you do fall through the ice,” he said.
According to Creten, anglers planning to ride vehicles on the ice should use off-road vehicles instead of trucks if possible.
“The trucks really tear up the launches,” he said.
However, Creten said that not using vehicles at all would be even better for ice in the area.
“On foot is always the best bet, though,” he said.