I think ice fishermen are funny. The first time I heard about the sport, I thought the person telling the story was pulling my leg. "They do whaat?" I laughed. "Drill holes in ice, then sit there on overturned buckets waiting for fish to pass through miles of water to get directly under their hole so they can catch them?" I thought I was pretty clever to catch him in his tall tale. He looked at me, deadpan, and said, "Exactly."
I know ice-obsessed people do crazy, dangerous things on ice, but this was news to me. I live in Washington State, where people have to be rescued from Mt. Rainier every year. BTW, don't climb Mt. Rainier if you're strapped for cash. If you get stranded, you'll have to pay Washington State for your rescue. A few years ago, Washingtonians stopped being good sports about paying for other people's mistakes.
Ohioans must love their ice fishermen a lot more than Washingtonians love mountaineers. They seem to have no qualms about giving them a free ride. If you and your ice fishing buddies get stranded on an ice floe because you chose to ignore clues that would have alerted a kindergartner of impending ice separation, your rescue will be free. Even if it involves the Coast Guards of two countries and emergency personnel from several states. Think of it: drama! excitement! and a ride in a cool government vehicle--all free!
At least, that's the way it was for 134 ice-fishing-obsessed guys who had to be plucked from an ice floe o
n Lake Erie last week. They ignored a rapid rise in temperature, rising winds, and a big crack in the ice. They wound up being stuck on an ice floe separated from stable ice by 100 yards of water. Did it scare them? Were they chastened by their enormous screw-up? Nope. Their only lament was that the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards wouldn't let them bring back their fishing gear. Two of the fishermen wanted to head to the local Cabela's after their rescue to buy more gear and get back to ice fishing. The only clear heads in their households—their wives—vetoed that (probably not quietly).
The Morning Journal of Northern Ohio reports: "The rescue operation cost thousands of dollars and none of the fishermen will likely be forced to cover the cost…"
"To the best of my knowledge, they didn't break any laws," [Coast Guard spokesperson] Lanier said. "Ice fishing is a culture here on the Great Lakes."
Well, then. There you have it. If you are drawn to ice sports but don't have thousands of extra dollars to be picked up by rescue crews, try ice fishing in Ohio. The ride home is free!
I know ice-obsessed people do crazy, dangerous things on ice, but this was news to me. I live in Washington State, where people have to be rescued from Mt. Rainier every year. BTW, don't climb Mt. Rainier if you're strapped for cash. If you get stranded, you'll have to pay Washington State for your rescue. A few years ago, Washingtonians stopped being good sports about paying for other people's mistakes.
Ohioans must love their ice fishermen a lot more than Washingtonians love mountaineers. They seem to have no qualms about giving them a free ride. If you and your ice fishing buddies get stranded on an ice floe because you chose to ignore clues that would have alerted a kindergartner of impending ice separation, your rescue will be free. Even if it involves the Coast Guards of two countries and emergency personnel from several states. Think of it: drama! excitement! and a ride in a cool government vehicle--all free!
At least, that's the way it was for 134 ice-fishing-obsessed guys who had to be plucked from an ice floe o
n Lake Erie last week. They ignored a rapid rise in temperature, rising winds, and a big crack in the ice. They wound up being stuck on an ice floe separated from stable ice by 100 yards of water. Did it scare them? Were they chastened by their enormous screw-up? Nope. Their only lament was that the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards wouldn't let them bring back their fishing gear. Two of the fishermen wanted to head to the local Cabela's after their rescue to buy more gear and get back to ice fishing. The only clear heads in their households—their wives—vetoed that (probably not quietly).The Morning Journal of Northern Ohio reports: "The rescue operation cost thousands of dollars and none of the fishermen will likely be forced to cover the cost…"
"To the best of my knowledge, they didn't break any laws," [Coast Guard spokesperson] Lanier said. "Ice fishing is a culture here on the Great Lakes."
Well, then. There you have it. If you are drawn to ice sports but don't have thousands of extra dollars to be picked up by rescue crews, try ice fishing in Ohio. The ride home is free!
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