ROUND LAKE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Local fire departments and emergency services responded to a call after 8 a.m. Friday morning to rescue a man who’d broken through the ice while fishing. The Round Lake Fire Captain said this is a winter-time first for him with 28 years in his field.
“We have far more water rescues on Round Lake. In the summertime, people are out there on their kayaks or whatever watercraft. We get a nice westerly wind and they get blown across the lake,” said Joe Plewinski.
Captain Plewinski explained the lake is spring-fed from underneath. Likely the reason for the thin ice.
“So that water could be at 50 degrees and it’s encountering ice and it’ll melt it and cause some ice spots. I think that’s what happened today.”
Wiggly Worm Bait Supply promotes safety by listing average ice depth on area lakes for fishing. Manager, Kevin Charbonneau, said he left Round Lake off their latest report because the risk of falling in was too high.
“You want to have a one-week period of single-digit weather. That will build a two inch layer, if not a little bit more. Anywhere north of Lake Luzerne or at elevation is going to have four to five inches clear of ice,” described Charbonneau.
Along with hundreds of pounds of live bait, Wiggly Worm sells gear to check how thick the ice is and to rescue yourself if you find yourself in a dangerous situation with the ice breaking.
Flotation jackets and ice picks are critical parts of your gear. “If you’re walking along and you fall in, you’re body will come instantly back up to the top of the water. Your hits are up here and you claw your way out of the ice. These are lifesavers,” explained Charbonneau.
One man on his way to ice fish on Sacandaga Lake says the hobby is dangerous but only when nature is not respected.
“It doesn’t make me nervous. Number one, I usually go to the lakes that I know. I know where the hazard areas are and I don’t take any unnecessary risks,” said Ron Wojtowecz from Rock City Falls.
The February 1 Wiggly Worm Bait Supply Ice Report included some of the following ice conditions. They add there is no 100% safe ice:
- Lake Colby 9-10″
- Minerva Lake 5-7″
- Lake Luzerne 4-6″
- Putnam Pond 8-10″
- Great Sacandaga Lake 3-4″ (Dangerous in some spots)
Anyone looking to sign up for the ice report can share their email address with Wiggly Worm Bait Supply. Their phone number is (518) 399-4524.
Anthony Krolikowski
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