(file photo)
Ice fishing is a big part of the winter here in Saskatchewan for many people, but with the weather we've had this month, it can still be pretty dangerous heading out on the ice.
Just this weekend, a man fell through the ice on Last Mountain Lake while riding an ATV. The man still hasn't been found. The RCMP Dive Team is on site continuing their search, which was called off over the weekend because the area was too dangerous.
Adam Matichuk with the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation says knowing the water body before you head out is key, "Get a good a sense of what happens on that lake, where ice might form, where there could be springs or other dangerous areas."
Matichuk, who is the Fisheries Project Coordinator, says Buffalo Pound has a few spots that can be troublesome, "They move so much water through that system and where the water gets constricted, like under the Causeway, there's still open water and there may be open water all winter.
"Clear ice is much stronger then cloudy ice," adds Matichuk. "Cloudy ice usually means that there was air bubbles or something that formed in the ice, making it weak."
Four inches of ice is the recommended thickness for walking on ice, eight inches for ATV's and snowmobiles and at least a foot is recommended for vehicles.
Sat, May 18, 2:30 PM
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