SOUTH HERO, Vt. (WCAX) - Typical ice fishing season has already begun, but Mother Nature hasn’t been too fair to those wanting to get out on the ice.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife say they aren’t replacing the warden program that people have known about for years, but their new education patrol program is rather a chance for them to continue educating, while also staying COVID safe.
Although they are still waiting for better ice conditions in places like South Hero and statewide, they say the program is ready.
“Well for good ice fishing, you gotta have good ice,” said Senior State Game Warden Robert Currier with Vermont Fish & Wildlife. “Instead of only being out there to check for compliance with laws and regulations, they are going to provide education on how to icefish.”
It’s their new Education Patrol Program.
On set days, game wardens as well as outreach members will pick a lake, invite people to set up, and offer guidance on everything from laws and regulations to reeling in the big one while staying distant.
But it also breaks the ice on new relationships.
“These programs allow us to come in, in a very non-formal way and appear as just a person,” said Currier.
“We could have completely canned it, but we wanted to be able to continue to offer something throughout the winter,” said Corey Hart, an education specialist for the department.
The schedule, though, is on thin ice.
The first date set for January 2nd, but it was canceled due to poor ice conditions.
Hart says as the season begins, safety is top priority.
“If it goes through, typically, that means go back, not enough ice,” said Hart. “The biggest thing is we want everyone to be safe. When it comes to ice fishing, we want everyone to come home at the end of the day, no fish is worth it.”
When you step out, officials want you to remember no ice is safe ice.
“So lets say I’ve got three inches of good ice, so if I’ve got three inches here, that doesn’t mean I have three inches across,” said Hart.
Once you’re in your spot, preparedness is also best, keeping ice picks on you as well as a rope and even a floatation device just in case.
Hart says the look of different types of ice can also give you a good idea of what you are walking on.
“It’s typically 3-4 inches for one person walking. And when I say that, that is good clear black ice, so black ice is fresh ice. To mean that it is first of the year ice. Snow ice or white ice is ice after it just snowed or thawed and then it froze back up again. That ice is not strong at all, where as black ice is nice and strong,” said Hart.
Everyone over the age of 15 is required to have a fishing license.
Experts recommend once conditions are better to pack ice picks, rope, and maybe even a life vest or flotation device just in case.
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January 04, 2021 at 08:47PM
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Vt. Fish & Wildlife offer new ice fishing education program - WCAX
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