Drowning at Travers Reservior

[chucklesthe3rd]

I was at the Travers Reservoir whitefish gong show yesterday. The ice was only around three inches of ice 1 inch of cloudy and 2 of clear. Many people stayed close to shore due to this but some decided to venture out farther. Unfortunately one of those people fell through the ice into the water. Two other men and I rushed to help the man but also fell through the ice. Myself and the two men were rescued but it was too late for the man who had initially fallen through. Prayers go out to the man's family.

[Battery]

Just read on the news. Sad to hear. We were at another lake down that way on Saturday and had close to 6 inches of ice where we were.

[35 whelen]

Second one in 2 days condolences to the family but what's the point wait for a month it's not that important to catch a few fish.

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[AndrewM]

Originally Posted by chucklesthe3rd

I was at the Travers Reservoir whitefish gong show yesterday. The ice was only around three inches of ice 1 inch of cloudy and 2 of clear. Many people stayed close to shore due to this but some decided to venture out farther. Unfortunately one of those people fell through the ice into the water. Two other men and I rushed to help the man but also fell through the ice. Myself and the two men were rescued but it was too late for the man who had initially fallen through. Prayers go out to the man's family.

Can't imagine how this would affect one mentally. Stay strong.

[sanjuanworm]

Originally Posted by 35 whelen

Second one in 2 days condolences to the family but what's the point wait for a month it's not that important to catch a few fish.

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Wait so there were 2 incidents at Travers in 2 days?

[35 whelen]

It sounded like a different story Maybe I'm Wrong don't know that area at all

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[Sooner]

Sad for sure to have a death so early in the season. I tip my hat to you for trying to help at your own risk. I pulled my then GF, now wife, out of a spring she fell through on a snowmobile while on Lac Nanonne 30 yrs ago, I did it with a big long stick i retrieved from an Island. You don't think, you act.

Try not to let the decision of one man take you down as well. You did what you could. Take care.

[Brandonkop]

I thought this was a second guy, but this is the same one as the other guy posted. Google only has one ice fishing deathe this year, 59 yo male. People need not go out on thin ice if they aren't able to self extricate. Many go out with little ability to even swim let alone have any safety equipment. No fish is worth a life. Stay safe.

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[PlayDoh]

Omg. I hope your ok Chuck. I can’t believe people risk everything for a ‘maybe’ better fishing spot. I feel like an adrenaline junkie walking on 4”, and yet some people will drive on that.
Please people, stay on the safe side (topside) this and every winter. Heck, all year. Fishing is the most dangerous sport for a reason.
If you feel the desire to go out on questionable ice, buck up and get a floatsuit and don’t go alone.
Think of this guys loved ones and how devastating this must be. All for a few hours fishing.
Ask yourself if you would let your kids do what your about to do. If the answer is no, then do them a favor and stay alive. Dying sucks I’m sure, along with the pain and terror involved in accidents. Yet that’s over in minutes, but losing a loved one hurts for years and years.
Your own actions can not only cause your loved ones pain and emense grief for years, but could also wrap other people’s lives up.

If you love fishing as much as I do, you know respecting the water is a must. And it’s more ‘hardcore’ to stay safe and ensure you can fish many more times than risk death for one chance at fishing.
It’s easy to get complacent and ignore the risks. occasionally we get smacked in the face with reality, and we become aware of just how stupid we’ve been. Along with paying a serious price. That price can be your life, others lives and the emotional state of our loved one for a long, long time.
Risk vs Reward, always do the math and really understand what’s at stake.

[-JR-]

The Alberta Government needs to close the fishing season Nov 1 till Jan 1

I have said it once and will say it again !
You can be walking out on 4 inches then have an area 1 inch thick


If it saves one life . It will be worth it !

If you do not agree . Go tell the widow your reason

[Bigwoodsman]

Originally Posted by -JR-

The Alberta Government needs to close the fishing season Nov 1 till Jan 1

I have said it once and will say it again !
You can be walking out on 4 inches then have an area 1 inch thick


If it saves one life . It will be worth it !

If you do not agree . Go tell the widow your reason

This is EXACTLY what DON’T NEED!!
There is already enough meddling in our lives by big brother!

Cull the ones who aren’t smart enough to take care of themselves by checking the ice. I went out yesterday for the first time. There was at least a 1/2 dozen other groups on the ice. I parked grabbed my auger and axe walked out 10 paces chopped the ice. Got five inches without breaking through another 10 paces 5 inches. Another 10 paces drilled a hole 8 plus inches of black ice.

People need to use there friggin heads. That’s all that’s needed.

BW

[Brandonkop]

Originally Posted by -JR-

The Alberta Government needs to close the fishing season Nov 1 till Jan 1



I have said it once and will say it again !

You can be walking out on 4 inches then have an area 1 inch thick





If it saves one life . It will be worth it !



If you do not agree . Go tell the widow your reason

I, 100% fully, whole heartedly absolutely disagree with you. Couldn't disagree more. Couldn't think of a worse suggestion. Should we ban driving because people die in car accidents? Ban air travel to prevent crashes like just happened out east where a whole family died, ban snow skiing, snowmobiling, atvs because someone dies every year on these, ban playgrounds because kids die on them..... you get the gist. Accidents happen. It is not the governments mandate to mitigate 100% of risk. People were fishing safely since October on ice this year in Alberta. So including the spring closures you want there to be another 2+ months that people cant fish??? Thats 1/3rd of the year gone to NO FISHING. You must not be much of an ice fisherman to suggest that. Plus just cause you fall through the ice is not an automatic death. Watch Uncut angling, he falls through every year on purpose for education of the public and still alive.

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[Sundancefisher]

I would never go on ice until 6 inch thick. Reason is ice thickness variability. There could be 2 inches in places.

Also people don’t think. While 2 inches clear ice can support a person walking. Staying in one place and having other people around will weaken the ice.

Make a personal choice to not die fishing and stay off the thin ice.

Stay safe and make wise choices.

[DOGFISH]

I agree with Brandon, we need to take power into our own hands and stop useless legislation from happening . I for one have had enough of this nonsense. With that said anyone going out just be prepared and cautious. Dogfish

[Fishtracker]

Originally Posted by -JR-

The Alberta Government needs to close the fishing season Nov 1 till Jan 1

I have said it once and will say it again !
You can be walking out on 4 inches then have an area 1 inch thick


If it saves one life . It will be worth it !

If you do not agree . Go tell the widow your reason

Are you for real?? Should we just CLOSE LIVING until further notice?? Is there not risk in almost everything we do??

[Drewski Canuck]

"Two other men and I rushed to help the man but also fell through the ice. Myself and the two men were rescued but it was too late for the man who had initially fallen through."

I had to do instruction for Scouts at the Sylvan Lake camp for ice safety and rescue.

There is a series of EXCELLENT YouTube videos done by a University Prof about Ice recue. Everyone should watch them.

All ice fishing is risk.

Where was the rescue gear? Where was the rope? Did the rescuers LAY FLAT ON THE ICE and slowly work their way towards the opening?

If you wore a floater suit early season, or even an inflatable life jacket for that matter, it would take about 2 hours to succumb to hypothermia, and even then you could be saved. Plenty of time for a rescue.

Trouble is, once your limbs go numb, you cannot keep afloat and sink. There are cases of guys beards freezing into the ice, keeping their head above water, and still being saved.

If the rescuers had a rope to throw the guy who broke through, they would not have to get near the hole, and risk breaking in themselves. If everyone had ice picks, they could have gotten a grip on the ice to pull themselves out.

I do not know what equipment that the chucklesthe3rd had, but the biggest problem for getting back on the ice from in the water is getting a grip to pull yourselves forward.

I carry the ice picks which float, and keep some rope in the sled for this reason.

Simple early season and late season precautions MAY have made a difference here.

Outlawing early season fishing is pointless as the risk exists all winter long.

Drewski

[Isopod]

Originally Posted by -JR-

The Alberta Government needs to close the fishing season Nov 1 till Jan 1

Crap, that means I'll be forced to go ice-fishing in late-October to get in some early season fishing...

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by -JR-

The Alberta Government needs to close the fishing season Nov 1 till Jan 1

I have said it once and will say it again !
You can be walking out on 4 inches then have an area 1 inch thick


If it saves one life . It will be worth it !

If you do not agree . Go tell the widow your reason

I have to say I am stunned to see you post something like this. You are usually a voice a reason and balance. This is none of that. This falls into the shrill, "Think of the Children" bailiwick of sounds good but has no real basis in reality. It is also totally typical of the, "if it saves just one life isn't banning, all alcohol, all guns, all knives, all rental vans, helicopter skiing, mountain climbing and on endlessly, line of crap we see trotted out on social media and CBC hourly.

Please retract your comments and don't be one of those people.

[calgarygringo]

Bubble wrap society now a days.
How did I ever survive 60 plus years.

[keeks]

Originally Posted by -JR-

The Alberta Government needs to close the fishing season Nov 1 till Jan 1

I have said it once and will say it again !
You can be walking out on 4 inches then have an area 1 inch thick


If it saves one life . It will be worth it !

If you do not agree . Go tell the widow your reason

Although the thought of saving a life is your key point, I don't think any of us wants more government in our lives.