Being Safe on the Ice | Video

Chris Williams | 2/8/2013

Plenty of North Dakotans love to go ice fishing. However, in their excitement, they might ignore the most important safety rules. By this time of the year, the ice is generally thick enough to drive on, but there can still be some dangerous spots.

Three people found one of those unsafe spots yesterday near Lunds Landing on Lake Sakakawea. Their truck was partially submerged, but there were no major injuries. For the most part, the ice on the lake is deep enough, but currents running under the ice created an unsafe spot about one mile from shore.

"We saw a vehicle go over the pressure ridge out there. We heard some yelling and screaming, we knew there was an issue out there," said one rescuer.

The rescuers want to remain anonymous, but they were able to save the three people inside the truck.

"We took some planks out of the back of our pickup out it across the ice, threw tow straps to them, and just pulled them off one by one threw everything out of the back of the pickup and brought them back to the shore," the rescuer said.

Game and Fish biologist Todd Buckley says if you are heading out onto the ice make sure someone you`re with knows what they`re looking for.

"A lot of times if it is a true pressure ridge, you`ll see standing water or slush out on the ice, or on the top of the ice. Along this kind of a crack."

However that can be covered up by blowing snow and you could still end up in the water. Bringing a winter survival kit is good, but there`s also something else.

"Just a simple pair of screwdrivers with a string attached around your neck because if you do fall through you can pick your way out."

Another mistake Buckley sees is people driving close to the shore. "Driving next to shore might seem like the best option to do, but typically that`s your weakest ice is right next to shore."

If you`re heading out onto the ice for the first time, it`s important to know how deep the ice is. Buckley says the best way to do that is to start drilling.

If lakes do have river water running into them, Buckley says you might have 20 inches of ice in one spot, and only four inches 100 yards away.

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