Chad Chaisson holds a 19-inch rainbow trout Friday morning for his friend, Chris, to photograph the beauty he pulled from Middle Range Pond in Poland. The two friends had already pulled out several large rainbow and brook trout, catching and releasing them to give other anglers a chance to catch them. “Most people use live bait, but we’ve been having good luck using worms. We even pulled one up with this hanging from his mouth,” Chaisson said, pointing to a bright yellow rubber worm on the sled they brought to carry gear.” Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
Many bodies of water are still not frozen over or are unsafe to cross, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife is reminding people looking for outdoor recreation.
“We are very consistent in our messaging to all outdoor users during the winter months in terms of ice safety. The message is simple: always assume the ice could be unsafe and check the conditions for yourself every single time you plan to go out, according to Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife outreach and education team leader Emily MacCabe.
Chad Chaisson readies his ice fishing trap Friday morning on Middle Range Pond in Poland while fishing with a friend on a day off from work. “It’s going to be too cold and windy tomorrow,” he said. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
“There are many factors to consider when determining whether the ice conditions are safe, and they can vary from day-to-day and from one water body to the next,” the department says on its website, www.maine.gov/ifw.
The department recommends checking the color and thickness of the ice first, using an auger, chisel or axe to determine that it is at least 4-6 inches thick.
More information on how to properly check ice conditions can be found on the IF&W website under Winter Ice Safety Tips.
“We don’t recommend anyone trust word-of-mouth or make any assumptions about ice conditions regardless of whether or not weather conditions have been favorable,” MacCabe said. “There are many factors to consider and conditions can vary from one waterbody to another, and even from one area of the waterbody to another. Everyone should check the ice every single time and use caution under any circumstances.”
Chad Chaisson sets his trap Friday morning on Middle Range Pond in Poland while ice fishing with a friend on a day off from work. “It’s going to be too cold and windy tomorrow,” he said. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
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