Mike

When it comes to freshwater angling, weeds play an extremely important role in the livelihood of a fish. They provide shelter, oxygen, ambush points and a smorgasbord of baitfish - more than enough reasons to pay special attention to the green stuff when out for the day. Learn the true reasons why weeds are so special, and watch your catch rates grow in leaps and bounds Give Me Shelter Since fish don't have the option of owning an underwater home, making do with structural elements is the next best thing. Be it logs or fallen trees, rock cribs, or bridge pilings, most of these spots are premium real estate for the competitive nature of a fish. One thing that is found in abundance in most lakes, however, is vegetation, and believe me, the majority is teeming with fish. Different species will use weeds for differing reasons when seeking shelter. In the case of the largemouth bass, shallow water lily pads and cabbage beds provide shade and cooler water temperatures. For walleye, a thick weedbed offers a dark environment for their light sensitive eyes. When dealing with panfish, seeking shelter under the greens is a way to stay protected from feeding predators. Although many fish use vegetation as shelter, it usually is only a temporary stay. They may come during certain times of the day to laze about, or it may be used as part of a seasonal movement. Now, if food sources are plentiful, they may linger in the general area all season long, gorging on the free meals at their doorstep. Breathe Easy Vegetation has a unique component in its ability to provide oxygen. Much in the same way humans need it, fish depend on this gift of life to maintain their existence. When figuring out the best weeds to tackle, pay close attention to the color. What you are looking for is the greenest, crispest looking vegetation you can find. The darker in color it is, the more oxygen it will ultimately give off. Searching areas like this is paramount depending on the season at hand. Fall and winter, when many weeds are dying and decaying, will find fish staying close to those still holding on to their life-giving gift. As shallow water weeds die, fish will move outwards, taking up residence on the next sustaining weedbed they stumble across. Make sure you wear polarized glasses in order to spot these prime real estate areas. Although I have discussed the merits of finding green weeds, this pattern hold true only for those plants that are still alive. Dead vegetation also holds fish, and although it is not giving off any oxygen, the shelter and ambush spots it provides overcompensates for that. Slop, which is nothing more than washed up weeds that have been chopped up by an outboard, is a tremendous area to seek out largemouth bass. It may not be green and crisp, but boy does it ever hold fish. So, floating weeds are an excellent choice regardless of color, whereas anchored vegetation (including pad beds) go up in value the greener they get. Waiting in Ambush Fish seem quite lazy at times. Instead of chasing down prey, they lie in wait, ready to pounce on the next edible thing to swim by. If truth were known, conserving energy through an executed attack is not lazy at all (although it may appear so,) but rather a smart and efficient way to eat. One of the most concealed spots in a lake to ambush prey is within the weeds. Predators can easily camouflage themselves amongst the plants, lying still until the perfect opportunity presents itself. And the main reason prey flock to the weeds is for the zooplankton and insects that they provide. (Kind of like leading a lamb to slaughter in my mind!) Largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye and musky are the big four that use the ambush method for corralling food. This is not to say they won't aggressively chase down food (as they will), but ultimately prefer to save energy and play the waiting game. Knowing this information can help an angler improve their odds when working over the weeds. First of all, look for the distinct weed edges. Think of this as a thick wall of vegetation, with open water space out in front. Fish will tuck into this 'wall,' while waiting for fish (or lures) to swim by this unobstructed channel. Another good spot to target would be weed clumps. Again, toss baits right along the edge of the clump to find out what's lurking inside. Pockets or holes inside weedbeds are also optimum choices to target. Think of this as hide and seek. Anywhere you find a spot that can conceal a fish, yet allows it to have a clear view of prey, is a definite area to wet a lure. Mealtime Although oxygen, ambush spots and shelter are extremely important, without the addition of prey, weeds just wouldn't be so favorable. Vegetation attracts a wide range of prey species for fish - frogs, baitfish, and craws - which use weeds both for food and shelter. The better the weed area is, the more chance for prey to be present. This in turn equals more predators. For baitfish, zooplankton and insect larvae are the attracting forces to flood the green stuff. They follow this tiny prey in, and then ultimately become food for the big guys. When it comes to frogs and craws, they call pads and sandy-bottomed weed areas home. And the bass and pike will be close behind. If you find a promising weed area devoid of baitfish, there is a good chance the larger predators have moved on. They might stop for a short visit as the move around the lake, or even spend a lazy afternoon conserving energy, but they won't be there long unless food is at their doorstep. Lures and Baits It's no secret that weeds hold fish. That's pretty much a no-brainer. Whether you can catch them might be a different story. Fishing in the weeds holds a different approach than open water fishing. Exposed hooks will quickly snag and foul, leaving you cursing unmentionable obscenities. There are some baits that are made for the weeds, and will do the trick for enticing those hidden fish: Texas-rig plastic baits when working inside the weeds. For working the edges, an exposed hook should be fine. Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits are two top choices. Upturned hooks run well through the weeds, and are relatively snag proof. Weedless frogs and creature baits are ideal for pads, slop and weed clumps. If jigging, stick with bucktail as opposed to plastic trailers. Flipping jigs reign supreme in the weeds. They are undoubtedly one of the best baits for largies in the thick stuff. Shallow running cranks can be worked over the top of emergent weed growth. Lipless crankbaits are ideal for 'ripping' through and above vegetation. Seek out the weeds this season, and see what lurks within. The fish will be there if you do your homework, and the catching can be easy if you know what tools to use. Author Justin Hoffman

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director K. L. Cool unveiled major Department personnel and management changes. Effective June 29, 1997, John Robertson, Fisheries Division Chief, is laterally transferred to the position of Chief of the Forest Management Division. Dr. Kelley Smith, Acting Hatcheries Production Manager, is appointed Acting Fisheries Division Chief.

Muskegon South Breakwater Light Muskegon, Michigan US Coast Guard has proposed to decommission 12 fog signals and 8 lights located in the Great Lakes region. All Great Lakes would be affected except Lake Superior. Specifically, these proposed changes includes the Disestablishment of eight (8) Great Lakes lights including lights at Thirtymile Point, Dunkirk, Port Sanilac, Point Aux Barques, Forty Mile, Sturgeon Point, and St. Helena. Proposed plans also call for the disestablishment of twelve (12) fog signals including Frankfort North Breakwall, Manistee North Pierhead, Ludington North Breakwall, Ludington North Pierhead, Pentwater North Pierhead, Muskegon South Breakwall, Muskegon South Pierhead,Grand Haven South Pierhead Entrance, St. Joseph North Pierhead, and Michigan City East Pierhead Lights.

The Ohio DNR's Lake Erie fishing report is now available by calling toll-free 1-888-HOOK FISH (888-4665-3474) 24 hours a day. Callers in the local Sandusky area can access the report by calling 625-3187. The report is updated every Thursday

Same reason something is $49.97. When people think and talk about it, They only payed $49 not $50..

Welcome to the site.. We have some kewl stuff here. For example Wednesday night we have a fishchat, Come on out and meet the rest of the members.

That definitly clarifys it.. And it also shows, dont believe everything you here.

I think Caznik wheres 1 of those thongs, so there wont be any room for a logo..

I am not sure, but do you want sticky decals or static decals

looks good, the jacket turned out nice

also Check your wheel bearings and repack, how many trailers have you seen on the side of the road..Personally I do not like bearing buddys as they are overgreased which will cause premature bearing failure. I prefer to repack bearings at the beginning of the season and if the trailer is in and out of the water alot, it doesnot hurt to repack them again midway thru the season. also if you r purchasing new tires, consider getting them filled with nitrogen as the tire pressures are more stable since there is no moisture in the nitrogen and it will also promote longer tire life as well. If your tires are in good shape you can also get them refilled with nitrogen..

Check your fuel supply lines for cracking check your steering cable pulleys and lubricate and make sure the impeller is working

Thanks for the info.

Welcome to Great Lakes Fisherman McFly. If you need any help navigating thru the forums, just ask. I look foreword to seeing you around the forums.

Grant Ferris Grey/Bruce Outdoors There are lots of ways to cast with a float reel and lots of names for the reels themselves. Some anglers call them trotting reels, others centre-pins or single-pins. I know of four ways to cast with them but suspect there are lots more. There is no "proper" or "right" way, it's more a matter of personal preference. The method described below is one I developed on my own that works well for me over fifteen years. My personal method allows long casts and doesn't leave me with twisted and tangled line at the end of a day. I find I can cast far enough with my float reel to fish the Saugeen River in all but a couple of places but not quite as far as with a spinning or casting reel. Perhaps it's the method way your buddy uses, I wouldn't doubt that many anglers figure out a way to cast that suits themselves but I find this method works and it might be easier to try it than figure out a method yourself over a period of years. Assuming you are right-handed and have an easy-to-spin float reel no wider in diameter than 4.5 inches, (larger diameter reels are difficult to cup and finger with this style of casting. Lefties will have to re-write these instructions.) Follow these steps: 1) Put the little finger of your right hand against the spool lightly, it will serve as drag and brake. 2) Peel off enough line with the left hand to allow the rod-tip to go behind you like a fly rod in a back-cast, don't pull it off the side at this point, allow the reel to unwind, then stop the reel with your rod-hand little finger. 3) Hold the line in your left hand as if you were fly-casting. 4) Start a back-cast if you have lots of room behind you. As you do your back-cast, pull some line off with your left hand to get the spool spinning. 5) In a smooth movement, do your back-cast to bend the rod and build up a little potential energy, (store some power in a bent rod) then follow through with a sweeping forward cast. Don't snap the float and line like you would spin-casting but sweep gently forward. 6) As the rod comes forward, with the float and bait going through the air, the spool should be spinning and line coming off the left side of the spool like a spinning reel. 7) The line flowing out should be changing direction to the rod as it passes over your left-hand fingers, as this takes place, move your left hand forward so the line stops coming off the side but comes off like a bait-casting reel. (This will prevent line twist) 8) Look where you want your float to land, point the rod tip at that place 9) When the float hits the water, brake the reel with your right-hand little finger to prevent a backlash or tangle. 10) If you are casting upriver, spin the reel backwards to take up the slack and continue to control the drift with your little finger. You may have to guide the line onto the reel with your left hand when you start to retrieve as slack line in a bit of wind will wrap around something. 11) When you get a hit, signalled by a float hesitation or actual dip underwater, clamp down with that right little finger again to set the hook and provide drag. 12) When you reel in slack line for another cast, use your right fore-finger or little finger to distribute line evenly across the reel as you reel with your left hand. It takes some practice to do this in windy conditions but if you have just the right amount of line on the reel (down about 3/16 to1/4 inch from being filled right to the top) and use line that is not too springy or too limp, you can catch on in a few hours. You might as well practice where there are fish to catch though. You'll know you're doing it right when you don't have twisted line at the end of a long day and maybe have a couple of big rainbows to take home or release to fight another day.

Part one on modern fishing lines Grant Ferris Grey/Bruce Outdoors Monofilament, superline, spiderwire, copolymer, kevlar, flurorocarbon and dyneema! What is all this technical jargon and what does it mean to an angler? Millions of dollars in television advertisements are ample proof that selling fishing line is big business. High-profile television anglers try and convince you that their sponsor’s lines are tougher, stronger, and limper, they will catch more fish than any other line. You absolutely have to use their latest product or there is no sense going fishing! What’s the truth? Although the process of nylon extrusion was invented in 1938, the nylon monofilament market really took off with the boom in sport fishing after WW2. Fishing line manufacturers, chasing after hundreds of millions of dollars in annual sales soon learned to woo customers by developing new products or by using marketing ploys to draw customers from their competitors products. As a result, the angling public has been provided with tremendous technical advances in the product but at the same time assaulted with a volume of misinformation similar to the propaganda released during the cold war. It’s funny really, when you think about it. How can there be a 10-pound test line, which is 30% stronger than all the competitor’s products? It wouldn’t be 10 pound test anymore; it would be 13-pound test! This is marketing hype at its worst and lots of companies practice it. Since some couldn’t outdo the competition in quality, they resorted to false-labelling the product. Knowing that few anglers carry micrometers, 14-pound test line is labelled as 10-pound test and viola! We have a 40% improvement in line strength. It must be magic. Not all companies are guilty of this baloney advertising and to be fair, some that are still make darn good line. It’s just a very competitive business and millions of dollars can be made through slick advertising. The advertising and sales departments might not even know the engineering and development people. After all, they must figure, unless an angler hoped to qualify for a world record fish in a particular line class, whom does it hurt? Except for destroying advertising credibility in general, probably no one smart enough to read small print. Before the latest round of technical advances hit the market you could use simple rules to buy fishing line. An angler would decide on a line by selecting monofilament that had good knot strength, was limp enough, and had sufficient abrasion resistance along with minimal line stretch. If it was hard to see in water, and had a small diameter for it’s breaking strength, that was even better. Four or five popular monofilament lines had varying degrees of these qualities and usually the price was right. It was and is possible to buy a very good monofilament fishing line in bulk spools from local tackle stores for a reasonable price. Competition and the space race however, resulted in technical advances. Nylon monofilament was not the final answer after all. Again we have a bewildering array of choices, lines with yet smaller diameters, even less visible lines and some with almost no stretch. Naturally these new products cost more money but they are absolutely essential. Or are they? Part two of this article will include information on the newer line developments including fluorocarbon and the minimal stretch so called “superlinesâ€, some field test results and the availability of these products. Untangling the Mess (part two) Nylon monofilament leaders took over from gut leaders for fly fishers after WW2 and even in 1954 you could buy a good grade of monofilament line called Damyl Platyl from West Germany. For the next forty years or so, anglers had little choice other than monofilament, although there was a bewildering variety of this mono on the market. Meanwhile, other line types were being invented and used for special purposes. An example is the invention of fluorocarbon lines by Kureha Chemicals in Japan more than twenty-five years ago. Japanese domestic anglers wanted a low visibility line to catch a spooky little fish called "Ayr." in the island streams and fluorocarbon was the result of the search for a suitable product. This new lower visibility line was overlooked by anglers elsewhere with the exception of some tuna fishermen who used the line in heavy pound tests and found increased catches justified the extra cost. At the same time, German and U.S. line development proceeded in another direction with the emphasis on reducing stretch and diameter. The first real departure from monofilaments to hit the North American market was braided lines, made with materials developed from space age research and woven into a smaller diameter per breaking strength than mono could ever hope to achieve. These materials included lines braided with Kevlar, “Spectra†™ and “Dyneema†™ fibres and for a while were the best thing in special purpose lines available. North American bass professionals compete hard in big money tournaments and are always looking for an edge. The braids quickly became popular when adopted by top tournament winners. Suddenly there was a line available as light as 8-10 pound mono, with a breaking strength of 20-25 pounds yet with almost no stretch and increased sensitivity. In comparison the nylon monofilaments were like fishing with thick twine attached to elastic bands. Soon however, amateur anglers discovered that new materials require new methods and the skills to fish no-stretch lines had to be learned. Thousands, even hundreds of thousands of rods were broken and fish lost because the forgiving 25 per cent stretch of mono wasn't there. Braided lines do not work as well nor cast as far on spinning reels as they do on casting reels and the increased cost of the product also turned off a lot of prospective users. Next to come from the chemical company labs was fused or bonded lines, using the new-super strength filaments still but instead of being woven and ribbon-like, an inside core was bonded to an outside sheath of filaments not unlike the construction of a marine nylon rope. Fireline, Fusion and Raptor are lines made this way in a round cross-section suitable at last for spinning reels. Although not completely without stretch like the original braids, the compromise is a better overall line. Meanwhile rod and reel manufacturers were quick to tell the great angling public that they had to buy specially designed rods and reels to cope with the new lines…a promoter’s dream. Get out that check-book again. Using the New Lines Today on the market we have three new types of fishing lines, more expensive than monofilament but vastly superior in most ways and thanks to competition, coming down quickly in price. I tried using the early woven lines for winter jigging when they were first released but found the price high and the product unsatisfactory due to the weave plugging up with ice. The smaller diameters were easy to tangle and knot, almost impossible to unknot and not as easy to handle as mono. Next I tried Fireline and Fusion, both on spinning and level wind reels. The low stretch of both these lines made it much easier for me to feel light bites and set hooks even in 100 feet of water and with 6-8 feet of monofilament leader there appeared to be no loss of bites from fish being spooked by the lines. I don't like the feel of either on a spinning outfit but they seem not bad with a bait-casting rig. Now that the price of fluorocarbon line is more reasonable, a combination which should work even better for jigging is a mainline of Fusion or Raptor and a fluorocarbon leader. I also experimented with different brands of fluorocarbon leaders, down-rigging for salmon, float-fishing for rainbow trout and fly-fishing. The first fluorocarbon leader materials averaged about $15 to $20 per 25 metres and were distributed under the Dragonfly, Dai-Riki and Orvis brand names but all may have been made by the same company. These leaders did not appear to be less visible in a glass of water compared to mono of the same size but in practice, fishing gin-clear water, the fluorocarbon leaders seemed to catch more fish. They also had good knot strength and resisted abrasion well. Next I bought four different tests of a fluorocarbon line made by Triple-Fish, designed to be used as mainline and reasonably priced. In use it proved too sensitive to abrasion and with insufficient knot strength, prone to breakage. After breaking off about two dozen fish (some dandy rainbows too) with light pressure, I filed this product away and crossed the product off my list. About a year later I was told that early production problems created a bad first batch which could be replaced if I sent in my spools to a distributor. I did this and found the product much improved, although it will take a little while before I have full confidence in the line. In January of 2000 Bass Pro Shops began carrying the new Berkely "Vanish" fluorocarbon line and at $9.99 U.S. for 250 yards, if the product proves out, it could become very popular. U.S. giant Cabela's outfitters have Sea-Guar fluorocarbon line available in 150 yard spools for $14.99 US now, more expensive than monofilament but many times less expensive than fluorocarbon leaders were just a few years ago. Since SeaGuar is made in Japan by fluorocarbon line inventors Kureha Chemicals, I figured it was worth a try so I ordered several spools of Sea-Guar in 4 & 6 pound test and I had excellent results with it. After two years using the same spools of Seaguar as leader material with no problems as long as splicing is done with surgeon's knots I can heartily recommend it. Sub-freezing temperatures didn't adversely affect the line, if anything the cold water made it perform even better.

Sun, Feb/26/06 PEMBROKE - Two men who were stopped for having too many fish, have been fined $2,000 each and banned from fishing for a year. Tamas Fulop, 34, of Markham, and Frank Berger, 59, of Richmond Hill, pleaded guilty to possessing too many walleye and Channel Catfish and unlawfully transporting fish. Both men forfeited their fishing gear to the Crown. Court heard that the two men were fishing on the Ottawa River, near Rolphton, on October 3, 2005, when their boat was stopped by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) marine unit. The OPP officer found the men with 17 walleye and four Channel Catfish. Berger was fishing under the authority of a conservation fishing licence and Fulop had a regular fishing licence. Shortly after the OPP released the pair, they were stopped by Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officers and found with another six walleye and 30 Channel Catfish. This put them over limit by 15 walleye and 12 Channel Catfish. Justice of the Peace Clayton McKechnie heard the case at the Ontario Court of Justice, Pembroke, on Feb 13, 2005. Call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll free any time to report a natural resources violation or contact your local ministry office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800- 222-TIPS (8477).

Sun, Feb/26/06 WINDSOR — A Windsor commercial fishing company and a Leamington commercial fisherman were each fined $2,000 for failing to pay royalties on time for fish caught in 2005. Court heard that Favignana Fishing Company Limited and Steven Getty, 48, failed to pay the royalties on their fish catches within the time frames set out in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. A commercial fish licence holder is responsible for paying a royalty of 3.3 percent of the landed value of the fish caught under a licence. Under an agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ontario Commercial Fisheries Association records all fish harvested and sold under each commercial licence. The association calculates the royalty and issues invoices to commercial fishers four times a year. Payment is due within 30 days of receiving the invoice. The royalty is paid to the Ministry of Natural Resources Special Purpose Account and is used to help manage Ontario’s commercial fishery and fisheries assessment programs. Justice of the Peace Murphy heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Windsor, on February 20, 2006.

February 24, 2006 Signs Show Coldwater Fish Making Tentative Comeback SUTTON — A small number of wild lake trout are surviving to adulthood in Lake Simcoe - a promising sign that the popular fish may be rebounding, Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay announced today. "While we can’t yet be sure the survival of these trout is due to improved water quality, the findings are encouraging," said Ramsay. "We are committed to fostering self-sustaining populations of native species when possible and protecting Ontario’s biodiversity." The Lake Simcoe Fisheries Assessment Unit has confirmed that a small population of adult wild lake trout have been observed in the lake. Wild trout have been virtually extinct in Lake Simcoe since the late 1980s because of excess phosphorus in the lake and loss of fish habitat. The Lake Simcoe Environmental Management Strategy, a partnership involving three levels of government, First Nations, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and the public, has focused on reducing phosphorus in the lake to help restore habitat to support a self-sustaining community of coldwater fish. Over the years, the Ministry of Natural Resources has stocked lake trout in Lake Simcoe to maintain a viable population while ecological conditions in the lake improve enough to support a self-sustaining population of lake trout. This has also helped maintain the significant economic and social benefits of a fishery that would otherwise have been lost in the region. ================================================================================

Thu, Mar/2/06 Hamilton Spectator February 23/2006 by Editorial Imperial Precast Corp. and its owner, Emilio Domenic Sciullo, must pay $72,500 in fines and victim surcharges after pleading guilty to a series of air and water pollution offences. They also pleaded guilty to providing false or misleading information to an Environment Ministry officer last year. Justice of the Peace Barbara Waugh accepted the plea in Hamilton Monday, convicted both the company and Sciullo and imposed fines totalling $58,000. Standard surcharges add $14,500 to the penalties. A company receptionist said yesterday Sciullo would not comment. According to Industry Canada, Imperial Precast's plant on Fifty Road at Highway 8 employs 15 people making concrete wall panels and park furniture. The ministry said Imperial Precast violated the Environmental Protection and Ontario Water Resources acts between September 2002 and June 2004 by allowing cement dust to drift over neighbouring homes, releasing contaminated process water into a ditch that drains into Fifty-Mile Creek, discharging sewage from an outdoor tank without a permit and using a cement-storage silo without approval. Waugh was told nearby residents had complained and that the creek provides habitat for both fish and birds. Complaints in 2002 led to a ministry order prohibiting outdoor sandblasting at the plant. Imperial appealed to the Environmental Review Tribunal, but settled by agreeing to build an enclosure. Monday's fines against the company totalled $50,000. Sciullo was fined $6,000 for the environmental offences and $2,000 for providing false or misleading information to the ministry officer last May

Thu, Mar/2/06 North Bay Nugget Nugget Staff Local News - Thursday, March 02, 2006 @ 08:00 The Ministry of Natural Resources launched an enforcement blitz Wednesday aimed at protecting sensitive lake trout fisheries. The blitz, involving conservation officers from Sault Ste Marie, Kirkland Lake, Timmins, North Bay and Sudbury, will run until March 15. The focus will be on sensitive lake trout fisheries, most of which have a shortened open season for winter angling, the ministry stated in a press release. Lake trout reach reproductive maturity slowly and are very susceptible to winter angling. For information on fishing regulations, anglers should check the 2005-2006 Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary available at district offices, licence issuers and on the ministry's website at www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/pubmenu.html. Call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any

Welcome to Great Lakes Fisherman Whit1. If you need any help navigating thru the forums, just ask. I look foreword to seeing you around the forums.

No problem..I figured if some people seen the boat it might create some interest for you.. There is a tutorial on how to post pictures on our forum..

Teviah Moro Orillia Packet & Times - Monday, February 20, 2006 @ 08:00 A family from Michigan that went ice-fishing on Lake Couchiching in Ramara Township found themselves in a pickle on Saturday when their pickup truck fell through a pressure crack in the ice. The couple and their teenage son had phoned ahead asking about the ice conditions before making the trip to Orillia, Const. Don Martin said yesterday. “Somebody told them trucks were driving out on the ice,†said Martin, who attended the scene with another snowmobile unit in case someone had gone through the ice. They had just spent the day ice-fishing and were heading back to dry land about 4 p.m. when their truck broke through a massive pressure crack on the southeast end of Horseshoe Island about 1/2 kilometre from shore, he said. The family managed to exit the 3/4 tonne, extended-cab pickup without injury and went to a nearby fish hut for help, Martin said. But their truck wasn’t so lucky, slowly sinking into the icy depths of the lake Saturday afternoon. At that spot, five centimetres of ice cover had frozen over 61 centimetres of water, with another five centimetres of ice underneath. Ice fishermen said the depth of the lake was six metres there, Martin said. A local farmer drove a tractor onto the ice and tried to pull the truck out by using a chain. The tractor also broke through the ice, Martin said. Around 6 p.m. yesterday, Washago Tire came to the rescue, using a “skidder†to pull both vehicles away from the thin ice. “Do not take a vehicle on the ice,†Martin warned. “There is no real good ice.â€