Chilling reminders

When Dick Fields fished on the ice at Fernan Lake on Monday, he drilled every 10 feet to make sure he could be supported.

Fields fell through the ice at Avondale 20 years ago before he rescued himself, so the Coeur d'Alene man has used extreme caution during the winter fishing season ever since.

"I keep a close eye on the weather, the ice and other people who have been out there," said Fields, adding that he was on 4-inch ice. "That week and a half of cold weather we had was perfect for making ice."

But Fields also knows that lake conditions differ in the winter, and generally every year when local anglers can venture onto the ice there's at least one report of someone who fell in as he did years ago.

That assessment held true again as on Saturday a 55-year-old Coeur d'Alene man fell into the north end of Lower Twin Lake off Bridge Lake Road, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office. The man got out on his own and left a note stating that he had fallen in, was OK and to not disturb his gear as he would be back later to get it.

Later in the day, people who were snowshoeing in the area saw the equipment, no one around and no footprints coming away from the area, so a dive team and deputies responded to what was reported as a possible drowning.

After responders arrived, a neighbor confirmed speaking with the man who had earlier fallen in and the victim was later contacted. Responders said the man reportedly fell through the ice multiple times.

The dive team retrieved the gear from the ice because it didn't want others to venture out to get it or more reports of a possible drowning.

KCSO Lt. Stu Miller said it's unclear whether someone was with the man during the incident.

Miller said fluctuating temperatures are affecting local ice conditions and anglers and other recreation enthusiasts are urged to use extreme caution, especially with warmer temperatures predicted.

"If you fall in and can't get out within a few minutes, you may not make it because hypothermia sets in," Miller said.

Here are some safety tips from the KCSO:

• leave information about your plans with someone, including where you will be and when you will return;

• the minimum thickness to walk on ice is 4 to 6 inches;

• if the ice is cracked or slushy, stay off it;

• wear a personal floatation device;

• avoid areas near where water is flowing into the lake;

• fish with a partner;

• continually monitor ice thickness by drilling as the ice can vary in condition and thickness;

• take a safety line that can be thrown to someone who has gone through the ice;

• avoid going out if the ice has melted away from the shore;

• take a set of hand spikes to help work your way onto the surface; and

• roll away from the hole you've fallen in to distribute your weight rather than standing straight up.

Hauser Fire Capt. Gary Mobbs said clear ice is safer to be on than milky ice.

"A lot of the ice we have now has snow in it, so that makes it weaker," he said.