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Silver Lake Report
Spokane County, WA

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01/21/2012
Ice Fishing
Perch
Morning
01/21/2012
5
1237

Today was a 5 for one simple reason...."I AM STILL ALIVE!" I took my wife and daughter out for some perch action today. Two gentlemen were headed in as we began walking out on the ice. They had done well and they reported 6 inch thick solid ice. I headed out to my favorite spot and as soon as we got there I began to drill a hole. I drilled a huge hole in short order with my 260 lb body! The ice gave me no warning at all. I went through the ice and under water in 1/2 a second opening up a hole big enough for 12 rods! Suprisingly the water wasnt nearly as cold as the air. Each attempt to pull myself up only resulted in the ice breacking worse. My wife and daughter came towards me to help and I yelled at them to stop. But my stubborn wife slid out on her belly reached out her hand and pulled me out of what would have likely been a watery grave. The biggest surpprise of all was that out of the 10 guys fishing close by, not one of them even got out of their chairs! I wouldn't expect anyone to go near me but a simple toss of a rope would have restored my faith in homan beings. The saddest part is that two of the guys had the nerve to laugh. Had my 13 year old daughter not been with me I would have gladly knocked the smile of that guys face. The ice on Silver is anywhere from 6 inches to 1/2 an inch thick and with the snow on top of the ice it is impossible to tell one from the other. There is one nice open spot on Silver about 6 foot wide and the water there is about 12 feet deep. There are a lot of nice perch to be caught there but I would avoid that spot! In 43 years of fishing I have always wondered what falling through the ice would be like. Now I know! Be safe out there and in my opinion avoid Silver until we get a couple weeks of below freezing weather. (I sure wish I had a photo to upload!) Lord Bless!


Comments

Spazman2004
1/21/2012 6:14:00 PM
what happened too you is some major bull ... rest assured if i had come out to the lake today i would have been there to help ...... on behalf of all of us good caring people i appoligise for those who would rather just sit and watch, even laugh about someone going through ......... so with that i am sorry that you went through ............. i was out on silver yesterday just past the buoy and the ice was about 5 inches so for all you out there be careful
Rocky
1/21/2012 8:08:00 PM
I think anyone that has fished through the ice has wondered about going through at some time.
I think your wife is a hero and I hope your wife and daughter keep fishing with you.god bless.
afk
1/21/2012 8:26:00 PM
Sorry to hear of your misfortune & glad to hear you are still around to speak about it. We need to look out for one another out there.
Kfedka
1/21/2012 9:43:00 PM
Glad to hear you made it back safely. Thanks for posting a reports, this lets us know to be careful out there.
MarkFromSea
1/21/2012 9:54:00 PM
I don't hear much about people breaking through. Thanks for the reminder that it can happen to anyone.
Lundegard
1/21/2012 10:29:00 PM
But for the grace of God...there go I. You better hit the casino tomorrow and put a bet on the NFL playoffs! Glad you came out ok and shared with us all to never take a day of fishing for granted.
dave g
1/22/2012 12:30:00 AM
thanks for the report and thanks for reminding us all that things can go south in a hurry when you are out in the elements. that was a scary experience for all i'm sure, especially your daughter. i know from experience that that is something they will most likely remember for the rest of her life. it's a shame the happy ending will be marred by the inhumanity of a few. the good news is that people like that are still in the minority in the outdoors...
dave g
1/22/2012 12:31:00 AM
thanks for the report and thanks for reminding us all that things can go south in a hurry when you are out in the elements. that was a scary experience for all i'm sure, especially your daughter. i know from experience that that is something they will most likely remember for the rest of her life. it's a shame the happy ending will be marred by the inhumanity of a few. the good news is that people like that are still in the minority in the outdoors...
scottpratt
1/22/2012 11:01:00 AM
I woke up today pretty beat up. I have bruises under my arms where I hit the ice as I crashed through and my back is killing me but I am alive to fish another day. My wife is indeed a hero and my daughter is actually doing good with the whole thing. She has a cool story to tell in youth group today and how God rescued her daddy. Looking back I am still not certain how my wife pulled out a 260lb man, fully clothed, layers, winter coat, boots and soaking wet? She is 5'2, 130lbs and no offense but she is not that strong. The good Lord was truly with us yesterday. To the credit of the guys on the ice fishing yesterday, I would like to believe some of them would have eventually helped had my wife or daughter started yelling. I am certain some of those guys would have stepped up to the plate. To the two guys that thought it was funny and inperticular the loud one, may God bless you should you fall through one day. I almost met my maker yesterday but he threw me back. All along I have thought I was a keeper but guess not! Now that it is over it is worthy of a little chuckle. I was actually tempted to get back on the horse and fish Eloika today but I think the Casino suggestion above may be a better idea. Better yet I need to get my butt in church and thak God for his goodness towards me. Thank you for restoring my faith in outdoorsmen with you comments and God bless you.
Mark K
1/22/2012 11:35:00 AM
"All along I have thought I was a keeper but guess not!" Now that's funny! I'm glad you made it out okay.
gdrees
1/22/2012 12:29:00 PM
Keep the faith and bless your wife! Wow!
fishinChristian
1/22/2012 2:45:00 PM
More than a 5 I'd say. I'd end with Lord Bless, but He already did! Haven't broken through in 50 years of fishing, but as with you, it can happen to anyone. Still got your tackle? And get your wife some flowers, or new tackle, whichever she wants!
fishinChristian
1/22/2012 4:08:00 PM
More than a 5 I'd say. I'd end with Lord Bless, but He already did! Haven't broken through in 50 years of fishing, but as with you, it can happen to anyone. Still got your tackle? And get your wife some flowers, or new tackle, whichever she wants!
bullpine
1/23/2012 7:14:00 AM
Sorry to hear about your ordeal but glad to hear you are ok. Just thought I would mention some safety items since I did not see it here:
1) You should have a pair of safety spikes hangin around your neck at all times so you can help yourself get out.
2) Also be thinking about how you would help someone else or your children if they go through. My shanty has a long pull rope that when detached is over 12 feet long, otherwise your sled and pull rope is about 8 feet.
3) Life jackets are a good option and can be thrown.
4) Drill your way out onto unfamiliar ice or better yet bring a heavy spud to test ice as you go.
5) Watch Utube videos on how to rescue yourself once you have fallen through ice.
6) Watch out for lakes with springs and creek inlets like Silver Lake.
7) Don't fish in big groups on thin ice. Don't fish alone - easy one to break. 3 inches of good ice is said to hold about 300 pounds, but it has to perfect ice. 7 inches will hold a car and a foot of ice a truck - all big maybes.
AJ's Dad
1/23/2012 12:48:00 PM
Well well Mr. Pratt. It's good to see you fishing and posting again. It would have been nice if the post were under better circumstances though. I say don't think of yourself as not being a keeper. Just look at as though the Good Lord was practicing "Catch and Release" That day! As for Tish, I say you should encourage her to keep working out. Looks like it came in handy.

Take care my friend
AJ's Dad
1/24/2012 12:40:00 AM
Now that I think about it, I'll bet Tish just landed a new Sliver lake all time record largemouth LOL.
A 260lber might even be a world record.
Get back out there and hone your fish catching skills. Pike fishing is right around the corner and the water will be much warmer.
scottpratt
1/24/2012 4:35:00 PM
Hey Bullpine; That is great advice and clearly noted.
As for Mr. Mills, AKA AJ's dad; I love the "God practicing C&R comment" but my rubber frog technique is pretty well "honed" in and I actually found three packages of my favorite colors. (Later became your favorite colors) You know the white ones with the black spots that have been discontinued. You be nice if you want me to share any more of my frogs and secret spots with you. See ya at the cross early spring!
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