Fluctuating temperatures are making ponds and lakes dangerous since they're not always as frozen as they look.
On Monday a man on Lake Saint Clair had to be rescued after falling through the ice, and an ice fisher's car fell through the ice on Clark Lake.
Still that wasn't enough to keep Aaron Antcliff from ice fishing on Clark Lake.
"Right now I know it's good," he said. "I've been out on this lake, I was out last night."
Antcliff says his car is staying in the parking lot, but he's tested the ice and it was thicker than four inches so he feels safe fishing. If it gets any thinner he's learned not to risk it.
"I've fallen through once before, but luckily for me it was waist deep so I could just jump out," Antcliff explained.
That's the reason he always tests the ice and brings gear to help him get out of the water if he falls in."
"I am prepared, I got ice picks, I got a floating bib," Antcliff added, referring to his ice fishing suit.
But even in the best conditions, ice isn't predictable, which is why Delta Township Fire Chief John Clark is urging people to stay off ice they're not familiar with.
"Unless you know the ice is safe just stay off of it," he added.
Chief Clark follows the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' recommendations, which does not use inch thickness guides. Instead Clark says the strongest ice is clear with a bluish tint, any time it's covered in snow or slush it's not as strong.
"You have to remember when you check the ice in one place it may not be the same thickness some place else," Chief Clark added.
Things likes rocks and water flowing in from another source can all affect how the ice forms, according to Clark.
He says the risk of falling through is even greater in fluctuating temperatures because when there's thawing during the day then refreezing at night, the ice that forms is typically weaker.
Plus he says if someone falls in there's isn't a lot of time to get them out and warmed up, not to mention conditions aren't always safe for first responders.
"With an ice rescue there's a lot of judgment calls that need to be made, and to roll that equipment out and to get the people dressed up to go in takes a lot longer," he added.
That's why Chief Clark says you should always let someone know exactly where you're going to be on the ice and bring ice picks, a rope that's at least 30 ft. long, and/or a long stick. But
'There's really no garuntee that you're going to pull yourself out, once you get down in that water to get up out of the ice
Time someone who falls into freezing water doesn't have--
"the ice pops and cracks all the time it always startles ya gets your heart going but most of the time i know its safe"
So with a warm up forecasted -- aaron is counting this as his last time on the ice until conditions change
If you're going out on the ice--
Firefighters say you should always let someone know where you're going to be.
Also---
Bring a stick -- ice picks -- or a long rope that can be used to help you get out.
The state "d-n-r" no longer uses thickness standards...
But says you should never bring a car or truck on the ice.
