Dec. 8, ICE IS NEVER SAFE

Went out on the lake to practice the fine art of rhabdomancy but instead of copper rods used the drill.  Explanation of the technique,The tip of the spade bit measures at a length of 5 15/16 so a "wet hole" is created when the point goes through but I can't measure with the hooked wire because the hole didn't get fully drilled.  Over 5 3/4" but less than 6. Starting on the newest ice at Honeyset bay, we got a wet hole, Continuing down the W side we found wet holes in all the new ice till we reached the old ice N of the narrows.  Meanwhile Rusty and E Clay had come out of Bradleys and Copelands running the shore and stayed dry.  Drilling in the narrows area E Clay, using a longer bit, found 7".  It should be noted we used a route passing close to the first point N of Butches dock and traveled closer to the shore than what would be usual.  The stronger current this year through the narrows is still a concern.  Continued to the landing via the E side of the big island.  The ice in this area was checked late last week and found to be 7-11".  But, ice out from Rowes just froze last Friday and hasn't been checked.  Traveled back down the W side to the N end of the lake and up the E side and again found thinner ice out from Fletchers measured at 5" and remaining at 5" till Als W shore approach.  Notes; large zig zagging ice ridge from Campbells point to Memorial island along with the thinner ice.  Smaller ice ridges out from the W side of the big island toward diving rock and from the S side of the big island running SSW towards the narrows.  We did not check out towards the centre of the lake.  We have suspended ice at any given point on the shore line from the dropping water which could collapse when walked or traveled on.  Cold temps this week will help with continued ice growth, but, may exacerbate existing ice ridges.  ICE IS NEVER SAFE and watching this years freeze up and slow growth, there could be surprises out there.