Going out of Crane Creek this weekend

[Madd Matt]

I am hoping to be going out of Crane Creek this weekend if the weather is good. I will probably be taking my 7 yr old daughter who has been begging to go for 2 years now. I have refused to take her so far, but promised as soon as I think that the ice is "safer" and "safe enough" that I am comfortable then I would.

With the temps and the ice being what it is I think that this weekend may work.

-Matt

[thehunter]

You know things can go wrong out on the big lake, perhaps a trip to an inland lake where your daughter can catch Blue Gills would work better.......?..... more safe & likely more "catching" ? Just a thought............

[Madd Matt]

You know things can go wrong out on the big lake, perhaps a trip to an inland lake where your daughter can catch Blue Gills would work better.......?..... more safe & likely more "catching" ? Just a thought............

Thanks. Appreciate the concern. If we go out we will have 5-6 guys go out on the sleds and set up the shanties, then we will come back in and get the wife and daughter and go back out. I realize the concern but the ice is just as dangerous for a 12-18 yr old as a 7 yr old.

But yes, East Harbor blue gill fishing is definitely on the radar.

I have a group of 5 guys on the ice today and all week going out of Crane Creek. I'll have a pretty good idea as to the ice condition to make a decision by Saturday. I have no problem driving up 4-5 hours and getting to the Lake all loaded ready to go and walking away at the put-in. No different than soft water. If there are 8' I stay in.

The guy that posted the other day about being in a wheelchair and looking for advise on taking a 15yr old girl out on the Lake next year in kayaks to fish... That scares me. I know that many people think the same thing about me taking my daughter ice fishing. I respect the Lake. I've been on it for 30+ years and believe I know very little about it and she is still teaching me.

-Matt

[Hoytman86]

I don't think worse of anyone that wants to teach their kids to enjoy the great outdoors. Like you said, as long as every precaution is taken and you use for judgement, that's the best we can do. I took my 7 year old out on the boat with us last year, he was 6 at the time. We wouldn't have done so if there were 5+ footers. There's acceptable risk, then there's flat out stupidity. Taking every precaution to insure safety and weighing that against the knowledge that some things, especially on Lake Erie, is all you can do.

[Madd Matt]

I agree. "If" we go out we will all have floatation. My Arctic Armour suit that can float 500 lbs and her in a life jacket. We have 6 sleds and 3 shanties that we can keep heated for 8-10 hours at 80 degrees if we want to... Each sled has 50' throw ropes at the ready and each shanty has dry bags with extra clothes should someone get wet. We carry 6 waterproof two-way radios with emergency beacons and 5 GPS . All sled drivers are independent and have GPS coordinates as to the put-in with location service to get back in the event of being separated (which should never happen) or in a complete white-out or after dark retreat.

Unless someone goes through the ice and disappears under it (which can happen) our risk is managed. Not eliminated by any means, by "managed." We won't go past a shove with my daughter and we will fish close enough to others (pack) to be seen and get help.

When I'm alone or with a group of guys we will move away and trail blaze to find the fish.

I'm not defending myself as much as letting you know that I've thought through all of this and may still not go out if I'm worried about wind or ice movement. I know exactly what I would be telling someone who said that they where taking a young person out on the ice. I would be saying exactly what everyone in here is saying and thinking.

My daughter has been swimming for 4 years and is currently trying out for a swim team. With all her gear on that matters very little, I know. But she understands that she needs to stay calm and that it would be freezing cold and what she needs to do if something should happen.

So my question for those who think I'm a terrible father... What age is "appropriate?" She is probably more well prepared than a lot of 12-14 year old boys that go out with their dads without flotation, and without communication devices and on 4-wheelers with no throw ropes.

[mlsmith83]

To each their own I say. My daughter has been ice fishing with me since she was 6. I mainly ice fish saginaw bay, which tends to be as volatile and unpredictable as lake erie. She only goes on a few trips a year, and its well after I feel comfortable being on it myself. In my opinion you are doing everything you can possibly do to mitigate hazards. Most people are lucky if they are taking 1 of the items you mentioned on the ice. I, like you, am prepared for the apocalypse when I venture on to the big water. There is no such thing as being too safe. You are more than prepared, always venture with caution and confidence and it will usually keep you in a "safe" position. :-)