Down States ice is scarey, as a kid in the sandhills had a damed brook, that stock pond had perch & bass and bluegill and most years was very thin and also deep, use a Toke (Eskimo) use these, basicly a long chisel tipped staff, they test as they go across unknown ice, "like solders useing a bayonet searching for landmines"
I live in the Arctic, people use the rivers and slew's as major transportation routs after iceup.
This fall a guy fella died by Kiana AK when his Honda ATV went through green river ice along the bank, current drew him under divers found his body 2 weeks latter, sometimes they never find them on rivers as the current is strong and holes deep.
As a Highschooler My brother & I used to trap along the river bottom, for beaver and bobcat and coon, one day while snowmobiling along stopping to check traps we flushed a coyote out the ceadar's and it ran out onto the river ice, on impulse my brother goosed the throttle and we were soon on river ice after said coyote, the ice was slippery(no snow cover) we didnt have tracion studs so we dident gain on coyote's head start, he headed out on the river a couple hundred yards ahead of us tawrds a small willow choked island out mid river also wasnt ice ther, we turned back and continued checking traps, next day the same place we were snowmobiling on river ice was gone, cut away over night by river current.
Dont assume the ice is thick and if you venture out take a TOKE, Ive seen toke made of lodge pole spruce up to 8feet long had a chisel edge made from a old wonder bar nail bar, had a reverse hook like a gaff to handy in snagging deep stuff under water..... and string up your sleeves some ice picks (broom handle with 1" spikes) to get grip on ice so your not pulled under.
Arctic Armor clothing is also boyant.....keep in mind.
I'd strongly suggest checking out
www.iceshanty.com forums, mainly Thin Ice forums.
Allot of equipment Ice fishing is also used by trappers
