I want to add this to my last report, because of the recent tragedy we had Wednesday the 7th of February on Saginaw Bay.
For those of us very familiar with the Bay, we know that there has always been a spot NE of Linwood road that simply stays either open or very thin during the most severe winters. The nature of the bottom near and along the Nayonquin Point area north of Linwood road, keeps it that way because of the shallow shoals, ledges and bars that force the water to roll upward, keeping any ice from forming and whatever that ice does, to continually work back and forth or stack up around these bottom contours. And with the Bays natural counter clockwise flow along with any high winds magnifying this effect, its a natural and continual force. It's part of the same flow force that keeps ice broken up between Parish road and Bresettes Beach. It's no different then keeping your hose running during a freeze. As long as it's moving it won't ever freeze.
I don't know for sure. But I partially blame this tragedy on the mans lac of knowledge of the area, and/or the possible lac and knowledgeable use of a hand Held GPS. This small investment and the easy training involved to use one, can indeed save your life. Whenever I go out with clients or by myself, I plot my course. I lay down waypoint numbers in numbered order, every step of the way to where I fish. Every time I encounter a crack, or the trail takes a turn, or I go in a different direction, that spot becomes a waypoint I return to when coming back in. I may have to go 1 mile out of my way going back in at night from where I end up, but I travel exactly on what was the safe trail I made going out. For Gods sake everyone, buy and use one or travel with others for safety.