Syracuse.com - Coast guard auxiliary spokesman: Anglers should stay off the ice on Oneida Lake

[HuntingNY-News]

"It is just plain stupid to risk life to continue fishing Oneida Lake on the ice," he said. "The water is deadly cold. Someone falling in has one minute to get their breathing under control, 10 minutes to get out of the water, or one hour before hypothermal sets in."

The following is a press release from R. O. Brown, of Flotilla 2-1, US Coast Guard Auxiliary:

MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

Since February 15, 2012, there have been at least five incidents where ice floes on Oneida Lake have broken loose with fishermen on them. The latest was yesterday.

Please publish an alert that it is just plain stupid to risk life to continue fishing Oneida Lake on the ICE. The water is deadly cold. Someone falling in has one minute to get their breathing under control, ten minutes to get out of the water, or one hour before hypothermal sets in.

Persons to contact at the U. S Coast Guard Station Oswego: BM1 Frank Benetka, Executive Petty Officer, or BM2 David Machinski, Training Petty Officer for facts concerning the incidents of ice fishermen in dire distress on Oneida Lake ice.

Let's stop the stupidity now. Let's stop it before we have a tragic loss of life. Whether the loss be a fisherman or an emergency responder, any loss can be avoided.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog