Courtesy

[dukgnfsn]

To the morons that were goose hunting the river down at the McLean Boat Dock if your on this site which you probably aren't because I hope those on this site would be smarter, I know you get out early and come in fairly early but you could try to have some consideration for others that want to use the boat dock. I arrived about 1000 parked at north end lot and walked down and looked at the dock and seemed ok for docking. Went back and prepared the boat, in meantime a goose, duck boat docked and left and when I went to dock they had just ripped out of water and wet that whole side of dock and it turned to ice. I docked out of other side ok but that was totally stupid by them. Interesting that when they put out this morning they probably didn't do this because the dock was in decent, ok shape. All I ask is people think a little bit. As for fishing report, I kept 2 and missed 5 other bites. The 2 I caught were nice keepers though.
dukgnfsn

 

[Sum1]

Honestly I think people are just used to doing this that they don't think about that when pulling the trailer out in freezing temps. This mornings a guy at hazelton slid down the ramp almost jacknifing his rig then when he finally did get it backed in while he was in his boat his vehicle started sliding into the water but did stop before going into far. When he docked his boat he got in his vehicle and did just what you said and covered the ramp in water in freezing temps. It's good to bring awareness to the issue though. Let you trailer
drain a little before pulling out and bring salt. If everyone brought a little salt or sand it would help immensely.

 

[tikkalover]

Yep, an icy ramp will make your butt pucker. One thing to remember is most times you will stop when your pickup tires hit the water line, as the ramp isn't icy under the water. If I go when its cold enough to freeze the ramp, I take a bucket of potassium chloride (potash) with in the pickup.

 

[SDMF]

Yep, an icy ramp will make your butt pucker. One thing to remember is most times you will stop when your pickup tires hit the water line, as the ramp isn't icy under the water. If I go when its cold enough to freeze the ramp, I take a bucket of potassium chloride (potash) with in the pickup.

Where would someone buy that stuff?

 

[Kentucky Windage]

Where would someone buy that stuff?

I know a guy........

 

[dean nelson]

I Know the boat we use your pretty much guaranteed to wet down the ramp because the boats covered in Raffia grass and invariably gets wet and drips when you're pulling up the ramp. Most likely they were like sum 1 said and in standard summer boat ramp mode so got out quick. Just have a bucket of sand with so atleast the sand takes much of the power that the stupidness of others has over your day and puts some of it back into your hands.

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Yep, an icy ramp will make your butt pucker. One thing to remember is most times you will stop when your pickup tires hit the water line, as the ramp isn't icy under the water. If I go when its cold enough to freeze the ramp, I take a bucket of potassium chloride (potash) with in the pickup.

Is there any benefit for using potash of a regular salt? are you getting some sort of grit in there or something since it tends to be pretty spendy compared to regular driveway salt.

 

[KDM]

This seems to be an issue every year. Maybe it's about time you guys lobby the G&F to put some raised type of grip on these ramps for safety purposes. I saw a ramp in Idaho that had 3 big rings on the top edge and asked what they were for. The locals said they were for attaching a mesh of steel coil type things that they roll out when it gets to freezing temps for traction and them roll up when they closed the ramp for winter. I asked if they ever get froze in and they do, but the locals said they just crack the ice and drag'em out with a pickup. Idaho doesn't have ND ice, but it might keep you guys from wrecking stuff or ending up in the drink. This may be something to bring up to your local wildlife clubs as well. Just a thought. Be Safe Fellas!!!

 

[tikkalover]

Here is what it looks like. These granules are roughly 1/4 inch in size. Go to your local agronomy/elevator that handles fertilizer and see if they have it. Most charge around $10 to $15 for a 5 gallon bucket. I believe that this is what most counties mix with their sand but it is ground up more (like powder).

 

[BDub]

Easy answer is to wait till it warms up. Hazelton is always bad due to the fact that the concrete is fairly smooth and it is out of the sun right away in the morning. The icy ramp bit me and and my fishing partner so we just wait till it warms up.

 

[dragoneyes]

This seems to be an issue every year. Maybe it's about time you guys lobby the G&F to put some raised type of grip on these ramps for safety purposes. I saw a ramp in Idaho that had 3 big rings on the top edge and asked what they were for. The locals said they were for attaching a mesh of steel coil type things that they roll out when it gets to freezing temps for traction and them roll up when they closed the ramp for winter. I asked if they ever get froze in and they do, but the locals said they just crack the ice and drag'em out with a pickup. Idaho doesn't have ND ice, but it might keep you guys from wrecking stuff or ending up in the drink. This may be something to bring up to your local wildlife clubs as well. Just a thought. Be Safe Fellas!!!

KDM has the most logical solution we need to contact ndgf and put a bug n there ear on this on going safety issue someone is going to get damage to their property or even worse them selfs. Maybe bismarck reel and rec would be willing to take part in some kind of fund raising, i would donate to that cause. Seen the grips that KDM was talking about good idea.Makes me think twice when backing down a icy ramp a person has to be either crazy or knows what the hell he doing. Just my 2 cents. Keep it straight and be safe. Life jacket?

 

[Allen]

Where would someone buy that stuff?

Potassium Chloride is the heart friendly version of Water Softener Salt, widely available at any home improvement store.

https://www.menards.com/main/plumbi...49-c-6727.htm?tid=-2896932549681473330&ipos=1

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Just take a bucket and mix a little sand and salt together. There's no "magic" formula, each salt is capable of melting ice at temps anyone in their right mind is putting a boat in the water. So it doesn't really matter if you are using NaCL, KCl, MgCL, or ????. At temps around 20 degrees, they all work quite well.

I tend to use more MgCl than anything else as it's more pet friendly, so it's just what I have on hand. Pet friendly as in it's not supposed to chafe their pads as bad.

 

[dukgnfsn]

I didn't talk to them which was probably best because I would have tried to KINDLY explain somethings to them and who knows how it would have gone. They would have had guns and I wouldn't have. There are some geese on the system but not in huge numbers at this time, I expect this to change in next week or so as temps cool and sloughs and other waters start freezing up. I am not a waterfowl hunter but haven't seen a big migration at all yet. Wish I could give you more but that's the best I have. dukgnfsn

Now for the important question... did he shoot any birds? Asking for a friend.