Anglers Advised Ice Isn’t Safe – Stay Off Rice Lake

Pete Fisher
9 months ago
• Categories: Editor Choice, Local

Emergency services were dispatched as area residents became concerned over two people fishing on Rice Lake on Friday, February 23, 2024.

At approximately noon Alnwick/Haldimand Township Fire Department and Northumberland OPP were dispatched the Dunnette Landing.

Emergency services received a call from a nearby resident that two people were walking out to fish.

Emergency services arrived and spotted two individuals that were out approximately one kilometre from the south shore of Rice Lake.

Police managed to contact the individuals through social media and advised them of the safety factor.

The couple took approximately 15-minutes to walk back to shore and spoke briefly with police who advised them about the dangers and how it may look safe in one area, but just a few metres away it may not be safe.

The fluctuating temperatures throughout this winter season have caused extremely unstable ice around the area including Rice Lake.

Cold temperatures are forecast for Friday evening, but the ice still is extremely dangerous on Rice Lake and police advise individuals to stay clear.

The couple from Scarborough spoke briefly to Today’s Northumberland about their day trip fishing.

The couple had just arrived at the fishing spot and had been there less than one hour before receiving the phone call advising it would be best to head back to shore.

During that time, they had caught two small perch.

Looking out onto Rice Lake, the husband said, “it looks terrible,” but said it wasn’t that bad where they were – but added, “I wouldn’t recommend anybody to go out. Because just looking at it, it looks bad.”

The man said his wife’s friends often visit the area and said it was a great spot.

Now that the couple were on shore, they planned on heading to Lake Scugog before returning back to Scarborough.