Water Safety on Rice Lake is something that could save your life and shouldn’t be forgotten.Water Safety on Rice Lake is extremely important, especially, due to this lakes’ unique characteristics. Rice Lake is a long narrow body of water. The predominant direction of the winds tends to be from the west. The lake runs South west from Bewdley, to the North East and ends at Hastings where the Trent Severn System continues on towards Lake Ontario. This allows for waves to build quite quickly and the further east you are on the lake the larger these waves can become. If your boat is 14ft or smaller wave size is a concern, as it only takes one or two waves to come over the top for your boat and the buoyancy of your craft comes into question. Before you know it the weight inside the boat becomes great enough for your boat to sink and you’re swimming or drowning if you’re not wearing your life jacket. This lake is shallow and it is quite weedy. If you don’t see the weeds on the surface then be sure that they are not too far down in the shallower areas, and can your legs can easily get tangled if you are forced into the water. Panic can set in and again the possibility of drowning becomes apparent. Water Safety on Rice Lake is also important due to the hidden water hazards that should be paid attention to. The biggest water hazard on this body of water is sunken railway beds at Harwood and run completely across the lake. The severity of this hazard is the greatest between Tic Island and the Harwood government dock. There is only one small section that can be navigated safely without going around the north end of Tic Island between the marker buoys.
The part that fools everyone new or unfamiliar to the lake is the apparent open sections between the gap and Tic Island. In these sections the railway bed is 1-2 feet below the waterline and is just waiting for the unsuspecting boater that is going fast and wants to cut across just to the south of the island.
On the north side of Tic Island as mentioned earlier there are 2 buoys that should always be used by larger boats with a deep draft. It is 12-15 feet deep between the buoys. Once you travel north of these markers there are plies or mounds of the railway bed left. These mounds are deeper than to the south of Tic but may still cause problems for larger boats. These mounds are spaced sporadically all the way to the north side of the lake to Hiawatha. (these mounds also make a great area for smallmouth bass fishing as well) Another area of concern, tough not as serious as the gap area, is the southern end of West Grape Island. Even though this island is quite small there can still be things to be wary of. About 30 feet out from the last visible rocks above the water line there are huge submerged boulders and these boulders can be hazardous when the water level in the lake is low and the water clarity is poor.
So when it comes to Water Safety on Rice Lake there is a lot to be aware of to make your boating or fishing excursions a pleasant one. Some of the basic things to always keep in mind are: 1. Always wear your life jacket. 2. Get an up to date weather forecast (take note of expected wind speed and directions). 3. Be sure to carry a cell phone in case of a breakdown on the water. 4. Always let some one know your plans and your estimated time of return. 5. Never overload your boat beyond its’ stated capacity. 6. Always carry your boaters safety kit with flashlight, rope etc. 7. Be aware of possible water hazards on the water body you are visiting. Heeding these tips may very well save a life even yours. Rice Lake is a top notch fishing destination and should be enjoyed by all. Please make sure that Water Safety on Rice Lake is given as much attention as that lure you’re hoping will catch that monster bass or that picnic basket your taking on that cruise. Retrun to Home Page from Water Safety on Rice Lake |
