Body Of Ice Fisherman Recovered Near Vernon

Sunday, January 04, 2009 05:06 AM

Vernon, B.C. - The body of a 57 year old man has been recovered from Sugar Lake near Vernon. An RCMP dive team recovered the body yesterday at about 3.30pm. The RCMP had gone to the lake to search for the missing man after his snow machine and fishing gear were found near the lake.

It is believed that David A Gowing, an experienced ice fisherman, had gone to the lake had drilled a hole and had set up to fish on a small chair when the ice gave way around him and he fell into 25 feet of water.

The lake in question is only accessible by helicopter or snowmobile and police say the thin ice has come about as a result of a heavy snow fall, which fell on thin ice, followed by a cold spell. The ice they say was insulated from the cold by the snow and it did not freeze hard.

Police in this area say that while the area has had colder weather, it also had a good dump of snow before the temperatures dropped. They say fishermen should be very careful especially around the mouth of creeks because in some areas the ice remains thin and people get a false sense of safety because of the recent cold snap.

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Posted on Sunday, January 04, 2009 05:06 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: He speaks on January 4 2009 5:47 PM

Yep drove by Vernon two days ago. One lake is frozen over, and the lake next to it is wide open. So seriously how thick was the ice, maybe four inches. We saw about a dozen people on the lake, with huge wet spots on the lake.

Darwin theory still exists.

Posted by: pisspulper on January 5 2009 9:53 AM

I, as an inexperienced ice fisherman have learned something from this article that I will heed next time I chose to venture on my next winter fishing escapade.

However, a man lost his life here doing something he was probably passionate about, and albeit he may have erred in his assesment of the condition of the ice at the time, still it is someone's friend, father or husband that met with an unfortunate consequence.

"Darwin theory still exists." I'm positive his friends and family will be encouraged and deeply consoled to read your insensitive comment.

Posted by: lostfaith on January 5 2009 10:54 AM

Posted by: He speaks on January 4 2009 5:47 PM
Yep drove by Vernon two days ago. One lake is frozen over, and the lake next to it is wide open. So seriously how thick was the ice, maybe four inches. We saw about a dozen people on the lake, with huge wet spots on the lake.

Darwin theory still exists.

Is that supposed to make you an ice expert?
Did you go check the ice yourself?

No you didn't. So why flap yer lips when you don't know what yer talkin bout.

Posted by: metalman on January 5 2009 12:25 PM

Four inches of ice will easily support a 200# man, and much more, if you dare.
I realize that hespoke not knowing the actual thickness of the ice on the frozen lake, but I think that seeing one body of open water in the vicinity would dissuade this chicken (me) from venturing out on the frozen lake. I have a chart somewhere that lists the minimum ice thickness for a variety of scenarios, from a man on foot to a heavy truck, it is really amazing how little ice is needed to support a given load. It is too bad the man lost his life.
metalman.