Fishing Derby Starts with Self-Rescue Ice Picks [AUDIO]

The Burbot Bash fishing derby at Flaming Gorge Reservoir kicks off Wednesday. Because people are going to be around the ice for the four-day derby, the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office has re-issued its recommendations for ice safety, and on Wednesday, the sheriff’s office will be handing out about 200 pairs of ice picks.

Made with donated materials:

“The sheriff’s office and the Sweetwater Dive Team will be giving away free the self-rescue ice picks at a safety briefing at Buckboard Marina on Wednesday afternoon, January 25th, starting around 2 pm.”

Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Detective Dick Blust said you can see how the ice picks are used in a video titled, Danger, Thin Ice, released by the Minnesota Department of Natural resources. Det. Blust said the video is on YouTube.

See how they work:

“Among the many safety issues and tips highlighted in the video is the use of either the homemade or commercially manufactured ice picks, which are easy to carry on the ice and make all the difference in getting yourself out of trouble.”

This the second annual Burbot Bash, which was started to try and reduce Burbot numbers in Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Burbot is a sort of cod fish, an aggressive carnivore that’s considered an invasive species because it somehow got on the wrong side of the continental divide.

The Burbot Bash concludes Saturday at the Minila Rodeo with a fish cleaning competition and cooking demonstration, with $7,000 worth of prizes being awarded.