ESSEXVILLE, MI — If you’re going ice fishing on Saginaw Bay or the Saginaw River, use extra caution and plan ahead, the Coast Guard advises.

The ice on the bay is still at an early stage of freezing at this point in the season, said Petty Officer Adrian Ledesma, with Coast Guard Station Saginaw River. Ice formation is running about a month behind its usual rate, he said on Monday, Jan. 20.

“Typically, all of the Great Lakes have been frozen solid by now,” Ledesma said. “This is an unusual weather pattern.”

On top of recent warm weather, factors on the Saginaw River such as warm water discharges and the river’s current contribute to a slow natural freezing process, he said.

“We want to advise everyone planning on recreating on the ice to exercise due caution,” Ledesma said. “You’ll see birds walking around on it, but that doesn’t mean it’s strong enough to support a human just yet.”

All Great Lakes Coast Guard stations are geared up and ready to launch at a moment’s notice in case of emergency, Ledesma said. The Saginaw River station has not had to rescue anyone from the ice so far this season. However, the station sees the most ice rescues of the entire Coast Guard, he said.

“That goes to show people just how hazardous some of the conditions are around here for ice fishing,” Ledesma said.

For those planning on going onto the ice, Ledesma recommends taking safety precautions. As in every other time of the year, the station asks people to use the buddy system. Before going out, let someone on land know where you’re going, what you’re doing and when you plan on coming back, so that they can report if something goes wrong.

Your gear is also important: Dress for the freezing water temperature, not the air temperature, Ledesma said. Make sure to have some sort of self-rescue tool, such as “ice awls,” which are picks you can pull yourself out of the water with, he said.

Three snowmobiles and a truck fell through the ice on Houghton Lake in northern Michigan on Sunday. No one was injured in any of the incidents, police told MLive.

Read more:

Snowmobiles, truck plunge through ice on Houghton Lake

Ice fisherman rescued after falling through ice on Kent County lake

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