|Hard to tell. Could be over their heads, or beneath their dignity!

If I saw a sign like that on an ice-fishing shack, which in Michigan would be called a shanty or an ice-fishing coop, I would probably probably take it literally and heed the warning. Most fishermen drill or spud holes that are small enough that they are no problem, but some drill bigger holes or the smaller ones can open up in a warm spell only to freeze over slightly and then get snow over them. I once stepped in a hole like that which was snowed over. After going in past my knee, it was not possible to get my foot out without taking my boot off. That was followed by a half-mile walk in 5 degree weather to my house, where there was heat and bourbon. If there had been a spearing shanty they would have left a hole big enough to go swimming in. So such a sign might not be a joke after all.

Yeah, that's likely what that sign really was about. Don't feel bad, I stepped into an icehole once long ago and it was a miserably cold experience. I was young and small then, these days my feet are huge but I still don't like ice fishing so I tie flies and build rods during the few months of hard water. It can be a dangerous form of fishing, not just iceholes, but also fall-throughs and softer areas near natural springs.

My local lakes have a ton of springs, I trust no ice.



I think this is the kinda sign Cliff was looking for...