The Met Office have urged drivers to pack three items that could help them to stay comfortable and safe if they encounter issues on the roads over the weekend. With Storm Darragh due to bring 90mph winds to parts of the UK and Republic of Ireland, motorists have been urged to avoid unnecessary journeys and take precautions to avoid accidents . In particular, the Met Office urged Brits to avoid relying on their phone during long journeys that they may get stuck on, recommending all motorists carry a torch with them. They advised: "A phone light won’t really give you visibility if you’re stuck by the side of country road in winter. "A large torch with spare batteries or a wind-up torch which doesn't require battery power is essential for your vehicle." Whilst it is easy to get behind the wheel feeling confident that their phone will offer everything they may need, it is not much use if it gets damaged or the battery runs out. As a result, it is a good idea for drivers to pack essentials that can be used even when a phone battery is flat, such as a torch. In particular, the Met Office suggested that drivers try to find a hand-cranked torch, which will never run out of power and let stranded motorists highlight their position to other road users. Similarly, the meteorological organisation also advised that drivers keep a map in their vehicle during trips throughout Storm Darragh in case GPS systems, such as the one found in their phone, does not work. They added: "We also rely heavily on phones and in-built car technology for maps but if you have no battery in your car you may find you are limited with your phone battery too. "It’s worth having a paper road atlas in case of diversions or getting lost." Finally, in the event of a breakdown, the Met Office suggested that motorists also keep high-visibility clothes inside their car that can easily be put on if the vehicle breaks down at night or in limited visibility weather. They continued: "If you need to leave the vehicle in the dark, it's crucial that you can be seen by other motorists – it could even save your life." It is generally a good idea for drivers to also pack an additional set of warm clothing for themselves and all other occupants to change into and plenty of non-perishable snacks and drinks.
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Wild Horse Reservoir is 99% ice covered with very unsafe ice and South Fork is about 50% ice covered with very unsafe ice. Already on social media, people are asking if it is safe to go on the ice at Wild Horse. One person even said if it was “sketchy” he might still go ice fishing. Not a good idea. Doucette The most dangerous time to be on the ice is at the beginning and the end of the ice fishing season when the ice conditions can change in a heartbeat. What is 4 inches thick one day may be 2 inches or even open water the next, depending on winds, water currents, springs, or temperature. When talking ice thickness and safety, we are talking about hard clear ice, not packed snow, not slush and not gray ice with air bubbles in it. If the ice is 2 inches thick or less, stay off. At 4 inches, a person can walk on the ice and it should be safe for fishing as long as anglers are spaced far apart. While the Nevada Department of Wildlife doesn’t recommend taking a vehicle on the ice, it is generally accepted that seven inches of clear hard ice will support a snowmobile or ATV. No matter what, use common sense and always err on the side of caution. Ice claws should be worn by everyone on the ice. Ice claws can be purchased at a sporting goods store or made using two pieces of one and a half-inch diameter dowel (or pieces of a broom handle) about six inches long, with a large nail imbedded into one end. Join the two pieces of dowel using three to four feet of heavy cord or light rope that goes through the dowels at the opposite end from the nails. The rope joining the two claws together should go through both sleeves of the jacket and across the back, allowing them to be readily available if you go through the ice. Just like seat belts and personal flotation devices, ice claws don’t do you any good if they aren’t being worn when you fall through the ice. Put a piece of cork or candle on the end of the nails to keep from poking yourself. If you should fall through the ice, stay calm. Don’t take winter clothing off, as it will help keep warmth in and may add some buoyancy. When trying to get out, return in the direction from which you fell, the ice there is more likely to be thicker and able to support you better as you try to get out. Ice near open water is slippery and hard to get traction on, so kick your legs using a swim-type motion to help propel you onto the ice. Grip an ice claw in each hand, sticking the nail end into the ice and pull yourself to safety. Once on the ice remain in a prone position, spreading your weight over a larger area, until reaching ice that will definitely support you. If a companion should fall through the ice, don’t approach the edge to try to help them; your role may quickly change from rescuer to victim. Never try to rescue them alone, unless absolutely necessary, go get help. Use a rope, stick, fishing rod, or some other long item to try to reach them from safe ice. As stated earlier, stay in a prone position, spreading your weight over a larger area while trying to help someone who has fallen through. Once safety is reached, treat for hypothermia. There are other safety items that may be taken along. A rope for throwing to someone who has fallen through the ice is a good idea. Put a loop and a large knot at one end because cold hands don’t grip very well. A type IV personal floatation device can be thrown to someone in the water. It can also be used to sit or kneel on until needed for an emergency. While everyone worries about falling through the ice, it is much more common to slip and fall on the ice, causing serious injuries including broken bones and concussions. Crampons are spikes that can be attached like an overshoe to the outside of your boots to help you keep your footing. These can be found at many sporting goods or outdoor clothing stores. Finally, staying warm is very important, as hypothermia is a real threat when combining cold temperatures with getting wet when handling fish or cleaning out the fishing hole. Dress in layers and avoid cotton clothing. Wool retains its insulating ability when wet and is a good choice. There are also synthetics that wick water away from the body if you are allergic to wool. Now would be a good time to prep your ice fishing and wait for the ice to truly be thick enough to safely walk on before venturing out ice fishing. As a general rule, Wild Horse isn’t safe for ice fishing until after New Year’s and South Fork even later. Some years, South Fork may never be safe for ice fishing, depending upon weather conditions. The lake is almost completely covered in very unsafe ice. On Monday it was about 1 to 1.5 inches thick with some open water around a number of pressure ridges that are already starting to form due to very warm daytime highs and cold nights. Daytime highs are forecast in the mid 40s until Sunday, so there won’t be much in the way of ice growth. As a general rule, the ice isn’t thick enough for ice fishing until around New Years. As of Monday, the lake was 40% to 50% ice covered with very unsafe ice. There was some open water south of the main boat ramp cove and Jet Ski Beach was wide open for fishing. Shore fishing for trout was very good early this week for fly rodders and fair to good for bait anglers. Fly fishers were using both balanced leeches and chironomids. Balanced leeches in black/red, black/blue, wine or olive were working. Hot green or red bead heads on the balanced leeches seemed to produce more fish. Snow cones, chironocones, zebra midges in black or red, and Yankee buzzers were all catching fish. Wooly buggers sized 6 to 10 and leech patterns sized 10 to 14 in the black/red, black/blue, wine and dark red stripped on a sinking line should also work. Bait anglers were catching fish with a small piece of worm suspended about three feet below a bobber approximately 15 to 20 feet from shore. Some unsafe ice here with some open water as of this past Monday. There was no indication of anyone fishing it. The same techniques that work at South Fork work here. No recent report, but this lake is often similar to South Fork as far as ice conditions, so expect some unsafe ice but also some open water for fishing. The water level is good for this time of year and visibility is good. At last report fishing for trout was good and should still be good close to shore. The same techniques and presentations that work at South Fork work here. With recent and forecast precipitation, expect muddy road conditions on the way out. Approximately 9,800 trout were stocked in late October. There was some ice formation at the main boat ramp in the south lake as well as some ice in places on the collection ditch. Fishing in the collection ditch continues to be good for trout averaging 15 to 20 inches, with some fish over 20 inches. Water clarity is good and water levels continue to be very good though vegetation is still thick in many areas. Fishing for brown and tiger trout is still good in the collection ditch. Fly anglers have had luck stripping wooly buggers, leeches or small streamers in black or olive using short slow strips. Nymphs under an indicator are working best. Patterns to fish include eggs, chironomids, PT nymphs, gold ribbed hares ears and copper Johns. Spin fishermen should be using spinners, Kastmasters, panther Martins and other small lures fished slowly. It is artificial presentations only in the collection ditch, which includes the pond behind the hatchery all the way to Brown Dike. Wading is not allowed the entire length of the collection ditch. No recent report, but anglers should expect unsafe ice forming here. There may be some open water. At last report, fishing was fair to good for 13- to 16-inch trout. Either dark or flashy spinners or small plastic baits fished with varying retrieves should work. Worms or PowerBait fished under a bobber is best for bait anglers. For fly rodders, wooly buggers and leech patterns on a sink tip or intermediate sinking line have been working. The usual assortment of nymph and chironomid patterns are also producing a few fish. Expect unsafe ice here along with some open water for fishing. Fishing should be good for rainbow trout and tiger trout in the 9- to 12-inch range. Anglers fishing for trout should use spinners, nightcrawlers, and PowerBait. Fly fishers should use midge patterns, leeches or woolly buggers. Fish the buggers and leeches slowly. Cave Lake is lowered to minimum pool and unfishable. Cave Lake is closed to fishing due to shorelines that are very soft and dangerous due to the complete saturation of the soil. Comins is covered with varying thicknesses of ice, with the north lake being 40% open water. Anglers report 3 to 5 inches of ice and anglers may want to give it another week or two before venturing upon the ice. Even then, drill test holes as you head onto the ice. If anglers attempt to fish from shoreline, a mix of spinners, nightcrawlers, PowerBait, and a fly behind a bubble should catch fish. Comins received 10,043 rainbow trout this fall averaging 8.9 inches. During northern pike suppression efforts this fall, rainbow trout were observed in the 1.5- to 4-pound range. Please note that NDOW has placed radio tags in several northern pike. These pike will have an orange Floy tag near their dorsal fin and a small antenna (~ 7 inches long) coming from their stomach. Please return these fish to the water for research purposes. Please do not return pike without the tags back to the lake. Black bass fishing is poor. There is a limited bluegill fishery at Comins and anglers are encouraged to release bluegill so that their population can become better established. Illipah Reservoir is covered with 3 to 5 inches of ice with some water on top of the ice near the middle of the reservoir. Ice near standing water should be considered unsafe. Give this lake another week or two before trying to ice fish and drill test holes as you venture upon it. The road to Angel Lake was closed for the winter earlier this week. There will be no fishing reports until May, when the road re-opens. Ice has covered the high mountain lakes. Anglers can expect winter conditions in the high country and only experienced back country travelers should visit them. There will be no more reports on these waters until late spring or early summer depending upon snow conditions. With colder temperatures and fish being cold blooded, they are moving more slowly. So anglers need to slow presentations down and spend more time fishing sections of streams. The colder weather is also starting to lock up some of the moisture in ice, slowing stream flows a bit. With recent snowfall, expect 4WD conditions in Lamoille Canyon. The tail water below South Fork is still producing some trout but flows are very low, so fish are holding in the pools. Water conditions below Wild Horse Dam in the East Fork of the Owyhee River have dropped significantly and icy wading conditions and snow are keeping many anglers away. The flows on the Jarbidge and Bruneau rivers are still low, and haven’t changed much and fishing has been slow to fair. Access to the Bruneau and Jarbidge is probably through Idaho. As of Dec. 4, the East Fork of the Owyhee was flowing at 2.39 cfs below the dam and showing ice at Mountain City; the Jarbidge flowing at 5.05 cfs; the Bruneau was showing ice; Salmon Falls Creek was at 41.0 cfs; Lamoille Creek at 2.76 cfs; the South Fork of the Humboldt at 5.03 cfs; Cleve Creek at 7.05 cfs; and Steptoe Creek at 4.42 cfs. Joe Doucette is a former public information officer for the Nevada Department of Wildlife for eastern Nevada and also owns the Elko Fly Shop. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.