LIFE-SAVING ICE SAFETY NOW ON SALE

FRABILL’S ALL-NEW U.S. COAST GUARD-APPROVED I-FLOAT SUIT HITS STORE RACKS JUST IN TIME FOR FIRST ICE

Plano, IL (November 17, 2016) – As November’s temperatures dip and ice begins to spread southward from America’s Northern expanses, ice fishing aficionados are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to get their seasons started. First ice provides some of the best angling of the hard water season, but it can be tricky business – and potentially life threatening. So how does one whet their appetite for early ice without actually getting wet?

Ice anglers are always best served by the guiding mantra, When in doubt, don’t go out. Let common sense be your guide. And if you have no common sense? Follow these ice safety tips from Frabill, the company that’s serious about your ice safety.

Safety starts before you ever trek out on the ice. Always pay attention to ice conditions and never attempt to venture out on ice less than 2 inches thick. The Minnesota DNR recommends at least 4 inches of clear ice for ice fishing on foot, 5 inches for snowmobile and ATV use, 9 to 12 inches for a car or small truck, and 12 inches for medium-sized trucks.

Ice fishing fatalities are not actually caused by falling through the ice. They are caused by being unable to climb back onto the ice. Aside from following the above guidelines with respect to ice thickness, an ice angler’s best precaution is to always carry ice picks. If you fall through the ice, immediately turn toward the direction from which you entered and use your ice picks to pull yourself out of the water while vigorously kicking your feet.

Even with picks, self-rescue isn’t always easy. What you wear on the ice can save your life. Select an ice suit that won’t hold in water weight. All Frabill I-Series Suits feature specially designed mesh drainage areas that allow water to flow rapidly out of the suit, expelling the additional weight of the water and making self-rescue easier. Of course, they also come standard with ice picks.

Frabill’s new I-Float Suit (Jacket and Bibs) was awarded Best New Technical Apparel at the 2016 ICAST New Product Showcase, and takes ice safety to all-new levels. In addition to possessing the ice safety features of all other Frabill I-Series apparel, this exceptionally engineered, ultra-functional and highly comfortable cold-weather suit has built-in flotation. And not just any flotation: The Frabill I-Float Jacket is certified by the U.S. Coast Guard as an approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) – an accomplishment that took several years of intensive research, engineering, manufacturing and close communication with the Coast Guard to achieve. The I-Float Bib is not U.S. Coast Guard certified, but compliments the Jacket by providing additional flotation that elevates the legs, reduces fatigue, and greatly assists in self-rescue.

“The Frabill I-Float
Suit is one of the safest, most technologically advanced, high-performance, cold-weather fishing suits an angler can wear, while providing all the benefits of built-in U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation,” says Frabill Director of Brand Management – Fishing, Ryan Olander. “Throw in high-performance materials and angler-friendly features like fully-articulated knees and elbows that allow unrestricted movement without binding, and you have a suit that’s not only extremely safe, but one that anglers are going to love to wear… and that’s the idea.”

In addition to it’s unique flotation properties, the new I-Float Suit shares all the proven safety features of Frabill’s other I-Series apparel, combining signature ergonomic design, durable construction, self-drainage openings, integral ice picks and 3M^TM Scotchlite^TM Reflective Material with a new high-visibility USCG Orange lining and garment accents for better detection while out in the elements.

When in doubt, don’t go out. And when you do venture forth, equip yourself with apparel that can help save your life. Frabill’s award-winning I-Float Suit is now available for purchase at Frabill retailers everywhere. Jackets (MSRP $299.99) and bibs ($249.99) are sold as separates in adult sizes small through XXXL. Learn more about Frabill’s complete line of Ice fishing apparel and accessories at www.frabill.com.