When do you figure it's safe ice?

[chad 1]

Ok, yesterday I was at the local bait shop and just leaving was a pickup with tipups in the back along with plywood to plank them selfs out on the ice with. Now I been checking alot of lakes in the area for ice thickness and it is not thick enought in my oppion! The most ice I have found is 3".
I know these guy must be really brave or really really stupid!
I really and I mean really love ice fishing but I am not going to push things. Fish aint worth a really cold swim or to die for!
With the cold weather I think in a week or maybe 2 It should be getting safe.
I am not sure I could have any fun sitting on a little chunk of plywood on 2"-3" of ice. nope definatly not for this chicken *****:D :p

chad1

[mickey]

I agree Chad. One year I tried to push it. Sat on good clear 2". I didnt go through but it was too nerve wracking to have fun.
I really like 4".

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Same here. 4" is nice. Have been on 2" also but very nervous about it.

[Mike]

If it's 2" of clear (first) ice, that's formed with no warm up, I'll fish it over shallow water. Only on lakes that I know very well. With 4", it just takes twice as long to drill your hole!:D

I don't view any ice as safe. I'm carefull no matter what when I'm out there.

Mike

[GoneFishin]

I like at least 4" of good ice before I venture out but I venture carefully.

[DaveW731]

I am comfortable on 3", IF I am sure it is 3" and, like Mike said, I know the lake. I stay away from groups of people.
If the ice is good (clear and solid) and the temp is below freezing I will fish on 2" on lakes that I REALLY know well, but I take along ice picks, wear a PFD and check the ice with a spud on almost every step.
If I take anyone with me, I want a good 4".

[FREEPOP]

I figure that the ice is safe after I see my 270 lb. buddy out there fishing for a half hour.

[chad 1]

LMAO, freepop.

[Robert W. McCoy Jr]

Last year I was out in chelsea hunting rabbits.
There were some guys out ice fishing there was on;ly one spot where the ice was froozen all the way to the shore line.
the were walking across that on spot to get out on the ice.
Pretty much the rest of the lake was open all the way around close to shore and the was even some open water out in the lake in a couple spots.
No way.

[jeremy L]

no ice is ever safe, but about 5 or 6 inches is when i can fish without worrying, as much, about going for a swim.

[Sarge]

The only ice I like when fishing is in my glass of coke!:p

[jpollman]

I may be a WUSS but 6" is pretty much my safety zone.

[Banditto]

Mentioned this before, but when I lived in the U.P. we fished the spring thaw of Superior. You would have to jump from float ice to float ice to get past the ice blown up on shore until you made it to the ice shelf. Well I weighed 160'ish and can stand on a piece of ice 5'X5' and maybe a foot thick floating in the water. Granted this is ice full of tiny bubbles, and not clear... but I will never forget walking on it being nervous but getting through it without a problem. Now take a sheet of clear ice 3" thick and you won't have a problem. Just be safe and check it with a spud for every step.

[Fried Fillets]

Chad, another week or two? With the cold nights and daytime highs in the 20's, the lakes should be making at least 1/2" a day, depending on possible currents and snowfall. I've fished 2", first ice, on some local canals but feel much better with 4" supporting me.

[Steely-Head]

3" BARE MINIMUM, I think, preferably 4".

[chad 1]

Yes because with the cold we are getting here we are also getting snow witch is insulating the ice. So yes I will wait that long.
Bye the way thanks, your name made me hungry for a fish dinner:D

chad1

[Houghton laker]

I will fish on 3in. of new clear ice no problem!...just as long as i can get out there throwing my spud every step of the way!! If I am not drawing water with my throw it is safe to walk on!

[Ruler]

3 inches of ice is more than enough for me. I was out at linwood on 2" day before yesterday with no problem. As I ventured out farther (past the rest of the people), it got to 1.5" and less- this is when I start getting nervous. I've fished on about an inch before though. (Two people couldn't be closer than 15-20 feet though or water would come up on top and the ice make sickening cracking noises.)

I've heard of using plywood to spread your weight out when fishing, but on 2"? I think the people who use them on 2-3" need to re-evaluate their estimate of how strong the ice is.

I wrote an article that's on the front page on ice safety and ice formation if anybody's interested. It goes through several points to consider when going out on the ice. Really depends on a lot of conditions. (Example- try dragging me out on the Saginaw River on 2"! :eek: Ain't gonna happen!)

[UNCLE AL]

I've fished first ice in cuts, and near shore on Saginaw Bay, knowing there was 2-3 feet of water underneath, and only had to use my boot heel to open a hole. Won't go any farther. Last ice in the spring is the same way. Good fishing both times.

[ybone]

have fished about every thickness for years. went through for the first time at Pere Marquette last year. hit a spring surrounded by 16" of rock solid ice. won't ever forget it. been on rock hard 2, will fish 3 but love 4 and up. be careful guys (and gals)

[discdrag]

3", altho ive been on in 2 or less-thats reallly scary when you feel the ice settle and wobble every couple steps!!!!!

[Boomstrike]

I know its safe to go on the ice when the first 50 people don't go through:eek:

Steve