ripstick Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 3" for snowmobile not mine anyway. Up in ely yesterday. Went by robinson lake and there was a guy out there fishing. Why is the army corps so far of from the dnr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
th64 Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Go out carefully drill and measure-2'' good, so the whole lake is 2''? Course not, and I don't feel like typing out the 10 or more variables that effect ice thickness, 4'' gives you some wiggle room 2'' does not IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolffy Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Think that chart is for objects in motion? ? Yes I read on another site that said the measurements were for objects in motion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolffy Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Lake Benton was froze over on Tuesday night as far as my eye could see. I will give it until Thursday and try it then. Might bring a friend along Not sure if your familiar with perch lake north of Ivanhoe but that was completely open last night. Tonight there's about an inch and a half in the bay south of the boat landing otherwise the rest of the lake was open. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putn'am ondaLine Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I am guessing the "one person on foot" who can safely walk on 2" of ice weighs no more than 150 lbs.With all my winter clothing and carrying fishing gear I probably weigh close to 270 lbs., so my minimum safe ice is 2.75", and that is new clear ice in perfect condition. I'm right there with you. The ice we were on today had large areas of 2" and some areas with 2.75" so don't forget to account for variance when you're out there! PS. We didn't walk on the 2" areas, so I can't attest that the chart is an accurate measure for safe travel (which I don't think it is). Chisel goes through, I turn around... that's my first rule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pushbutton Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Love this time of year....every year. Having a discussion between 2 and 2 3/4.... in my mind borders on the insane....and my mind is not all that "normal" to begin with As th64 mentioned ....way to many variables. Maybe just too old and "shriveled up", but will wait a few extra days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad B Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 checked one of the lakes I hit for early ice and it was starting to ice over. from the looks of it I should make my goal of November 30th if I fish this lake as it will be completely froze over by then and atleast 4 to 6 inches thick by then. the lake is kind of protected from the wind a little so that helps it freeze up sooner too. the funny part is that the other lake this one connects to is wide open with a just a slight sign of ice starting to form on its shoreline. going to go there again tomorrow and take some pics of the ice forming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey lee Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Love this time of year....every year. Having a discussion between 2 and 2 3/4.... in my mind borders on the insane....and my mind is not all that "normal" to begin with As th64 mentioned ....way to many variables. Maybe just too old and "shriveled up", but will wait a few extra days [/quot I am with you here PB, my family is far more important to me than me taking a chance to catch a fish a week before anyone else. Just plan dumb to risk a chance like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naturboy Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I went out to a lake one year and there was 12" next to the boat landing only to walk out to a spot start drilling and about dropped my auger as it cut through only 2 inches or so of ice. I couldn't get out of there fast enough, but lesson learned. Another time I went out early in the morning, still dark, set up, only to find out the birds were keeping a spot of water open about 75' from where I was. One more lesson learned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Stark Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 This is the chart from the MN DNR and a link to their general ice thickness guidelines. General Ice Thickness Guidelines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishing tech Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I way about 210# Some walkable ice for me is when I am following a 300# person. I don't mind swimming, but I like the water to be a little warmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred_Bear Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I can't wrap my head around why the charts say a person can go on thinner ice than a snowmobile. Drive a snowmobile into some deep snow or slush and get off, what happens... the snowmobile sits on top, and you sink in to your knees.Do the math, a person on 2 feet has roughly twice the PSI of a snowmobile with a person and gear on it. I must be missing something ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deet Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I can't wrap my head around why the charts say a person can go on thinner ice than a snowmobile. Drive a snowmobile into some deep snow or slush and get off, what happens... the snowmobile sits on top, and you sink in to your knees.Do the math, a person on 2 feet has roughly twice the PSI of a snowmobile with a person and gear on it. I must be missing something ?? Tilt the snowmobile (or ATV) on its side, hit the brakes, accelerate, etc., and you shift the weight distribution, thus increasing the pressure to the ice. That's probably why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishcast Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I might have 3" plus in NW North Dakota by tomorrow! i'm checking out conditions this afternoon. If not by tomorrow, we will in a few days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoWiser Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Go for an unexpected swim in the middle of a lake some night and you'll be waiting for 6" instead of 2 3/4". Bragging rights to your buddies about being the first person on the lake seems cool. Staying alive is much cooler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Sawyer Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 Why anyone would risk their life just for a few fish always blows my mind. To fish in the dark alone, or venture out beyond shore without a spud bar is just not smart. If you need your fishing fix on early ice, BE SAFE, ware a PFD, use a spud bar every step or two, carry some ice picks, even a weighted throw rope, and go with a buddy or two. Simple insurance.Good Luck, I'd rather taste fish at Red Lobster, or maybe fry up a few I froze over fall, instead of getting wet and cold. I'll wait until the ice thickens up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smackem33 Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 I wait till there's 3 to 4. Yes there are a lot of variables with ice but if your not fat and old there is really no risk. You are out of the water before you can even blink, spud bar with picks around your neck you are good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalleyeSlayer21 Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Just use common sense! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris63 Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Won't a fat guy float better than a skinny one?Seems he'll have more insulation if and when he can get himself back on the ice sheet.Just wait till it gets thicker than 3 inches!c63 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frazwood Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 There are a lot of factors when it comes to ice safety. You need to know:1. The ice thickness2. How hard/soft the ice is...3. Does the lake freeze evenly?4. Are there springs?The problem with the DNR's recommendations for ice thickness/safety is that they really want to over-simplify the issue. You can't really publish "guidelines for ice safety" that are universal... so they make them super-conservative. As a kid, I can remember venturing out onto ice that was 2 inches and it was, in hindsight, quite safe! (wouldn't do it again, though).The key thing, to me, is that you have to know your lake. I've fallen through ice that was more than two feet thick (soft spot), on foot, immediately after a car drove through the same area. There are a lot of special cases. For first ice, I stick to lakes/spots of lakes that I know are safe, year after year. Even then, I'm a chicken (and I mean that as a self-compliment), so I bring all sorts of safety gear (ice picks around my neck, etc) and I wait until the ice is 4-5 inches. I'm more than happy to let someone else be the first one out each year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
only ice Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Up around the Duluth area, some of the flowage lakes are still open in areas. Other lakes have anywhere from 2 to 3 inches. No snow in the forecast and cold temps at night will have a lot of the smaller lakes ready to fish by next weekend.CAUTION WHEN GOING OUT !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordie Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 No matter how thick the ice is it always considered not safe. Treat it with respect and use as much caution on 12 plus inches as you would 3 inches. Be safe everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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