How much ice do you need?

[bogwalker]

How much good ice does it take to make you feel safe? Walking, portable, 4-wheeler, pickup?

[TiNK3R]

I was out on 3 1/2 last year with a small sled with. It was a little nerv wracking but I didn't have any problems.

5" is good, but I think consistancy is more important than a relative number.

[CJH]

I try to wait until 5-6, but that is just me. Tend to be a little conservative at first ice. Just not worth it to me, its a long season.

[Casey Sunsdahl]

Never be first and never be farthest..

[fishwater]

2"..

[bigbad401]

I try to stay off until 5-6 inches are out there. Even though I did go to Rush Lake last year when there was only 3-4 inches in one of the bays. The noises that new ice makes are spooky.

[Fever]

Walking (3-4 inches), portable (same as walking as that's how you'd get there), 4-wheeler (5-7 minimum in my opinion, and I'd say 5 is pushing it), pickup?- (depends on the truck) Are we talking S-10, Ranger type or 3/4 ton - 1 ton... Regardless, I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee limited and I don't drive out on less than a foot. I also am never the first on the lake with the vehicle. You can never be too safe. Remember to be carefull. Also, these are just my personal guidelines and others may be different so use you own best judgement out there.

[BobT]

I won't walk out on less than 6 inches. Lake ice isn't a fixed thickness like a board. It can be 4" one place and just a few feet over only 2". I've experienced this on more than one occasion.

I remember driving out on Osakis with the truck once near Battle Point. There were others on the ice but I checked the ice anyway and found it to be about 10" thick. When I finally parked and drilled my first hole next to the truck I found that I was on less than 6" of ice!!! I left immediately to go home an change shorts.

I won't drive a truck on anything less than 12".

[fishnowworknever]

About 2" to walk on with ice picks and a chisel.

At least 12" to drive on.

[Jim Uran]

I like 3-4" at minimum to walk out on. Of course use caution, go with a buddy, and have the right tools to get out if you do fall in.

[cementhead21]

a numbrer of years ago i was the first out on the ice of a nameless lake with my truck. how we did it was to walk in front of the truck popping holes untill we got to where we wanted to be.. i drilled holes about every 1o feet for over a mile that day and we made it out safe. i will do the same thing every year till i know the ice is good. the sad part is if you are seen on the ice it like opens up a highway to where your fishing.then that turns in to a parking lot. and for me thats when it gets a little scary.

[Glockwinger]

I like 4" to walk out while wearing the floating Arctic Armor suit. I wait for about 12" - 14" to drive the 1/2 ton with the wheel house out. Like others have said, it also depends on ice conditions, not just the thickness. I watched a truck breaking through 12" of bad ice on Mille Lacs a few years back. Luckily nothing bad happened.

Stay safe out there! We are only about two weeks away from possible good walking conditions.

[Laska]

So when do you guys put out Perm shacks, like drag outs on skis where you dont nes need a truck...

[gritsnham]

i would say about 2" to walk out on but when the ice is that thin it is a methodical walk with the chisel and if it takes anything less than 3 chops its back to shore with the tail between the legs. Just be careful going out on early ice and check the conditions often ( a chisel is a must)and NEVER go out on early ice alone!

Be safe everyone this is the start of the 4-5 month season!

[duckman5547]

Grits, 3 pokes for 2 inches of ice? Better sharpen your chisel. I can put my chisel through 4 inches with 1 poke. I will fish on 2", pull wheel house out with 4 wheeler on 6". Drive on 10".

[deadeye]

I like at least 3.5" to walk out on. 4" is much better and 5" I finally fish at ease. With under 4" I will usually just come back the next day because by then its over 4". Its so much easier to go home and have a couple brews than to try and deal with getting out of the water.

When I head out I have the ice picks around my neck and I chisel my way out to the spot. Several times I have found there to be plenty of ice at shore and as I head out it changes so its wise to check as u go.

For my truck, I like at least a foot. 14" is better. I have seen guys drive out on less than 10" and survive, but it makes me cringe when I see it.

[gregg52]

that chisel must weigh couple hundred pounds

you cant poke a chisel threw 4inches of good ice

[harvey lee]

I wait until I find a sold 4 and see others out on the ice. I then also wear my Artic Armor suit incase I fall in and also have my ice picks with.

[mole]

I will walk on 3". I go out with ice spud checking every step of the way, I carry ice picks around my neck, and I wear Artic Armor. No way will I drive on less than 14".

[CrowRiverRat83]

A good 6 inches for me to walk, 7 or 8 for the wheeler, and at least a consistent 12 for even my Ford Ranger 2WD. Its just not worth it to me to push the envelope.

[Pleasant]

I will venture out on 3 with all my safety equipment with me checking very often as I walk with a chisel. As has been stated if I go out and there is 3 normally if it is cold an I wait a day I can put out a small permanent a day or two later, with no concerns. I like to have 6-8 to run the wheeler on. I choose not to drive the pick up on the lake...

[crappiebuster]

3.5 for foot traffic and portables. 7 For the wheelhouse and 4wheeler. 11 to drive truck on

[KG243]

8" walking I like my life to much! To drive over 12" of CLEAR ice.

[zooks]

I prefer 4" to walk but have met a friend out on 2.5" before. Let me tell you that he got a talking to that afternoon...

Otherwise, I try to stick by the DNR guidelines as they are a bit conservative when looking at the physics but I'd rather be dry that risk it. As mentioned before, clear and consistant ice is way more important in my book that thickness. Good luck all and keep the snow away and cold air coming!

[timjones]

I will walk and drag the one man portable on 3 to 4 inches with the spud bar, ice picks, and life jacket on. At 6 to 8 inches it is time for the Polaris Ranger and the Voyager 2 man. Then at 12 inches I will bring out the wheel house with the Polaris Ranger.