How much ice do you need?

[Bigslugger]

3" and I will venture to the weed line on a small lake I know very well, while taking every precaution I can make. Other than that 5" of solid ice to venture off further.

[shizzy]

I'm just a puss. 6"+ to walk on and I don't like driving on the ice ever.

[walleyvoyager]

one good poke with a carbid tipped 5 pound chisel every step. if the head wont go through I wont go through. never fails. takes about 3 inches. Walk the shore lines and than straight out to the fishing spots.

[TyGuy02]

does anyone ever worry about having too many holes and/or vehicles near each other? I know I do! maybe it's just me, but I've been looking for posts like that and nothing is said about that. I just got a full size pickup this last year and I'm using my father's 6x12 wheelhouse. It's a "Fish and Play" model built by the lodge. With 6 holes in the house and I'm planning on using some "reel weeds" this year. So that's another 4 holes around the house. I'm just wondering if there are any "rules" on stuff like that once there is 16+ inches of ice.

[sodajerk]

The military has far more trust in the thickness of ice than the DNR does, that's for sure. For instance, the army says you need 3" for a (moving) snowmobile, while the DNR advises 5". A couple years ago I found info that said an armored convoy only needs 18" to be safe with tanks and all, but I can't find that right now.

Here's the US Army Corps of Engineers Ice Thickness and Strength Chart.

And here are the MN-DNR General Ice Thickness Guidelines.

Myself, I prefer at least 4" to walk on while pulling my Fish Trap and gear. I weigh about 200, plus my heavy clothes, shack, ice auger, minnow bucket, rods, etc probably add up to 300-325 pounds in a 15 square foot area once I'm set up. Have to be careful though as we all know, since where there is 4" in one spot, you may take step or two and be on 1".

For driving my truck on the ice, I won't do it unless there is evidence that at least a few vehicles are out or have been out there recently, and then I don't drive anywhere there aren't already someone else's tracks.

[sodajerk]

does anyone ever worry about having too many holes and/or vehicles near each other? I know I do! maybe it's just me, but I've been looking for posts like that and nothing is said about that. I just got a full size pickup this last year and I'm using my father's 6x12 wheelhouse. It's a "Fish and Play" model built by the lodge. With 6 holes in the house and I'm planning on using some "reel weeds" this year. So that's another 4 holes around the house. I'm just wondering if there are any "rules" on stuff like that once there is 16+ inches of ice.

I don't know about the actual rules for stationary vehicle loads and number of holes, but I was at an ice fishing contest some years back where there were about 18-20" of ice in February, but it had been warm for a week or so and the ice was no longer prime hard ice. As the day wore on more and more water came up onto the ice through the fishing holes as the ice gradually sagged under the weight of all the people, trucks, sleds and gear.

There was no emergency or anything, but accumulated weight on the ice from multiple vehicles etc is a concern. I try to never park my truck closer than 20-30 feet of another vehicle and 20-30 yards is even better.

[silverbulletguy]

I usually make sure I follow someone bigger than me.

[sodajerk]

I usually make sure I follow someone bigger than me.

LOL! Just like when you're bear hunting? You don't need to be able to outrun the bear, you just need to be able to outrun your hunting partner. Same principle.

[gritsnham]

Walking and fishing I like to have at least 3" but use alot of caution until the ice is 4-5. Driving I dont do until I see bigger trucks then my SUV on the ice and I wont venture far off traveled roads until the ice is very thick

[youngie22]

Was very dumb one day! a buddy swore hteir were vehicles in the same spot "yesterday", so we ventured out in my 8600lb. reg cab 3/4 ton deisel pick up w/ 8' western plow 2 guys and a big 3 man voyaguer w/ all the gear. Got set up and drilled a hole and almost had a heart attack, the auger went through the ice like butter 9" of ice and over 9000lbs on 9" of river ice in 40fow! didn't drive around much after that, felt pretty lucky to get off river w/ everything DRY!!!

[BrdHunter01]

^^^ Did the same thing last year on WBL... As we were coming up to our fishing spot a couple guys were waving their arms at us and yelling "NO, NO, NO" scary but we made it shore in time. Later that night we saw a full size truck trugging out farther as water was coming up our holes, he just kept going with no problems. Couldn't believe it but if the ice is consistent I think 9-10 inches is plenty for a medium/small size truck. I remember my dad telling me they used to drive full size trucks on 9-10 inches no problem... I wouldn't advise it but people do it. I think consistensy is more important than thickness.. JMO

I wait until 6+ inches to walk and 10" for my car. The fish will still be swimming with 6+ inches the same as they do when theirs only 2+ inches... The only difference is I won't be swimming with them

[gulllakeguy]

yea, gotta love those guys that drive up too ya and ask how thick the ice is! lol

[wplatehunter]

I don't like to walk on anything under 4".

[jwenzel]

i think it was 3 years ago a friend and i were out on lake waconia at night and everywhere we had been driving there was snow and plenty of ice but then we came across a large area off the point with no snow on it at all. i didnt cross my mind at first but then i realized something wasnt right and we stopped and could hear the ice cracking and pounding all around us. turns out we somehow drove right through the thin ice signs and that section of the lake had opened up just a few days before. deffinatly scary. we decided not to set up that night and just go home.