My early ice rule.

[leech~~]

My early ice rule is never go on a lake until after Christmas. I just don't want to chance dying before Christmas and rune the Holiday for my family for the rest of their lives!

I know, more fish for you!

[bigbad401]

It is not a bad rule. I am also maybe too safe not to ruin things for my family. That is why I try to have 6 inches of ice before I go out. A couple fish is not worth a swim in the drink.

[brianh]

Don't mind being cold or wet; just not at the same time.

[Learning2Fish]

my rule is i'm the eleventh [PoorWordUsage] out on the lake good or poor ice. Even for driving out there i'll be the eleventh one cruising around.

[joneshat11]

Sounds like a dumb rule to me. Ice could be thin anytime of year. They only rule I work from is testing with my own chisle, wear my lifejacket, have safety ice claws, 50' rope and at least one friend. Time of the calendar means nothing to safe ice and if you use that time table it's not good!!

[BrdHunter01]

Calm down buddy... He didn't mention anything about ice thickness... He just didn't want to ruin xmas for his family. Great Rule!

[JimBuck]

I typically wait till' I see people on a few lakes then I will venture out with a few people. Drill often, wear picks and don't travel alone. I'd like to get out ASAP but I'm not gonna be dumb about it. Stay smart out there.

Calendar dates are quite important for ice conditions. I know plenty of guys who keep a log of daily trips on the ice and recording ice thickness is very useful for future trips. Put some thought into it.

[Craigums]

It's a good rule but I have the 19th-22nd off work so I don't think I'll be following it this year

[joneshat11]

Putting thought in to it is not looking at the calendar dates. What about a couple of years ago people ice houses where falling through the lake in January?? That was after xmass and I'm sure his family would miss him just as much!! You have to check the ice every time you go out and you can't go buy the rule of "I typically wait till I see people on a few lakes"!! I've seen many people fishing on ice that was 3 inches before. I checked the ice and if you went just went twenty feet over there was 2 inches of ice.

People who put posts out there like this of what time of year is when safe is are miss leading and not thought through. Always, bring the proper equipemnet to test the ice is the only way to make sure it is safe no matter what time of year it is!!

[ironman]

I'll go out on 3 inches, I've been out on two. Two inches of good clear ice is plenty for my wieght. Now before people jump down my throat, thats fo me. Every one is different. If you weigh 275 your going to want more than two inches. I dont push it, I'm not a thrill seeker, I'm not just trying to be the first one. When there is first ice, I take my time, checking the ice with my spud the entire way, almost using like a walking stick. Like said earlier, ice is never safe no matter what time. I'll probably try my first little lake this weekend...I have a feeling I could fish it today..but dont feel like it.

[BrdHunter01]

No one said he was takeing his 3500 out with his house behind it... Maybe hes planning on using a portable? And again he said nothing about thickness... Hes just stating that for familys sake he will wait until after xmas.... He didn't say that after xmas there would be 12 inches and he'd be driving his full size pickup out.... He never stated he wasn't going to check ice conditions.... Lay Off!

[leech~~]

joneshat11, Sorry if my post up set you. Ya, I really wasn't saying anything about all the precautions everyone needs to make for their selves when it comes time to go out on a lake. I do have another whole set of guidelines I use for when I do, much are the same as you have suggested. I was just thinking about how my family would feel each year when Christmas rolled around and they had to remember me not being there with them each year. It would be hard on them I'm sure. I hope you have some good early fishing outings & a Merry Christmas with your family. Leech~~

[Twins 57 Fan]

In my experience some of the best fishing can be before x-mas. Just gotta find the safe spots.

Good luck

[joneshat11]

Leech and all, I'm not trying to start nothing here. Ice Fishing is a follow the leader type sport. Sayings like the time of year, I wait till I see others out there, I wait till this certain ice thickness and others are what causes these types of accidents each year. My friends and I go out each year on thin ice taking all precautions like spud bars, life jackets, safety ice claws, and number of friends. We also, make sure that we keep our space from one another. Because people use like I wait for other first we have had people come up to us on the ice with nothing but street clothes on and ask us "is anything biting??" it almost starts a fight cause first off I don't want someone standing right next to me on the thin ice and they don’t get the concept. I was even fishing an edge of thin ice where one side was 2 inches and I was on 4 inches. You had to walk around the crack to get there from shore to stay on safe ice. The warden came and I had to yell like mad because he just assumed that the ice was safe because I was out there. I told him that he was on 2 inches there and he ran back to shore very scared. It’s just a pet peeve of mine that 90% of other ice fishing people out there don’t carry safety items and take the follow the leader approach instead of checking for safe ice for themselves. Hope you all have a good holiday also!!

[JimBuck]

Alright, we understand you are very opinionated and strong in your convictions. The comments just came off as very argumentive. Instead of shooting down someone's opinion, add to the thread and stay positive. I'm all for hearing what you and others have to say regarding when they hit first ice. However, when people start attacking someone's personal opinion. I've got no time for it. It sounds like this wasn't your intention, just wanted to let you know why folks probably didn't like what was said earlier. Stay safe.

[minnbowhunter]

It sounds to me that everyone that posted is aware that safety is dependent on several factors, there are areas of some lakes that are never safe, and I won't even bring up rivers. I am pretty sure that everyone will be spending many Chistmas's with their families.

[LakeoftheWoods]

I know exactly what youmean. Least year on my sons birthday, my wifes close friend was killed in a car accident, and now when his birthday comes around every year, instead of being a totally joyous day, its also a somber day

[fishermatt]

From my experience (41 years of ice fishing early ice) 3 inches is enough to walk on if you have ice picks, a rope, and a friend behind you. Use your chisel to test as you go, and know how much ice your chisel goes through with 1 chop!

Some of my most successful ice trips have been on 3-6 inches of ice, so you can bet I'll be out there soon. We got a great freeze last friday.

The lure of early ice is strong!!

[Duffman]

My early ice rule....Always follow the fat guy.

[deadeye]

Is that why people always seem to follow me out on the ice? Huh, it is all coming together for me now. LOL.

I hear what your saying leech. Its always better to err on the side of caution for sure. No fish is worth taking a icy swim or leaving a mess for the family to clean up especially at Christmas.

Stay safe and have fun!

[eyebjim]

My early ice rule....Always follow the fat guy.

Just not too closely!

[leech~~]

Deep Duff!

Again this post wasn't intended for Ice safety, only about who you may leave behind if you go down!

[KG243]

Exactly Leech! Don't be selfish for a crappie! Be safe and remember life jackets don't keep you warm! I have fallen through once and once is enough! Be safe guys and lets hope this cold keeps on coming!

[Borch]

Been there done that. It's the hypothermia that gets you. Precautions are great but you're dealing with a very short window before you go into shock in cold water and weather.

It was in the 40's when I went through the ice and we barely made it to shore and the car a couple hundred yards away. If I hadn't been fishing with a buddy I never would have been able to get the door unlocked.

I don't push the envelope anymore.

[CRAZYEYES]

My rule is dont assume that it is thick enough just beacuse someone else is out there, There are a lot of dumb people out there and monkey see monkey do is not a smart plan. I've only fallen through once while ice fishing and it was 50 degrees out and in 4 ft of water but i almost drown while pheasnt hunting 2 years ago. I fell through in the middle of a cattail slough and the water was right up to my neck. I almost cried the cold hurt so bad and the panic feeling is like nothing else. I just happened to hit a bad spot and was all by myself a halfmile from the road. It took every ounce of adrenaline I had to get out and almost collapsed walking back to the truck with my clothes hard as rocks frozen. I could not quit shivering for hours and should have gone to the hospital. I thought the ice was safe because it was almost christmas and people were driving on lakes around there, but i learned the hard way that you never know and ice is never really safe. Be carefull!!!!