Ice safety question

[mixxedbagg]

If a lake had good, fishable ice in December, but a lot of slush, is there any likelihood that the weight of the snow has pushed the ice down enough to make it unsafe to fish on? Can slush on top of ice weaken the ice significantly even if temps never exceed freezing?

In other words...

I don't know of anyone who has been on a lake recently that I want to ice fish, so I have nobody to ask. I was out there in December and found 8" of ice at that time. The lake, like others, has a ton of snow now. I'll be out there by myself and I'm wondering if I should be concerned that the weight of the snow or presence of slush could affect this ice.

[jBohmer]

It's been pretty cold out since December.

[TooTallTom]

Without knowing how much time the lake has spent with significant amounts of snow (read "insulation") on it, it's really hard to say what condition the ice is in.

Maybe just go slow on foot, and drill frequently to check the ice?

[mixxedbagg]

That's sort of what I worry about...that there is a lot of weight stress on the ice and popping holes in it might be a bad idea. Is that misguided? How much snow weight can say, a foot of ice, support???

[jBohmer]

If you drill a hole and water comes up it is a good indicator that the ice is stressed from weight. Unless their are springs all around I doubt that the thickness is an issue. It has been just too cold for too long. I have been driving out on the St. Croix all month, 19" of ice and shanty towns everywhere. Every lake had slush on it this year. Drill a couple of holes and put yourself at ease, just make sure you know of any possible springs on the lake.

[TooTallTom]

I have no idea, but I'm sure it depends on the quality of the ice.

If you start drilling in, say, two feet of water, close to shore, with your car running on shore, you should be okay if bad comes to worst. Of course, you're the guy who'll be actually doing it and I'm just some guy from the internets.

[mixxedbagg]

Oh...I found the springs last March. I was ice fishing out there in the rain on very late ice. I could see the ice opening up in spots and assumed they were springs to be avoided. It was dark when I set up, on my way off I looked around and couldn't believe how stupid I was for being out there all by my lonesome. My heart was chattering a little while leaving the lake.

[TooTallTom]

Don't tell your wife. She'll never let you go out again!

[mixxedbagg]

She's deathly afraid of ice and can't believe I go out there. There were several arguments before I was able to take my son ice fishing with me.

[SFC]

Check the ice as u go is all u can do, the slush may have froze. Go to the lake and see if anyone has been out recently.

[mixxedbagg]

Nobody has been out there.

I'll just have to check. Now there's a terrible feeling...you start to drill, pop through in like an inch and a half, then you push the auger through some water and hit the ACTUAL ice. Freaks me out every time I'm not thinking about it.

[gotum]

You will be fine but expect a healthy dose of slush. You are not going to loose ice because there is snow and slush on it.

[SFC]

Its even better when your walking and drop a boot through that first layer and hit that second layer = a 2 inch heart attack.

[gotum]

The worst I remember was going on a new lake I had never fished and no one else had been out there yet that year . It was January I took about 6 to 10 steps out onto the lake and was about to drill a hole to check the ice when my brother steps onto the ice and proceeds to fall through up to his knees between me and the shore.

[buzbunni]

If there is any concern about ice thickness, bring a spud bar along with you...and a life vest and ice picks (wear them both before you hit the ice) as well. Fishing with a buddy is highly recommended too. I also carry a throw bag as well.

Early/Late/Any Questionable ice, I give the ice two good thwacks (with a sharp spud bar, and in the same spot) for every 2-4 paces that I take. You can auger every 20 paces or so, but there is no replacement for using a good spud bar at short intervals.

Depth of the lake, and/or natural spring and/or river-creek system turbulence will play a major factor in terms of safe ice thickness, but lacking any of those (slush be darned), you should find solid ice in most areas at this point in the season.

Still, if you don't feel confident...better safe than sorry.

[rodmoen]

all of the slush out there is frozen solid as can be. And remember the bouyancy of the sheet of ice helps support the weight of any snow/slush. Springs are the only real concern for me this time of year and only if i'm driving on it.

[mixxedbagg]

Went out there this morning and drilled a couple of holes near the shore. That gave me confidence so I got sweaty and tired snowshoeing halfway across the lake in virgin snow. The ice was thick enough to be safe, but not nearly as thick as on other lakes in the area. In one spot, I think the ice was only about 14" thick, and almost half of that was 'white' ice that looked like it was just frozen slush.

Thanks for all the advice.