When is the ice no longer safe?

[fargoben]

I have only ice fished for a few years and think it is awesome. When do you think the ice is no longer safe?

[Jack Peterson]

When you have to use a boat to get to it.

("it" being the ice.)

[Spearing Machine]

In my experiences usually the ice pulls away and melts from shore before the ice becomes unsafe. That is why often you will see guys using planks, ladders, etc. to reach the ice when its pulled away form shore just because its still good (or at least ok) ice to fish from.

[hardcore365]

When you dont think its safe its prolly time to not go out anymore.

[crappiegetter]

I have fished on lakes when the ice has been 6 feet or more away from shore. Only in years past that the ice has been thicker than a few feet have I done it. Ice house worked well for a boat and chisel did the job as a push pole. Kind of nice fishing late season ice, no need for heaters and all the extra gear just the basics is all you need.

[DuckBlind]

-8 for the past 4 days, I think it will be safe for awhile...

[fargoben]

Yeah.. at -8 for the past few days, I am sure we are ok for a while. A sh*t-ton of ice to melt. There is no chance I would use a ladder to get to the ice. lol.... that is a bit too extreme for me. I usually don't get on the ice until I see someone driving on it.

Yes, I know I am a little chicken when it comes to ice.

[Big A]

I was always told that the late season ice is great as long as there is still water on top of it.. but once the water drops through and the ice honey-combs... then the days are numbered.

[Ed Carlson]

Lots of factors and influences to ice safety? That is a difficult thing to answer with any certainty.

As the weather warms and the days lengthen things speed up quickly.

The tip about the water dissipating is a very good one to watch. I agree, this is a good indication the ice is crystallizing and week top to bottom.

This season we seen a lot of unusual sloppy ice and unpredictable ice, so I recommend leaning to use extreme caution in days ahead. Do not let past seasons convince you any place in particular will be safe, just because you fished it safely last year.

Never assume anything, be extra careful going into this late season ice.

[fishfearme]

When your plank or ladder can't reach the ice from shore. Then its time to hang it up.

[Deep]

When it turns white you have have limited time,when it turns black, stay off and go get your boat ready for open water.

[OnAFly]

When the ice comes out from your auger in chunks as opposed to shavings.

When you haven't needed to use an auger in two weeks of fishing the same spot.

When you can no longer get on it.

When you fall through.

[Dry_Fly]

when your looking up at the hole and not down at it.

[fargoben]

>When you fall through.

>when your looking up at the hole and not down at it.

I am not sure I came to the right place for advice!

[MichaelSwan]

Yep, when the ice honeycombs and no longer has water. You'll know when it gets sunlight on it and it starts makes VERY CREEPY crackling sounds form the warmth that is is LAST ICE...

[mainbutter]

It can be fun to joke about being dedicated enough to a hobby that you take some risks, but please keep in mind that ice really is dangerous! An acquaintance of mine went through and drowned just very recently.

Good topic to read, stay safe guys!

[that_guy]

I have only ice fished for a few years and think it is awesome. When do you think the ice is no longer safe?

I'm a firm believer in following your "gut" If I show up on the lake and no one has driven out, then I check the ice close to shore. If its still thick I drive, if not, I walk. If you get a bad feeling or see something that makes you wonder...go home. The ice will be out soon enough!

[Dry_Fly]

It's a tough question to answer because one minute it can be safe and the next its not. I've seen it happen many times that way. Always use caution when fishing on ice.

[Stcloudangler]

When you are fishing through a hole you could jump into, thats about it.

[poorB]

if you are pushing it on late ice it is a good idea to wear a life vest. just in case you push it too far.

[Bluegill1510]

Some pretty good tips in previous posts, but as for me I always push it when it comes to late ice because I know how some lakes produce well and being that I don't have the luxury of owning a boat yet, I like being on the lakes with safe, walkable ice as late as possible. Being that said...once you get on ice and you can feel it sink some, then you know its time to call it quits for the season. I am one of those guys who still goes out if a planks don't reach the ice, I just use my waders, and when the lake gets a dark blue with a tint of green color in the ice then you know you only have 1 or 2 days left of ice fishing for the year. If your going to venture out late though always have a life jacket or one of those inflatable vests with you and never walk in shallow weed beds as they warm up the fastest and melt the quickest. You can have some of your best fishing of the year during late ice but as mentioned before it can be some of the dangerous if your not careful!

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I would say that a good general rule of thumb would be that when you can no longer step onto the ice, it is much "less safe" and most people should probably stop fishing.

In my younger, significantly stupider days (okay it was only 4 years ago), 2 friends and I wore waders (and a life jacket) and pushed a paddle boat in front of us to get to the ice sheet about 40' from shore. Pushed the paddle boat onto the ice, hoisted ourselves onto the boat, and jumped down on the "safe" ice. With each step, the ice sagged, and water came up through the honeycombs.

I was scared crapless the entire time, and the fishing wasn't any good. About 3 hours later, when we decided that we were being too stupid for our own good (and the water was starting to come up around the bucket I was sitting on), the ice was probably darn near 50-60 yards from shore. Knowing that the ice was weak near the edge, 2 of us sat down in the paddle boat, while the other one pushed us to the edge. He was able to jump on before the entire "ship" broke through, but barely.

The next morning when I woke up, there were ducks swimming where we had been fishing. Don't do what I did.

[Hardyboy]

I was on the ice one day in Brainerd area and when we went out there was abut 4 inches of water on it and we felt safe. as the day progressed it looked like a toilet flushing in out holes as the water went down them and there was no more standing water. that was my que to leave the ice. standing water is good but when the ice can no longer support standing water it is getting to porous to support anything else for too long.

[fishfearme]

I would say that a good general rule of thumb would be that when you can no longer step onto the ice, it is much "less safe" and most people should probably stop fishing.

In my younger, significantly stupider days (okay it was only 4 years ago), 2 friends and I wore waders (and a life jacket) and pushed a paddle boat in front of us to get to the ice sheet about 40' from shore. Pushed the paddle boat onto the ice, hoisted ourselves onto the boat, and jumped down on the "safe" ice. With each step, the ice sagged, and water came up through the honeycombs.

I was scared crapless the entire time, and the fishing wasn't any good. About 3 hours later, when we decided that we were being too stupid for our own good (and the water was starting to come up around the bucket I was sitting on), the ice was probably darn near 50-60 yards from shore. Knowing that the ice was weak near the edge, 2 of us sat down in the paddle boat, while the other one pushed us to the edge. He was able to jump on before the entire "ship" broke through, but barely.

The next morning when I woke up, there were ducks swimming where we had been fishing. Don't do what I did.

NEVER, EVER, wear waders on the ice! If you do go through they will pull you down faster than an anchor if they fill with water. They are impossible to get off also, when water filled.

[TruthWalleyes]

Wear a belt around your waders to keep water from filling up your waders...Also, be prepared to pull off your waders and leave them behind if you do fill them.

My waders happen to be neoprene, and tight as a condom...So i don't worry about them filling with water as there is no room for water to go...Been under water with them twice and stayed dry.