What is "safe" ice?

[20lbSloughShark]

I hear over and over again at school and everywhere I go about people fishing this lake and that, in the last couple of days. I have only seen a few small lakes that are even fully covered in ice and it is cracked and thin. I ask how much ice there is and they say something I consider crazy like 2 or 3 inches of ice on a certain lake.

To begin with I can't believe any lake has ice that thick yet, and also I would never go out on solid 3" of ice, not to mention cracked, watery ice with snow on top. I have always been told that a 4" minimum to walk on and due to the cracks and groan, I will never go out on that little.

Tonight I saw someone fishing on a small pond and couldn't believe it. Is it really a risk that people can take (and not kill me) or are they just overly brave/ignorant. I talk to what I consider smart kids, that say they go fishing on 2 inches of ice... as long as it is a shallow lake. A 10 foot deep lake is shallow; you would still be at least 4 feet under water, that's without the muck factor.

What are your guys' opinion. What is "safe" ice?

[FLAG!!]

3" of good black ice is my min

[otis]

Yup better stay off. Leave the fish for the rest of us.

[Brad B]

you can have 2 plus feet of ice and even under certain conditions even that is not safe. The thing to remember is this "NO ICE IS EVER 100% SAFE". A example of this is up on horseshoe lake in richmond, mn. there is a area on the lake known as the meth hole. this area stays open year round in mild winters and will skim over in harsh winters (like last year). this area can have 2 feet + of ice and once you find the spot you have 1 or 2 inches (and will most likely go in). this area has methane gas coming from the bottom of the lake and this gas keeps it open or the ice thin depending on the winter. If your in doubt check with a chisel as you work your way out. typically 4 inches of good clear solid ice is walkable ice. 6 inches for snowmobiles and 4 wheelers. 15 inches minimum for vehicles in my opinion(depends on weight of the vehicle). always trust your gut feeling if you don't feel comfortable don't do it.

here is a chart that show approximently how much ice is formed under perfect conditions (if there is even such a thing as perfect conditions).

[BobT]

I hear over and over again at school and everywhere I go about people fishing this lake and that, in the last couple of days. I have only seen a few small lakes that are even fully covered in ice and it is cracked and thin. I ask how much ice there is and they say something I consider crazy like 2 or 3 inches of ice on a certain lake.

To begin with I can't believe any lake has ice that thick yet, and also I would never go out on solid 3" of ice, not to mention cracked, watery ice with snow on top. I have always been told that a 4" minimum to walk on and due to the cracks and groan, I will never go out on that little.

Tonight I saw someone fishing on a small pond and couldn't believe it. Is it really a risk that people can take (and not kill me) or are they just overly brave/ignorant. I talk to what I consider smart kids, that say they go fishing on 2 inches of ice... as long as it is a shallow lake. A 10 foot deep lake is shallow; you would still be at least 4 feet under water, that's without the muck factor.

What are your guys' opinion. What is "safe" ice?

I'm with you that 2" is crazy. The news this evening mentioned four deaths so far this year from macho fools. The thing is, it might be 2" when you check but just 1/2" a few feet away. The ice isn't like a sheet of glass that is uniform thickness and isn't uniform strength either. Darn fools deserve to drown if you ask me and the lucky ones can have the fish.

To answer your question, no ice is perfectly safe but there is such a thing as common sense. Oh, strike that. Common sense is not so common.

[Stick in Mud]

I like 4''. I konw guys fish 3'' safely, but when I'm out on really thin ice, I spend so much time worrying that I'm going to fall through that I don't enjoy fishing. For me, it just isn't worth it. Just my .02.

[FLAG!!]

Cool chart thanks for sharing. I should also clarify 3" is cool for me but that is cutting holes every ten-15yards to try to ensure consistency with my buddy 20 feet away, each with ice picks, etc. I think well be fairly safe on friday or Saturday..

[otis]

deserve to drown? wow, nice guy you are.

[Archerysniper]

deserve to drown? wow, nice guy you are.

+1

[Desperado]

Any ice which you are on is "questionable ice" while you are on it

Any ice which you just got off of without incident WAS "safe ice"

Of course as soon as you step back onto it, it's "questionable ice" again

[Hoffer]

As an update I am in Fargo for work and the "teaser" for the news said they are searching for a lost fisherman who was out on thin ice. I am usually one of the first ones out - but this is a big reminder to be careful and choose wisely.

[TonkaBass]

deserve to drown? wow, nice guy you are.

+2

[Gordie]

Any ice which you are on is "questionable ice" while you are on it

Any ice which you just got off of without incident WAS "safe ice"

Of course as soon as you step back onto it, it's "questionable ice" again

+ 1

It has been said by the DNR No Ice is considered to be safe

I personally will go out on 3 inches cut a spear hole and set up the shack

[Matt C]

I smell a; who is smarter/and your dumber postings going....yuck...anyhooooo

The original poster asked, what are YOU comfortable on....

I am comfortable on 4"+.

[leech~~]

What are your guys' opinion. What is "safe" ice?

No ice is ever safe unless it is in my Rum & Coke!

[fishersofmen]

I smell a; who is smarter/and your dumber postings going....yuck...anyhooooo

The original poster asked, what are YOU comfortable on....

Exactly. I wish people were this concerned about my safety when I'm on the highway in my car. That being said 3-4 inches is enough for me.

[JediTrav]

1 inch of ice and i'm rolling out to the fishing spot! nothing like fishing laying down! jk. 3 inches is good enough for the girls I go with!

[pathogen]

Solid, consistent 2" is safe for walking. But how do you know it is solid and consistent? You don't. 10 feet away (or less) from 2" could be skim ice and you're going to take a swim if you venture onto it. It doesn't matter the thickness of where you are at the moment, you are at the mercy of the thickness around you. That's why no ice can be considered safe. Depending on temps and current, ice that was safe today can be a death trap tomorrow.

[FISHINGURU]

6 inches, I'm in no hurry to fall through.

Last winter up on Rainy Lake my buddy fell through the ice when it was 3ft thick and -10 out. Just one of them spots, he had his AA suit on though, I had to reach down and pull him out. Only thing that got wet was his feet.

[BrandonJ]

4in and im drillin holes the whole way to my spot even if other ice test dummies are way out on the lake.

[Kettle]

4in and im drillin holes the whole way to my spot even if other ice test dummies are way out on the lake.

+1

Kettle

[cavalierowner]

I'm a bit of a wuss I consider ice to be mostly safe when the temps have been well below freezing and I have seen a lot of people on the ice for at least a week. And then I stick to the areas people have already traveled on. I'll let other people try out the new ice.

[Kyle]

can you imagine this converstation if you could listen to it coming from everyones mouth? LOL

Except for the guy who said those people that drowned deserved it. Unfortunately sometimes inocent people make bad decisions like this, but it never means they deserve to die. Perfect example of how people just don't care about other people anymore...what if it was you that drowned and someone said that about you?

[LakeoftheWoods]

I smell a; who is smarter/and your dumber postings going....yuck...anyhooooo

The original poster asked, what are YOU comfortable on....

I am comfortable on 4"+.

yet the title of the post is "What is 'safe' ice".......to which the correct answer is.....no ice is 100% safe ice

[tsande00]

I'm pretty comfortable with 3" and my ice chisel.

2" of new clear ice will easily support a 200 pound man but the problem is you don't know how thick the ice is 10' over and the quality of ice can very too.