How much ice before you will fish?

[Sam Smith]

Personally I will fish on 2 inches if I stick near shore and in less than 6 feet of water and I have a fishing partner.

[vman11]

Depends on type of body of water you're on for me - river, shallow lake, deep lake, big lake, small lake. My ice thickness lithmus test will vary for each spot.

I will not hesitate to fish on 2" of clear ice if the conditions are right. If my chisel consistantly goes through in one stab I'm thinking twice about fishing that day.

[Fred_Bear]

Three inches

[Rick G]

2-2.5in of good clear ice. Feel better about being on 3+ though

[JigginIsLife]

if i pack light 2 inches will work, but its gotta be solid clear strong ice. probably 3.5-4 bring the whole kit and kaboodle out with me, i think expirence plays a huge role in where you feel comfortable.

[paceman]

3-4"

[masoct3]

4 inches solid ice.

[hooked79]

i like 3+

[dan z]

3" for me.

[EBass]

Quote:

i like 3+

A consistent 3+ that's clear.

[Gordie]

3 inches is when I will start cutting spear holes.

[Pleasant]

I like 3+, I normally wait for 6-8 and and constant bellow freezing weather and put the permanent out

[bigbad401]

4 inches, minimum.

[eyebjim]

I've fished many times on 2 but I much prefer to wait for 3.

[Fishin4fun_MN]

6 - 8 inches. It depends on if I am by myself or if I have my son (6), my cousin (11), or my nephew (12) with me. 6 inches by myself, 8 if they are along.

[IceHawk]

3 inches for this guy

[popriveter]

I fished on 4" of white ice tonight. It felt very solid and was consistent everywhere I cut. 4" is good for me.

[20lbSloughShark]

With all this snow, 6"

[JeffB]

3-4

[Thunderfoot]

This is my first year of serious solo fishing and I'm the paranoid type so 4-6" for me, prefer closer to 6" being I'm not as experienced. I've been out plenty but generally under the guidance of a friend or relative. If I can't be comfortable with it, I won't go. Not going to sit on the ice and worry the whole time.

[Moe_V]

Reply all: That's what she said

But especially to this one LOL

This is my first year of serious solo fishing and I'm the paranoid type so 4-6" for me, prefer closer to 6" being I'm not as experienced. I've been out plenty but generally under the guidance of a friend or relative. If I can't be comfortable with it, I won't go. Not going to sit on the ice and worry the whole time.

[magicstix]

4"- 6" of good ice now days. Been swimming on 2", not doing that again.

I gained more respect for thinner ice after that day and so did my buddy, scared the begeezis out of him too and he's been icefishing way longer than me.

[pikerliker]

4 inches of good ice to fish, 6 to feel comfortable!

[Stick in Mud]

I'm a wimp...I wait for at least 4''. If anything is sketchy (as in, possible current or heavy snowfall), I wait for more. I have nightmares about falling through thin ice, and after falling through (near shore) on late ice, I've become comfortable letting the early-ice guys get out and catch those early fish....I'll stay on shore 'til it's stupidly "safe."

[pathogen]

Been out on 2.5" but much prefer 4"