Safest start for ice fishing?

[swamp buck]

Have checked just about every post and don't hear anything about someone going thru the ice, whether it's vehicle or snowmachine, atv,etc! Usually someone is offering condolences to an unlucky soul. Does anyone know of any mishaps yet? And where? Are we really collectly smarter and safer now? Hope so!

[nytelyter]

a couple of oversized for the thickness of ice fishhouses have been dropped on a few and also a snomobile went thru out by hutch the other day and a few peoples on here have been wet already be safe and maybe even consider just fishing out of the portable till well after the first at least around metro lakes

[Braley]

Read about a four-wheeler going through ice in Wisconsin, Fisherman didn't make it. Delavan Lake, article in Janesville Gazette.

[Guest]

Quote:

---

Are we really collectly smarter and safer now? Hope so!

---

The answer for some is no. There have been the small percentage knowingly venturing on 2 1/2" of ice... I caught wind of a 4 wheeler pulling out a large permanent shack on 3"-4" of ice recently... common sense? No... maybe a little more luck this year.

For the most part, I think most people *follow the crowd*... If a number of other people are going out, they will follow.

[swamp buck]

What is everyones "rule of thumb" for driving trucks out on ice? How thick? For me, it's gotta be at least 20" thick! And yes, I know that no ice is safe ice!

[Cyberfish]

I need my pickup for work, so I won't drive on lakes unless there is well established iceroads. Even then it is not totally safe, but probably safer than the highways...

[Wables]

I usually start walking out on 3" of ice, but keep spikes handy and wear a life jacket. I like to wait for 7-8" of ice before the 4 wheeler and permanent shanty go out. I NEVER drive my truck on the ice, unless it is on shallow parking lot to unload my ATV. I have been through the ice twice, but never fishing. Once was skating as a young kid, and once trapping in high school. I don't want to go through again as they say "third time is the charm."

ETA: I talked to my insurance agent 5 years ago about what happens if my truck goes through the ice. He said that I was on my own and the company would not cover it. That was at a State Farm branch in Michigan.

[SteveWilson]

Quote:

---

I talked to my insurance agent 5 years ago about what happens if my truck goes through the ice. He said that I was on my own and the company would not cover it. That was at a State Farm branch in Michigan.

---

My State Farm agent in Minnesota said I would be covered.

[Dobber]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Are we really collectly smarter and safer now? Hope so!

---

The answer for some is no. There have been the small percentage knowingly venturing on 2 1/2" of ice... I caught wind of a 4 wheeler pulling out a large permanent shack on 3"-4" of ice recently... common sense? No... maybe a little more luck this year.

---

All candidates for ice fishing's version of the Darwin Award!