Anyone NOT drive on the ice?

[tisosy11]

Then I make sure to set my portable up right next to him, just to see what kind of patience he has!!!

Yeah you won't catch me being the first one to drive on the lake...no thanks.

PS I would like to see an 80 ton tank on 8 inches of clear ice!

[wishing for walleyes]

I have been driving on the ice for over 20 years.I dont drive on the ice untill theres a foot of good ice.I know the lakes i drive on and have never had a problem.Seatbelt is always off,and the window is always down so i can hear the ice crack as i drive.Mostly use common sense as to how the conditions have been making that foot of ice.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

 Originally Posted By: Eskimoman

"If you look at the mathematics and physics behind Ice 8 inches of clear ice will hold and 80 ton tank. My ford ranger on 30 inches of ice doesnt concern me all that much."

Now I am no expert at math but this seams a little out there. I am fine with driving on the ice but as others have stated I do not like being the first one out. I also stay away from areas that I don't know.

The US Army Corps of Engineers has a published study on safe weights relative to ice thickness. If you Google it you will find it.

I was on Mille Lacs this year, on a resort road, and they were plowing with a 3/4 ton diesel on 8" of ice, while another 3/4 ton diesel was pulling out fish houses, passing each other on the same road. It was an eye opener.

[fishrguy]

I used to help out at a resort in Isle on millacs (however you spell it) and after driving 2 1/2 ton trucks with serious plows on em dragging a 12'X24' fish house around I got over the fear. But down in the burbs I tend to stay on the path most traveled with the window down!

[kkahmann]

On the ice roads in Northern Ontario--the ones the transports use to haul in frieght to the fly-in Indian reserves,they all have a sharp turn entering and exiting the lakes--thats to make the trucks slow down. No matter how thick the ice is you can get a wave rolling under it and that spells trouble. Most of thier payloads are in the nieghborhood of 130,000lbs.

I once pumped water on the ice to build a road to move a D-7 to a minning site. Got the ice up to 41 inches thick--we still had to just crawl that dozer cause you could see the ice bubble up.

[hondarider550]

I purchased an atv this year and put chains on it just for the purpose of pulling the shack around on the ice. It was the best decision that Ive made pertaining to ice fishing. I have a rack for the auger and area for added equipment. It is the best way of ice fishing when you want to run and gun from hole to hole. I just feel better about driving a less expensive wheeler around on the ice rather than a $30,000 pickup that would cost a bunch of money to pull out of a lake.

[stinkweed129]

Always makes me nervous to drive out on the ice. Just need to be cautious and be ready for any situation.

Great that you are leading by example though.......just what a parent should do!!

[tisosy11]

Ice Road Trucker!

[BucksnDucks]

You guys who turn your radio's off are crazy! haha I mean come on, whatcha gunna do be able to tell the difference in the popping sounds when ur already in the drink? Little late if you ask me! I crank it, no way do I want to hear that sound thats what makes a guy nervous! I've seen my far share of big trucks on little bit of ice, that I have no worries putting my 3/4 ton diesel on 12 inches of ice! Up until then sure like everyone else im on the wheeler! Like what was posted earlier with the 1 ton diesel's and the v-plows pulling 12x24 houses meeting side by side. If the resorts trust it, then by all means they have a better idea of the ice conditions than any of us arm chair know it alls!

[herefish101]

Wow! people c'mon if you cant drive your truck on over three feet of ice, if that really scares you, just stay home. Or you could just be smart about it and stick to the beaten path, as far as the kid thing mine is only nine months old, but i belive you should teach a kid to respect the ice instead of scaring them. take them out with you show them right from wrong TEACH THEM that is the key. be safe all.

[jigging-matt]

I am teaching my kid the right way to do it. By showing her that yes you could drive on the ice, but the four wheeler is a MUCH safer option IS the responsible way. I have seen trucks fall thru the "road" because a spring suddenly appeared there and softened the ice, so like I said I will drive from time to time, but for the majority of the time it is the 4 wheeler, and not the full size on the ice.

[rockman]

herefish101,welcome to fishingminnesota.com.

The thing that 'scares' me with driving on any ice, three feet thick or not, is to go from three feet thick to just inches thick in a short span of distance.It does happen,especially on lakes with current/rivers/creeks running through them.Large populations of rough fish schooling in one spot, can cause the same conditions.Thick ice is not a problem,but a guy has to absolutely know where to drive, and not to drive.Until I know what the ice conditions are where I am driving to,I go way slow in the truck, or take the atv.

[tisosy11]

Right, like i mentioned earlier. I was dealing with 33 inches of ice all last weekend, but driving back to my cabin I put the 4-wheeler through the ice.

I was familiar with where i was and new the surroundings but you can't always no what to expect...

[Wanderer]

I tell the kids, "It'll never happen to me, until it happens".

You guys that have witnessed breakthroughs are justly cautious. You who have not, why would you be scared?

I was a driver until I got rigged with a wheeler and now a sled. Now, unless there is really good reason to drive my worthless truck out there, I bring one of my ice transports.

I just say its one more potenial problem eliminated by being cautious.

BTW, I've broken through several times. All while walking.

[riverrat56]

I'll be one of the first ones to drive, but I also only drive out after I've walked out checking ice the whole way to where I'll be driving. That being said, I still don't go out on less than 12" and I also drive slowly.

I wish I could afford a wheeler so I could be more mobile on the ice till there is drivable ice, but I can't

For all of you that don't drive out, I understand that and respect it, especially everyone with familys and kids at home, at 19 I suppose I'm a little more adventerous than alot of people but I always proceed with caution.

Common sense is the most important thing to saftey on the ice and that doesn't always come with age, real experience on the ice is the only way to find out what you are comfortable with. I'll drive on 12" and I'll walk on 3" but I'f your not comfortable doing that I'm ok with it and if you want to call me a bit crazy I'm fine with that as well.

[turn_in_poachers]

I try to avoid it as much as possible. Like I keep telling people, It cant be 2 feet of ice EVERYWHERE. Last weekend was the first time out driving on the river. A couple of buddies and I were talkin about it the whole way there. When we passed the 94 bridge and saw open water, yeah, we were nervous. But after seeing the shanty town and what? 30 cars in the same area, it eased our minds a little. But, if I dont have to drive out, I wont.

[tjbassmaster]

I would never drive on a river to much current and it usually isn't that far of a walk to where u are fishing. but thats just my opinoin.

[tisosy11]

Yeah - I would definately not be driving on the river...no thanks in paying the removal fees and such.

The ice on any moving water could flucuate within feet. Not to mention the air pockets that could cause issues.

[afishrmn]

I usually drive out (don't have 4-wheeler or snowmobile anymore) but I, like many others have stated, am not the first vehicle on the ice. I usually try and stay close to the beaten path until later in the season, then I will venture out on my own more and get away from the ice towns.

[Neighbor_guy]

I am usualy one of the last to be on the ice. The lake I have freqwented the most this year is running between 30-34 inches if ice. I am driving out, but I dont like it. I ran my sled intill it was over 24. Then the snow all got blown off and it was to hard on the fishhouse and the snowmobile to run on the ice and the hard pack.

I enjoy the ride and the adventure as much as the fishing so ridding out will always be my first choice.

My adventure into the drink was on Millacs off of indian point. 2.5 miles from the casino. A very difficult very long walk when you and your friend are soaked head to toe after midnight, below 0, in january. 16 inches of ice, just not were we put our wheelers thew.

[tisosy11]

How deep was the water...trouble getting the machines out?

[rockman]

 Originally Posted By: tisosy11

The ice on any moving water could flucuate within feet. Not to mention the air pockets that could cause issues.

I fish a lake/river system,that has a narrows where folks travel through on sled and atv. At one time earlier this winter, this spot had 8-9 inches of ice near the shoreline, but less than 10 feet away had open water with skim ice on it.That is the kind of condition I was referring to in my earlier post.Never assume the ice is safe everywhere.

[Hammer Handle]

I rarely drive on the ice.

I fish on mainly small lakes and walk.

Some can't fish if they have to oar, walk, or cut their own hole in the ice. Yet, they join a health club to excerise for they can't find the right place to do it on their own. : )

[SDWalleye]

Aside from obvious open water and big heaves, is there anything else to keep a watchful eye out for when taking the rig out on the ice?.....or is it just SOL sometimes?

[mr_jman]

I don't have a Truck and I don't have a snow-mobile or 4-wheeler. Needless to say I walk even if its a long one. If I had a 4-wheeler I would definitely drive that though!