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What's the minimum safe thickness of ice for icefishing?
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There is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice.
You can’t judge the strength of ice just by its appearance, age, thickness, temperature, or whether or not the ice is covered with snow. Strength is based on all these factors -- plus the depth of water under the ice, size of the water body, water chemistry and currents, the distribution of the load on the ice, and local climatic conditions.
Check out this site for more info:
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.html -
I'd love to ice fish, but there's not enough ice out here in Texas! Good luck. Let us know how it goes!Comment
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I won't go out on less then 3-4 inches. It is all up to you but again-no ice is safe ice.Comment
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anything over 3 inches is fineComment
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We usually have 6" of ice by January 1st, in Maine when the ice fishing season opens, but there are accidents every year. People will go on the ice in December and sometimes break through.Comment
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You have to know the waqter you'll be on top of, there are danger zones on many large lakes where the ice will be thinner due to different factors (underground springs, points, etc...). The type of ice is also important, white ice isn't safe, Clear ice/Black ice is good and solid. Definitely do your research before going out in the early or late parts of the season.Comment
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If It's just You then 4" But NO shanty or power Auger. I go out on 6" usually the First fish of the seaso isn't worth the risk.Comment
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but it better be GOOD ice, Clear Blue.Comment
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So in conditions where it has been cold and continuing to get colder or stay below freezing, I would say 3.5"-4" although I have seen people fishing in much less, and I think it is unsafe(especially in flowing water), but I do agree not all ice is the same strength.
I know everyone is out to get to their honeyhole spot, but be safe out there.Comment
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