Ice Safety

Tips

• Any time you go out onto the ice you take a risk.
• Never go out onto the ice alone.
• Ice generally should be clear and needs to be four to six inches thick to support one person.
• Ice thickness is not consistent. Water currents can cause inconsistent ice thickness.
• Don't judge ice strictly by appearance.
• When ice fishing, drill test holes as you progress onto the lake to help judge the thickness and character of the ice.
• The following areas should always be suspect of thin ice:
  • Bridges Inlets and outlets
  • Cracks
  • Narrow spots
  • Seams
  • Partially submerged objects such as trees, logs, brush, embankments, or dam structures
  • Pressure ridges
  • Slushy and darker areas
• Beware of snow-covered ice. Snow serves as insulation. Other times, it has the opposite effect by insulating the surface from freezing.