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:
    • Narrow spots
    • Bridges Inlets and outlets
    • Cracks
    • Seams
    • Pressure ridges
    • Slushy and darker areas
    • Partially submerged objects such as trees, logs, brush, embankments, or dam structures
  • Beware of snow-covered ice. Snow serves as insulation. Other times, it has the opposite effect by insulating the surface from freezing.