Ice Fishing Safety Tips

Common sense and safety

A dip in the lake is great in June, but plunging into icy waters in mid-January can be fatal. A little common sense goes a long way.

• Take a buddy, a cell phone, and a rope. When walking on the ice, walk a distance apart until ice thickness is determined.
• Avoid alcohol. Booze interferes with response times and common sense. It increases risks of hypothermia by reducing heat production and causing heat to escape the body.
• A pair of wooden-handled (non-sinking) ice picks or screwdrivers attached to a few yards of cord will assist you in getting out of icy water.
• Ice should be at least 4 inches thick. Thickness can vary throughout the lake due to congregating schools of fish, waterfowl, rock piles, weed beds, currents, and springs.
• Life jackets are as important on the frozen lake as in the summer. However, life jackets worn in vehicles can interfere with an emergency escape.
• Avoid snow-covered ice. You cannot see cracks and small holes.
• Contact local resorts or bait shops and Game and Parks offices for information about ice conditions.
• Heed diamond-shaped thin-ice signs within fenced areas. These warn of aerations systems in operation on the lake and weakened ice conditions for many yards beyond the signs.

A guide to ice thickness

Avoid driving on ice, especially at night. Almost 70% of ice fatalities involve a vehicle. If driving on ice, move the vehicle frequently to avoid weakening the ice. Snowmobiles and ATVs require at least five inches; avoid areas with cracked ice. The American Pulpwood Association recommends the following weight limitations:

• 2-inch ice - one person on foot
• 3-inch ice - group in single file
• 7.5-inch ice - one 2-ton car
• 8-inch ice - one light truck, 2.5 tons
• 10-inch ice - one truck, 3.5 tons
• 12-inch ice - one heavy truck, 7-8 tons
• 15-inch ice - 10 tons
• 20-inch ice - 25 tons