Fishing Forum

How thick do you want the ice before you venture out on it?
I have seen guys on some pretty thin stuff.
i watched an old boy last year on about 2 inches chopping away with an axe and thought for sure he was going to take a bath[shocked]
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It really depends a lot on the quality of the ice more than the quantity. I feel pretty good on 3 inches of blue ice that has good uniform thickness. I feel pretty leary of 8 inches of slushy ice.
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+1
Windriver
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I have been on less then 2 before and that was pretty scary when i drilled my hole the water started coming up and my hole was going down that day i drilled my hole and that was about it.
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Depends on how much of a man you are. I took the plunge through the ice on Mud Lake last year on approx 4" of ice. Ended my day pretty quickly. My buddies said i looked like a seal hopping back out. Amazing how fast you can move in that senario.
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I lost a good friend on Palies last year to ice that was almost safe. If you aren't sure, don't go out on it. I won't ever go on the ice again without thinking of John. There is plenty of winter ahead. Don't take chances for a fish that could cost you your life.
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don wasnt the ice your friend was on fairly thick also? like 6 inches... trying to remember the newspaper artical. i just remember questioning the ice i had been on earlier in the year
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No, there was no ice on the lower end so he went up further. He had fished there the day before. As an ice fisherman for forty years he always tested the ice with a bar on his way out. That day he didn't. Fishing alone is dangerous. Getting over confidant can kill you. This time of year we would usually talk a couple of times a day comparing notes on ice thickness. I miss our quest for ice. His wife just wants John to serve as a reminder to be safe, me too.
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Friday I was on Henry's Lake. I moved closer to shore to drill a new hole. My drill wouldn't cut because the blades were iced up, so I picked up my auger and slammed it down on the ice to clear the blades and the auger went all the way through!

I prompty left that spot. The water was about 6 ft deep there. Very glad I didn't go through.
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I hope you had some toilet paper in the truck; that is one of the more scary ice incidents I have heard of!

OvidCreek
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We don't go out on early ice without a spud bar to check the thickness. We always pick the ice before every step. I have mine, a screw together model by Frabil I believe, tied off to a long rope so I don't lose it. There are always thin pockets early in the season.
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