How to tell if ice is "thick enough"?

[Bmarsh]

[quote MMDon]Pretty simple. Stay off the ice if you don't know what you are doing or go with someone who does. Even though the ice could be 8" at the bank, any where there are springs could be 1" thick. Unless you know how to use a spud bar to continually check the path in front of you and have checked the thickness to begin with, you are in danger of leaving your family without a loved one. I lost a good friend who knew how to check the ice but ice changes, even daily. One slip can be fatal.[/quote]

This ^. Ive ice fished for 5 years now and Im still not comfortable with gauging ice. I won't fish early ice for that reason. Consequences are too big.
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