How to tell if ice is "thick enough"?

[MMDon]

I have 30 years or more on the ice. Safety is job 1. I always wear ice picks around my neck. I always carry a rope in my sled. I wear an self inflate pfd when ever the ice is sketchy. I use a spud bar to poke the ice with every step when I'm fishing new water or early ice. Every year I see people taking risks they don't even know exist and I just SMH. Ice fishing is one of the funnest experiences you can have but as my friend John perished under the ice at Palies, it comes with very serious consequences with one wrong step. Be careful and be safe!
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