The sport of ice fishing continues to grow, and as excited as we are to see more women fishing on the ice, it’s equally important to ensure that everyone walks onto that ice with safety in mind. By utilizing some basic ice safety knowledge, and with a few precautionary measures, we can all have a fun and safe experience on the ice.

THINGS TO KNOW

The safety of ice is gauged by its thickness, and that thickness cannot be measured solely by an ice’s appearance. It’s important that you’re able to measure the ice--when you start your day of ice fishing and throughout the day in case conditions change. Oftentimes, local bait shops will have an idea of the current ice conditions. This can be helpful especially if you’re fishing an unfamiliar body of water, but don’t rely completely on that insight, as the conditions may have changed.

When ice forms over a body of water, it doesn’t freeze uniformly, so even if you can successfully deem one area of ice as safe, that doesn’t mean the rest of the surface is equally safe. It’s so variable that it can be two feet thick in one spot and only inches thick a few yards away. There are many variables affecting ice’s thickness, including: snow cover, waterfowl and fish activity, water depth, the size of the body of water, load distribution on the ice, air temperature changes, and water currents.

Because of these elements, newer ice is stronger than old ice. Be on the lookout for clear ice as well, which is safer than cloudy or snowy ice. When a layer of snow blankets the ice, its insulating effect slows the freezing process. Additionally, snow adds weight to the ice. As a rule of thumb, snowy ice is half as strong as clear ice.

Moving water, which is more common with frozen rivers or streams, eats away at the bottom of the ice. In those instances, be aware of narrow channels, where the current will be stronger. Also note, the outside corner of a bend in a river will have faster moving water and result in weaker ice. Meanwhile, ice near the shore can be weaker than ice in the middle of a body of water, due to more disturbances along the shoreline.

While on the ice, it’s not uncommon to hear some booming and cracking, which result from ice expanding and contracting due to temperature changes. It doesn’t necessarily signal danger, but be on the lookout for other signs of unsafe ice, knowing that even safe ice can become unsafe on a warm, spring day.

In general, ice safety guidelines stipulate that ice less than four inches thick is not safe, and that four inches is the minimum for a single angler to be on the ice on foot. Beyond that, the guidelines are: at least 5-7 inches of solid, clear ice for snowmobiles and ATVs to be on the ice, only take small cars and trucks on ice that is at least 10 inches thick, and at least 15 inches for full-sized trucks.

Driving anything on the ice increases your risk. Some anglers will drive with their windows cracked and seatbelts undone, in case they need to exit the vehicle quickly during an emergency. If you must drive on the ice, drive slowly and park vehicles at least fifty feet apart to disperse the weight. Then, it’s recommended that you move parked vehicles throughout the day to prevent sinking, while checking the ice below the vehicle for changes in thickness throughout the day.

Finally, fish with friends, and always tell someone where you’re going!

GEAR TO HAVE

As mentioned, you need to be able to gauge the ice’s thickness. Ice thickness can be checked with an ice chisel, auger, or cordless drill, and a tape measure.

An ice chisel is a metal rod with a flat, sharp blade at the end that you drive into the ice--with a quick stabbing motion--to create a small hole by hand.
Ice Augers, whether they’re manual, electric, or gas powered, drill your fishing holes, but can also help you check the ice. It’s worth noting that they do increase your weight, and aren’t the most efficient option for quick, small ice checks as you move around on the ice.
In comparison, cordless drills are a quick way to check thickness, with the capacity to drill through many inches of ice in only a few seconds. Make sure you have a wood auger bit, which has a spiral around the shaft shaped to withdraw ice chips from the hole and keep the drill from getting stuck. If you use this on the ice, make sure you dry and lubricate the bit so that it doesn’t rust between uses.

Once you have made a hole in the ice, you’ll want a tape measure to keep your measurements precise. Estimating with your eyes, especially when your judgement may be clouded by the excitement to fish, isn’t an exact science, and may result in some critical errors. Some ice skimmers have measurements on the handle, in which case that could be used as an alternative measuring device.

What you wear while ice fishing can be another critical component of a safe ice fishing outing. As previously mentioned, some ice fishing gear is equipped with floatation assisting materials. Opting for gear with floatation capabilities will be a huge asset, should you fall through the ice. In those emergency situations, floatation gear will help keep your head above the water, help to minimize some of the shock from the experience, and allow you some extra time in the water to think more clearly about how to exit the water.

Some additional safety gear to consider keeping on hand while ice fishing includes: life vests, throwing devices (for rescuing someone in the water), and ice picks. Ice picks are small, handheld tools with sharp points that assist you in self-rescuing. Rather than grabbing onto slippery ice if you fall through the ice, ice picks help you grab hold of the ice surrounding the hole. If you keep an ice pick on hand, make sure that it’s easily accessible in case of an emergency.

Written by Sam Simma