These are really some great posts, I belive some fish will survive the winter because of it !!Yes I agree the DO meters are costly but such a great tool.Perhaps we can get Bill Cody to wade in on this subject some more as Bill has commented on it before (see prior posts)I think everyone agrees that the least one can do is try to get some snow off in strips if on the ice for more than a month.But as Cecil commented if you get an inch of ice and 4 inches of snow you have a problem !!