So I went up to visit my pond and in the morning the entire thing was frozen like a clear piece of glass. It looks like it is only about an inch thick. We have highs in the 50's so by afternoon it thaws to small pieces. By January it should stay frozen all day. How thick does the ice need to be in order to get out on it and be safe? Does anyone have any tried and true test methods to check it? My kids are asking to get out on it but I don't want them falling through. Thanks.

Hello captwho,
I originally grew up in Northern Wisconsin your ice quality is a large determining factor but as long as it isn't a refrozen slush from a thaw and refreeze. These are my recommendations I was always confident on 4" thick ice for playing hockey/ice fishing on and we would drive cars/trucks on it for ice fishing in 8" thick ice. If your pond is spring fed be careful though wherever the springs are the ice will be thinner. Hope this helps.

Here is a good reference too.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.html



In case you don't feel like following the link



This is from the house in Wisconsin.

Good luck, stay safe and if there is any question either stay off or keep a rope handy, also if you are flying solo a sturdy stick about 8' across can catch you if you do punch threw. It just gets really cold really fast if you do.

Sprkplug... where is that great thread you created for ice fishing????

I can't find it and thought it would be good to add here...

Right here:

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=28490&Number=364688#Post364688

Thanks for the input! Being from AZ I really hadn't thought about the ice from a proactive safety stand point. You guys talk about ice like we talk about sun, heat and dehydration. Thanks again for the experience. Great resource with the video too. Hopefully I can get enough ice for the kids to walk on.

Also, My son loves to skip rocks in the pond. He said "watch this" and threw a rock across to pretend skip and the pond made a crazy whine/music that was completely mesmerizing. Like the whole sheet of ice was a speaker. We couldn't stop doing it. must have thrown well over 100 rocks just for the noise. New experiences with the pond every day!

Yeah, ice is pretty good at producing sci-fi sound effects. Wait until you're standing out there and it decides to get noisy.

If the ice is devoid of snow, break through the shoreline and fling a chunk of ice out over the pond.....it will seemingly slide forever.

A rock will slide all the way across no problem. The ice was like glass. It sounded like when you hit a 500ft, 1/2 inch cable, Resonating through the whole sheet of ice!

You guys know I am a newbie so I ask a lot of questions. What happens if the water level drops after the ice is formed?

I have a very simple test I use. I throw an empty wallet onto the ice and watch my x wife run out to get it. If she doesn't fall through we are good to go!

I would think the ice implodes if the water level drops under the ice. The water is what is pushing the ice up. Last winter in a very small stream, an inch thick layer of ice formed before the stream dried up, and there was a very weird floating layer of ice for the length of the stream with no water.

This link to variable ice thickness death should lead to some mind searching thoughts before venturing onto the ice.

This statement from the article says a lot:



Ken

There typically will be a layer of ice, air then shoreline around the edge of the pond (possibly ice, air, then water too), and the ice in the middle of the pond will still be floating on top of the water. It stays suspended over the water until the weight of the ice is too much for it to support, then it cracks, falls and then again floats on the pondwater. If that happens, be careful because the weight of a person can make the ice with air under it break when a person walks on it.

First clear ice is safest - I've fished on 2-2.5" of clear ice and was totally safe as temps were building ice all day. I would not fish on anything less than 3" if ice is melting on a warmer day - and snow cover can also be tricky as it prevents one from reading ice. Mid to late season, depending on the weather we've had, even 3" can become tricky due to thaws and refreezing and honeycombing, so I like 3.5 - 4" minimum mid and late season ice. When you become experienced, you can read the ice as well and detect springs and seeps which should be avoided, obviously. If you are fishing or exploring solo, take precautions. It helps to know a BOW over several seasons for locations of traditionally suspect areas, although springs can pop up in different areas - at least that's the case in my ponds - so you can't rest on historical data but must remain aware and have a plan for the worst case scenario.

The reverse is also possible, after a fashion. You can have good ice, then get melting snow on top, or even rain, and you're wading through water while standing on the ice. I have punched holes to let the water drain off the ice....pretty wild watching a whirlpool effect take your line or float down.

Then, a cold spell will refreeze that slop, and the next time you go out your feet break through the weak junk before contacting the solid ice underneath.....VERY creepy, nerve wracking stuff.

Tony, when we were at Nate's, the first thing I noticed was the sonar ping sounds that came from the ice shifting. I was a smidge apprehensive until I saw Justin out doing donuts on the ice with a 4 wheeler. At that point, I figured all was good.

Im with TJ on this! I have lived half of my life in North Wisconsin 3 hours North of Green Bay. I have done my share of ice fishing and Snowmobiling on ice. Stupid things happen every year! There are a LOT of variables that go into what you just asked. 3 inch would be my minimum unless I was in like 4 feet of water! But if I am out there over my head I would prefer 4 plus. We have had trucks out on 8 inches (small trucks) so that goes to tell you how much stronger 8 inches of ice is vs 3 inches! It also depends if there are springs in the water and flow under the ice.... Just error on the side of caution cause if you F up in the wrong spot you may never fish again!!! My parents have had 2 of their friends die from ice fishing... Just be careful! You need to know your water!!

RC

Thanks for the answers guys!

I wouldn't even trust 6" of honeycombed ice. Like was said, not only is it the ice thickness, but the condition of the ice.

3" of ice at 20 degress F with no wind is very safe. honey combed ice is always bad and sketchy!!

Un knowingly i have had i pickup on 4" of ice. a 1/2 chevy extended cab. I got off as soon as I learned. We drove half a mile or so drilling as we went and there was a solid foot every where then cut across the lake to get back, because I was sick of drilling holes and every thing was good anyways. stopped to talk to a fisherman, and realized his holes where only so deep, looked back and saw the ice sagging around my pickup and I skiddadled. Very lucky that day. learn from my mistakes!! But I have crossed on 1 inch of ice on shallows as hunting and trapping required. air pockets are the real danger.

Scott likes a spud bar - I've also read about walking on sketchy ice with a 4-6' 2x4 - both can be used to extricate oneself from a fall through.

TJ:

I prefer to use a spud bar in the following manner when on sketchy, honeycombed ice.

Take a flat bottom aluminum Jon boat. Push it out on the ice. Make sure you have a set of oars and a life jacket. (plus check to make sure the plug is installed the boat). Place ice fishing gear in the boat, along with the spud bar. Get in the boat, stand at the stern, and use the spud bar against the ice to shove the boat out to where you want to fish. When done fishing, use the spud bar to push the boat at leat one boat length forward, then step to the bow of the boat. Use the spud bar to slide the bow around so it's pointed where you came from. Step to the back of the boat and repeat the "shove" process.

I've used that process in a 14' aluminum Jon boat to go out on ice that was too honeycombed to walk on. After a period of time, there was water all around the boat, but I was still catching fish from the holes that I chopped in the ice. No worries about going thru the ice that way.

I never used that procedure during early ice season - hunting season or trapping was more important than ice fishing.

I've done what Scott suggests many times also. Best hope that the boat stays on top of the ice though.....if it breaks through you will remain dry, but trying to get it back up on the ice by yourself, while sitting/standing in it, is TOUGH.

I've taken to tying a rope to a tree, and paying it out behind the boat as I go. It's a lot easier to pull yourself back to shore than pushing against the ice. I prefer to kneel on the stern seat and kick the boat forward with one leg.. Wear cleats if you do. At least on one foot.

Now that's some die hard ice fishing right there! Not sure if I ever wanted to put that much effort into it?? Good ideas though! And safe ideas as well!! I know this seems like a no brainer but seem no matter what someone tries to cross a creek or a small part of a river and ends up under the ice!! DONT DO IT!! it's not worth it!! I have fallen in through the ice up to my waste and thought I was gonna fricken die!!! It is sooooooo cold. I can't imagine going all the way under and not being able to get out! I remember in grade school every almost every year someone or some kid would end up under the ice by the river in town. It's just not worth it!!

RC

Many people go on 2" thick ice but I don't feel confident about that. 3" is much better. If it's 4" then you don't have to worry about anything even if your weight is above average.
You should remember that ice thickness varies in different places. Under snow it can be thinner. Be careful in places with current or underwater springs.

There is a great difference between autumn ice and the spring one. Usually it's much stronger in autumn.

When you live on the southern fringe of the ice belt like I do, you have to get creative. My goal is to catch fish out of our ponds twelve months out of the year, and it's very doable if you're willing to put in the effort.

I don't subscribe to the philosophy of "fishing's over for this year"
Those fish are still down there, and they can still be caught provided the angler is savvy, adaptable, and stubborn. A little luck never hurts either.

One thing for sure, I have never caught fish during the winter period by sitting in my recliner, wishing for an early spring.

I have to agree with sprkplug.Finding good ice in Southern Indiana can be tough. I remember riding bikes on frozen ponds as a kid and breaking through shallow icy creeks the same day.Walking with your boots full of ice water back to the house to dry our socks out on the wood stove,and then go right back outside.
I am part of an ice water rescue team and our trainers have told us to tell the public that ice around here is not safe period! I still have went on clear ice at 4" and it was fine.I have also broke through a couple of times during training sessions.We were tethered to a safety rope and in ice suits.
I believe taking a boat out and or tying off and carrying ice picks also is a good idea! Luckily the majority of our rescues have been for dogs fallen through thin ice.