In the past few years ice fishing has become one of my favorite outdoor sports. Immediately following the last day of deer season, I begin to pull out and organize all of my ice fishing gear. Most years, the ice is safe by the second to third week of December, but how do you determine whether the ice is safe or not?
Ice two inches thick or less is unsafe to be on and shouldn’t be walked on under any circumstance. To test the ice, you must first understand the different types. Ice tends to be layered and can be broken down into three categories. Hard or black ice is formed first, and consists of nothing more than frozen lake water. This is the strongest form of ice and can be skated or fished on safely when it reaches four inches.
When snow accumulates, the other two types of ice are created. The snow will melt and compact itself into a weaker layer. It looks a lot like a snow cone, and because of airs paces and a lack of complete compaction, this is the most weak form of ice. As it continues to melt and freeze, it will become the second layer which is of mid-grade strength. Simply put, the top layer is the weakest the mid layer is moderate and the lowest layer, which is in contact with the water, is the strongest. Four inches consisting of two inches of hard and two inches of snow cone ice will not be safe! You will need to wait for several freeze and thaw cycles to lock up the upper two inches.
It is nearly impossible to tell by surface conditions whether ice is safe or not. So how do you determine the thickness and relative safety of the ice? Experienced anglers rely on two methods to determine ice safety. An ice spud can be described as a heavy chisel attached to a strong wood or metal pole. By striking the ice aggressively as you walk, you are able to see and feel whether the ice is strong enough to bear your weight. If the spud breaks through, the ice is becoming too weak to tread on and you should leave. This is most likely the oldest form of ice test considering the numerous stone-made chisels or Celts found amongst other Native American debris bordering water ways. In the past, they were also the tool used to chip a hole into the ice to fish through.
Most educated ice fisherman know which lakes freeze first, and will test and fish them before venturing out on later freezing bodies of water. Your auger can be a great method for testing the ice thickness, but will take more consideration than a spud. Never walk out on an unknown lake and drill early ice. Your understanding of water depth where you are testing is of utmost importance. If too thin to support your weight, you don’t want to fall through into deep water. Other conditions such as sun and stream entries thin the ice and can make certain places on a lake too thin, while the rest of it is safe. The sun’s heat is absorbed into docks and tree limbs on the ice which will melt a small and nearly invisible circle around the structure giving the ice a place to break.
If you are new to ice outing,s I recommend calling your local sport shop. They will provide the information you need to know, and which lakes are safe to go on. Our local sport shop, Mayhood’s Sporting Goods, will be happy to help. Their phone number is (607) 334-2001. Their information has been obtained from sportsmen who have determined the ice safety and are there to get bait
The last test is what I call the Guinea Pig Method. IF you can pull up to the lake and see people out there or tracks leading to their previous days fishing setup, they’ve done the guess work for you. When fishing a new or unfamiliar body of water, never be scared to drag your gear within a loud speaking distance of others. Give them a shout, most are happy to point you in the direction of unsafe ice to help you avoid an accident.
Ice fishermen drag a lot of gear out but what are the most essential pieces for safety?
Ice spikes are hand-held tools with a nail type tip. They are used in the event you fall through you extend your arms as far onto the ice as you can reach, and dig them in which will aid in pulling yourself out. Extra clothes kept in a dry storage device can save your life. I recommend having a set in your sled or in the vehicle for the entire season. A whistle and emergency strobe aid in signaling for help if you happen to fall through and are unable to extract yourself. These are the essential pieces of ice fishing gear. Ice cleats are less essential, but can prevent serious injury due to falls and speed up your entry and exit of the ice. For anyone wishing to use a snowmobile or four wheeler, it should be less than 800 pounds, and six inches of hard ice is recommended. Most will not use machinery with less than eight inches due to the increased danger.
Ice sports can be fun, but require a lot more safety measures during the first and last weeks. The decaying ice of late season should be avoided. I recommend packing your gear up for the season when you see bubbles coming up through the cracks. There are typically several safe days left on the ice once the bubbles start, but this is my sign to get out while the getting is good. Several ice anglers lost their lives last year due to the inconsistent conditions caused by warm temperatures. Please don’t fish early and late ice alone! If you don’t understand what safe ice conditions are, ask someone who knows for sure to accompany you. It may save your life!
Help keep our lakes healthy only use bait which has been tested and found to be free of contaminates. You must keep your receipt to provide proof that minnows were purchased from a tested source, it’s the law. Good wishes and FFFFFFIS on!

For questions or comments, Sheldon may be reached at sheldonsoutdoorbusiness@hotmail.com.