i like to have 4 inches of clear ice to feel comfortable-have fished on 2 inches of bending ice-not something ii'll ever do again--set up the shanty quite a few years ago on 4 1/2 clear ice-all of a sudden the water started bouncing over the ice-opened the door and 2 idiots with 4wd truck and too many wobblys pulled up-sent them on their way fast--some guys are too lucky