first vehicle on the ice

[stumper]

So has anyone here been the first to drive on lake for the year?have 10 to 11 inches of clear hard ice here and just got 6 plus inches of snow ,so the 1/2 mile trek pulling a trap full of gear is  a killer on the lower back.I  know the area well so i am sure there are no springs in the area i would be driving .from what i have read 8 to 10 inches is good for a small vehicle,i have a small jeep cherokee so i think i will be ok ,but........nervous about been the first one out.should i wait for somone else to go  or wait for more ice?2 degrees here today with colder in the forcast.(BTW,put my 1500 lb shack on 6 inches  last week with no sag).thanks




stump

[UPSTATE ICEMASTER]

  If ya got that much ice and it is getting colder i wouldnt worrie about it just be smart about it,drive with your window open so you have an exit 

[tarbot]

Hey Stumper... This is from the Mass Wildelife Website.  If you have 10 to 11 inches or clear black ice you should be fine.  Make sure you still take all the necessary safety precautions (Flotation device, ice picks, go with a buddie or two, rope, cell phone, etc...)

Ice Thickness
(inches) Permissible Load
(clear, blue, lake ice)
2 One person on foot
3 Group, in single file
5 Group (6-8 people) together
7½ Passenger car (2 ton gross)
8 Light truck (2½ ton gross)
10 Medium truck (3½ ton gross)
12 Heavy truck (7 to 8 ton gross)
15 10 tons
20 25 tons
25 45 tons
30 70 tons

[icebigboy]

great info tarbot!at the end of the season we got 36 inches of ice here and i never ever think about going on it with my truck.too scary.(chicken!!! )heard a lot of terrible story
be careful stumper we better like to talk to you instead of talking of you

[bigredonice]

my father used to take our jeep cherokee sport out on 8"-9" on champlain all the time, never had  a problem.
i drive my ranger out once there is 11" or 12" of clear blue.

[twodoggs]

I was the first one year but I was driving a old dodge ram 50.  I did not really care if it went through.  It was light enough that you could lift the back end up by yourself.  I now drive a F 250 SD 4x4 so I did not even think about trying to be first.

[Mr.G]

Stumper - If I remember right you are from South Dakota - correct?  If so there are already people driving on the lakes - most notably Thompson.  I was there on Sunday and was one of about 40 people driving on it.  About 13-14" of good, clear ice.  Southern lakes should be pretty good now with the cold temps.  Was driving a Ford F-150 and there were many suburbans and other full size rigs out there as well.

[Icemanjim]

My philosophy is never be the first one out and never be the furthest out on early ice.

[TroutFishingBear]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone drive out on the ice here in western co. We get plenty of ice so I wonder why?

[Icemanjim]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone drive out on the ice here in western co. We get plenty of ice so I wonder why?

It seems to be a western taboo, I have seen maybe 2-3 vehicles on the ice in the 7 years I have lived in Utah and Wyoming.  Many lakes around here have springs in them that cause thinner ice in places.  There was a snow machine that went through about 1/4 mile from me and I was fishing on 15" (a spring).  Personally, I use my snow machines, less replacement costs.

[feasanthunter]

about two weeks ago a confused woman went through the ice here in western pa. the car was in 12' of water with her in it.i had fished that lake the day before 3 to 4 inches of good ice.officals think the woman thought she was in a parking area-there were tire tracks all over the lake right into the hole.very sad

[stumper]

well,im headed out to the lake .hope i see tracks ,but im sure i will be the first.hopefully i wil guve a report in a couple hr."hot bit only last an hr then no fish till tonight"later................. ...



stump

[Big Dawg]

NH checkin in. having a very very bad winter this year. not many places on the main bodies of water frozen.  by this time last year, most if not all the lakes in NH were frozen. we could also drive out to our bobhouse in the 3rd week of jan and had a chevy silverado, a gmc suburban and a chevy blazer at our house all at one time
(24")

[stumper]

good to go,went out and drilled holes 100 ft apart"12""of ice.drove past the hole and very little water movement..thanks for the info guys!!!


stump

[vancouvercanuck]

SIX SOLID INCHES IS GOOD ENOUGH

[stumper]

parked 10 ft away from my shack and drilled a hole inbetween.water gushed out of the hole putting 1 inch of water on top of the ice.drove jeep 50 ft away and drilled another hole,no water came threw.hmmmmmmm.no popping or cracking heard while driving  so thats a good sign.sure got sum "are you and idiot looks"lol


stump