Whats Thick Enough For You?

[Adam Cameron]

 

I've got a spud bar that I welded a flat piece of bar stock too
(1/4"x2"x6").  If it goes through when I spud it into the ice
on the second attempt I get off.

Remember - the edges are usually the softest spots on the water.

Waiting for others to wander out is good advice for newbies.

Good Luck - Be Safe.  Adam C.

[taggedfish]

5 inches ! what do you weigh 400lbs?

[Piggyn]

3.5-4"

[holehawg]

my irish / scots wife... ...if we'er talkin' ice...4 to 6...i'm getting rather stockey in my advanced years...

[JDiPerrio]

I just went out yesterday with about 2inches locked up around the pond.

[Simmy04548]

2.5" - 3" is good enough for me. If the family is with, there has to be 8" -10" before they even consider going with!

[princecraft]

It is funny how things change as you get older.  And a little heavier.  Used to be I needed 2 inches on lakes that I was familiar with.  Have been out on less??  Now on the same lakes I need at least 3 inches before venturing out.

[jerknperch]

If there is 3", I'll stay but would really prefer 4".  I hate seeing a couple inches difference in a small area especially on waters I'm familiar with.  I fell through four inches last year but it was soft white ice in the fall.

[captain54]

I've fished on 3 inches of windowpane clear first ice ,better than 3 inches of rotten last ice but I fell way safer on 4 inches,when your over 50 and are a big guy.you don't take crazy chances of your youth.

[Ed_r]

I did the 3" ice last year ended up pretty much soiling myself. really had to be careful where i walked. I'm a bigger guy too, and could hear (and feel) the ice cracking and sagging under my feet. mostly was in 4' of water , but when I moved to 6' it started to buckle. Packed up , went home and changed my undies.

A local forest preserve pond wont open to ice fishing unless there is 5" of solid ice all the way across the lake. When over deep water I'm still kinda nervous on 5".

I make it a point to stay off the snowmobile tracks, and try to fish with a bigger guy than me and follow him out. I love ice fishing, but I'm an ice wuss too. The Fox chain by us for being a lake/river system has a lot of current through it. Was out one time last year we had 17" of solid ice out of the current area, but as you got close to the current it got down to 4-5" real quick, maybe within 50' of the 17" of ice.

So 4" I'll do but won't really enjoy it. prefer 5-6 or better to actually have fun out there.

[emptyhanded]

2.5-3 Is good for me --

[fin-stalker]

Hey all!!  Good to get back on shanty.  As all would probably agree, it depends on the ice.  I like at least 2 in. Take care and getting close to tearin em up!!

[spring bobber]

5 inches ! what do you weigh 400lbs?

Around 3 inches for me 8)