At the begging of he season, you will notice the ice (especially smaller ponds) cracking much more, this is because at the start of the season you have one solid sheet of ice, just like say, a solid sheet of cardboard. Then as people go on it it stress cracks, similar to if you were to say, put weights on that sheet of cardboard, while this is in fact the ice cracking, it is actually just bulging under the weight which allows it to take more pressure. The ice has to form those cracks in order to be able to flex under the weight of people, ATV's, Ect. This is also why you see those big heaves in the ice, its all just the ice sheet flexing underneath the load. With that being said, No ice is safe ice and if you don't feel comfortable, don't go. And if you do feel comfortable, Be safe. Theirs a reason I only fish where its shallow enough that if I go through I could still keep my head above water when its early and late season... But I'm 6'5 with my boots on so I guess I'm not as limited as some
