1. Never assume the ice is safe.
2. Carefully observe ice conditions.
3. Get local information.
4. Have a safety plan in place; never icefish alone.
5. Follow ice-thickness guidelines:
a. 4 inches or less: Stay off!
b. 4 to 6 inches: Icefishing should be safe. However, carefully observe local conditions.
c. 6 to 10 inches: Snowmobiles and ATV travel is generally considered safe.
d. 10 to 16 inches: Although it is probably best avoided when possible, small cars and pickups can begin to hit the ice.
e. 16-plus inches: Generally safe to mid-size pickups.
Photo by Dick
