Sometimes I wished I lived in Minnesota!

[rooster52]

Originally Posted by citori

2" of ice is safe if you don't fall through... though if you do it is probably your last act. I just find that 6" of clear ice is much better for my piece of mind and 8" is even better. I've been through the ice 4 times in my life and it is something I do not wish to repeat again. Having pulled more than one body from the waters by a person who had more desire to catch fish than sense, I have tempered my desire to catch fish with my safety. At no time is ice totally safe as currents (either natural or induced such as schooling fish), ice ridges, salt from the street, and other factors can decrease ice thickness in a short time and make "safe" areas treacherous. I'll wait until after New Year's to do my ice fishing, partly I am pretty sure the ice will be thick enough for me as a rule and the bird seasons have pretty much closed.

Actually, I much prefer living in MN as the hunting for everything except possibly ruffed grouse is much better here. You don't hear of people leaving the deer stand to go ice fishing because the hunting is so slow. Even as early as the second weekend of November there can be enough ice for fools, er, diehards to go out on. The couple I've talked to that were out there either did not deer hunt or had already used their tag and were not interested in helping others fill theirs (party hunting is allowed here). Down in the Twin Cities I have seen people out on area lakes and sheltered bays of large lakes as early as Thanksgiving but mostly its been a week and a half or two later.

I likethat clear 6-8 inchs of ice before I feel safe and a foot is better !