As the cold comes on, many are looking forward to getting out on the ice to do a little ice fishing. You might want to wait a while. As of today, there is no safe ice on any of the lakes in the area. A minimum of 4 inches of clear solid ice is needed to support the average person’s weight. To find the thickness, drill a small hole, hook the edge of a tape measure on the edge and take a measurement. Four inches or more and you’re good. But remember, just because it’s 4 inches there, it might not be in other places. If you decide to go ice fishing this winter, you’ll need more that your fishing gear. Bring safety equipment. A life jacket, a throw rope and a whistle to blow if you need help. And, ice picks or claws can help you out of the water if you fall through.
If you fall in, remain calm, keep your head above water, turn toward the direction you came from, and use your ice picks or claws to grip the ice’s edge. Kick your legs to propel yourself up and out of the water, rolling away from the hole.. Thinking of driving your truck out on the ice. Definitely not a good idea around these parts. You need a minimum of 8 inches of solid ice for a light truck. Got an F-150, you’ll need 10 to 12 inches. Either way, don’t go alone and remember, it takes a prolonged cold spell to get the ice to the right thickness.
