The 2022-2023 ice fishing season has been well under way for the past 2 months.  During these winter months, frozen lakes and the river host a large population of outdoor enthusiasts.  With the increase of activity on ice comes the usual hazards associated with fishing out on the ice.  While out on the ice, here is a quick checklist of things to be aware of that can lead to serious injury if the proper precautions aren’t taken.

  • Share: It’s a good idea to share your plans with your family or friends. Let them know the following: where you are going, where you plan to fish, and when you plan to be back.  Update them, if you have phone reception, when you move to a different spot.  If you are staying longer than anticipated, also let them know.
  • Bring a Friend: When going ice fishing, avoid going alone. A friend can provide an extra set of hands, help with watching for dangerous situations and a friend can get help or contact emergency services, if something happens to you.
  • Talk to the Locals: They can provide information on ice thickness, water movement, and other information pertinent to the lake or river- particularly if you are not familiar with the geography of an area.
  • Ice: There is some truth to the saying “thick and blue, tried and true. White and crispy, way too risky.”  Avoid snow piles and drifts- lurking underneath is usually a slush pocket. A crack in the ice is common and can decrease the strength of the ice by 40% or more.  Stay away from pressure ridges these are completely unpredictable and break into open water without warning.  If you are not sure if you can continue forward on the ice use a spud bar or drill test holes to measure ice thickness before proceeding.

While ice is never 100% safe, there are some general ice thickness guidelines you can follow.  Remember, ice is never uniformly the same thickness- it can change very quickly in a matter of few yards. Use the following information to help you determine how to gauge what items are safe on the ice and when:

2″ or less – STAY OFF!
4″ – Ice fishing or other activities on foot
5″ – Snowmobile or ATV
8″ – 12″ – Car or small pickup
12″ – 15″ – Medium truck

  • Flotation Suit: A flotation suit is an excellent way to stay safe and one of the most important items you can buy. If you fall through the ice, a flotation suit will keep you warm and can make it easier to get back out the water.  Float suits are, however, quite expensive- but definitely worth the purchase if you ice fish frequently.
  • Ice Picks: A pair of ice picks are as important as wearing a float suit and you should have them with you at all times while on the ice. If you fall through, ice picks make it possible for you to climb out.  There are many affordable options and many brands of ice fishing suits flotation or without flotation have built in ice pick holders for quick and easy access.
  • Pack a Rope: A high visibility rope that floats can be used to pull a person to safety.
  • Leave Before dark: Navigation at night and in inclement weather conditions can be treacherous. Without being able to see landmarks or without a navigation device, you can become disorientated making it difficult to find your way off the ice or worse end up on thin ice and break through. Many navigation apps are very easy to use and are helpful in finding your way back to shore.
  • Ventilation: If your ice shack is heated, make sure you have good ventilation. Many brands of propane shack heaters have built in oxygen sensors that will shut off propane flow if low oxygen is detected.  Bigger shacks and towable shacks should have carbon monoxide detectors installed.  If you are using a generator, be sure to keep it as far as possible away from your shack to prevent the wind from blowing fumes into your shelter.
  • Bring a Charger: Cold temperatures will drain your smartphone battery quickly.  Keep your phone close to your body, away from the cold outer pockets.  A portable power back-up charger can save the day and recharge your phone if it does drain if you don’t have a generator.
  • Ice Augers: Ice augers are built to drill holes quickly and most are very powerful.  Avoid wearing loose clothing or anything that can get caught in the spinning auger. When you are finished with the auger, store it in a safe place preferably with the cap to cover the razor-sharp blades.
  •  Stay Hydrated: Staying hydrated is very important. Dehydration happens very quickly in cold weather because your body has to work hard to stay warm. Also, moving with lots of layers of thick clothes and heavy boots just takes more effort.
  • Layer Up: The right number of layers is important to help maintain your body temperature.  As the day warms up, you can shed layers so you do not overheat and as it gets cooler you can add more to protect your body temperature.
  • Sunscreen/Sunglasses: The sun can be quite intense while out fishing. Sunscreen on exposed skin will help decrease your chances of a burn. Sunglasses will also prevent snow blindness as the reflected light off the can cause temporary painful visual difficulty.
  •  Shoes: Proper traction on the ice will decrease falls and injuries. There are many inexpensive strap-on traction cleats for icy and slippery conditions. There are also many brands of boots and overshoes that have metal studs incorporated into the soles.  These are more expensive but work very well to prevent falls.

Everyone stay safe this winter and I hope to see you out on the ice!

Travis Preszler, PA-C