Ice thickness ?

[splashhopper]

I am getting anxious to try this ice fishing thing out...

 

Went out to the local lake where I fished all summer and dang... it's frozen over... with evidence of people walking on it.

 

I know most of the places where the water will only be 1-2 feet deep at the edges and also know where the drop off begins to the deeper water there as well.

 

 

How do i "SAFELY" check the thickness of the ice.

 

Note, the water is very slow with little to no current except in the very center of the lake ( 20-30 yards out.

 

Thanks

 

Splashhopper

[basskicker09]

drill test holes or get a spud and stick it through the ice

[Terry]

you put on a floater suit

 

have ice picks in hand you walk a few feet and chip a hole with a spud, measure thickness

then repeat till ice is too thin or you get to where you want to fish

oh I like to hit the ice with the spud with each step I take

or you wait till a nervy guy does it first

[Guest gbfisher]

chip step chip step...till you end up where you want to go.

[splashhopper]

chip step chip step...till you end up where you want to go.

 

 

What do I use to chip it with?

[vance]

If you have a cordless electric drill just pop in an old drill bit and see how far you can drill into the ice-a lot less work than chipping thru the ice.

 

vance

[JohnF]

Get a fat friend to walk ahead of you. You follow and drill holes.

 

JF

[splashhopper]

Get a fat friend to walk ahead of you. You follow and drill holes.

 

JF

 

 

Are you busy tomorrow?

 

I have a drill

[GBW]

Are you busy tomorrow?

 

I have a drill

[irishfield]

Don't let him drill in a circle John !

[JohnF]

Are you busy tomorrow?

 

I have a drill

 

Hot air makes me deceptively light.

 

JF

[JohnF]

Don't let him drill in a circle John !

 

 

He'll be hard pressed to keep up just drilling one hole in each spot. I move very very fast on unfamiliar ice. In fact I seldom go out on the ice except on a very fast moving sled.

 

JF

[Twocoda]

I know most of the places where the water will only be 1-2 feet deep at the edges

 

 

still over your head ....make sure you wear the floater suit

[splashhopper]

He'll be hard pressed to keep up just drilling one hole in each spot. I move very very fast on unfamiliar ice. In fact I seldom go out on the ice except on a very fast moving sled.

 

JF

 

AS you know John... the little lake I wanna try doesn't have enough room to launch the sled...

 

No worries though.....

 

I will follow the tracks that stay above the water out there already

[splashhopper]

still over your head ....make sure you wear the floater suit

 

 

They don't make em small enough..... maybe I will take the canoe out there then...

 

but how am I gonna paddle it?

[vinnimon]

Get a fat friend to walk ahead of you. You follow and drill holes.

 

JF

[vinnimon]

drill test holes or get a spud and stick it through the ice

hey i be bud,you be spud

[Guest gbfisher]

What do I use to chip it with?

 

 

 

A chipper....

[splashhopper]

A chipper....

 

that helped alot

[Sinker]

A chipper/spud is a steel bar with a chisel like end on it used to chip ice. Get one, its the first thing I grab on new ice. Like GB said, chip, step, chip, step. When the spud goes thru on one crack, that's your hole.

 

Fer gawd sakes, be careful out there!!!! Newbies, on new ice is scary!!!!

 

S.

[basskicker09]

attach a big sharp chisel to a long pole with rope round the end so you dont lose it

[Spiel]

Something like this.....

 

 

Though I prefer a homemade one using a 1" cold chisel (sharp enuogh to shave) welded into some heavy pipe.

[Sinker]

The heavier and sharper the better. The rope on the end is also VERY important. Don't ask me how I know

 

S.

[TJQ]

When I go through, its usually about an inch... when I don't its more... thats how I tell LOL.

[Spiel]

When I go through, its usually about an inch... when I don't its more... thats how I tell LOL.

 

 

That's why I always let you go first.