Ice thickness can vary from lake to lake and from spot to spot on a lake.
Steve Ford (Evansville Courier and Press Outdoors Reporter) wrote a good article to day (Sunday) about ice safety.
He mentioned one thing that I had forgot about. Geese keeping a small area on a lake free of ice for as long as they can. That could make a small area of the lake have thinner ice. So be careful. Other things can create thin ice areas as well. Underwater springs or water flowing though a lake or pond can prevent the water from freezing for some time. This could create pockets of thinner ice on a lake.
It's a good thing to bring along some safety equipment and a change of cloths, warm blanket, some heat sources, towels, and a rope between you and something solid on the shoreline. And something on your person that will allow you to climb out of the water and onto the ice if you fall though. Something that can hold onto the ice and allow you to pull yourself out and up onto the ice if you are alone.
I heard some reports of ice at least 4.5" thick. 4" is considered safe ice thickness for one person.
I read a story about some guy driving a van out onto the ice at Rend Lake in Southern IL and the van broke though the ice. They closed Rend Lakes public ramps for now until they can post signs on them that reads" Road ends in the water".
Ice can expand and contract and weaken itself so take care if you venture out on a lake to ice fish in the Southern Parts of the State.
We don't normally get this long cold speed every year so most people down here are not use to ice fishing every year.
The ice is pretty thick right now on most shallow and small ponds. It's the deeper waters that take longer to freeze up that one should be used with care.
Originally Posted by bassmanic1
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