General Safety Tips

• Watch for weak spots.  Weaker ice often looks different than strong ice.
   
• Carry a spud and test, test, test.
   
• Use the buddy system and plan your fishing trip with two or more people
   
• Use common sense when evaluating the conditions and decisions. 
   
• Keep in mind that no number or size fish is worth your life.

• Dress extra warm...go in layers. You can always take cloths off but you can't add them if you don't have them.

• Wear wool clothes a few layers out from your body.  It retains it's insulating properties when wet and, after your body warms up the water soaked in between your body and the wool, the water will also insulate you from the cold.

• Watch the temperature.  While it may not be warm enough to melt the ice, it may very well weaken it substantially because soft ice is much weaker than hard.

• When the ice is questionable:

• Go only in waters you or somebody you’re fishing with know.

• Remember to go out only as far as you can make it back if you're wet.

• Exercise extreme care if you go in water over your head or in a current.

Ice safety...

Safe ice is the number one consideration. A minimum of three to four inches of solid ice is the general rule for safety. Ice thickness, however, is not uniform on any body of water. The guidelines presented here are based on clear, blue, hard ice on non-running waters. Remember, your own good judgment is essential!

The American Pulpwood Association has developed a table for judging the relative safety of ice on lakes and streams. This is just a guide; use your own good judgment before going out on any ice. Avoid areas of moving water, including where streams enter the lake, and around spillways and dams.

Ice Thickness Table

Ice Thickness	Permissible Load
2 inches	one person on foot
3 inches	group in single file
7.5 inches	one car (2 tons)
8 inches	light truck (2.5 tons)
10 inches	truck (3.5 tons)
12 inches	heavy truck (7-8 tons)
15 inches	10 tons
20 inches	25 tons

Note: This guide is based on clear, blue, hard ice on non-running waters. Slush ice is about 50 percent weaker. Clear, blue ice over running water is about 20 percent weaker. Many ice anglers do not like to fish on less than five inches of ice, and do not like to drive a pick-up truck on less than 15 inches of ice. Use common sense!

Be cautious in areas where "bubblers" are used to protect docks. They can produce thin, unsafe ice some distance away. Be especially alert in areas near shore, over moving bodies of water and on lakes and ponds where streams enter or exit.

Remember, use the buddy system while ice fishing - it saves lives.

In New York State, general angling regulations limit anglers to two jigging lines (or hand lines) and five tip-ups in most waters. Each tip-up must be marked with the operator's name and address; the operator must be in immediate attendance when the lines are in the water. Since special regulations apply on many waters, review the current fishing regulations guide when planning an ice fishing trip - and don't forget your current year's fishing license.

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