NeFiShNeTiMe
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ice thickness
What is the thinnest ice you would venture on??
""THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A SMALL MOUTH ON A STIFF ROD""
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Pajns49
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/04 22:06:12
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4 inches. I swim like a rock... 
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dakota kid
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/04 22:10:07
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As long as there's a couple other guys out there first, I'm good. I learned my lesson about being the first guy out. I drilled a hole, busted through after three cranks(3" or so). When I pulled the auger the water came out like a geyser. I bet it would have been pretty funny to watch me run off the ice like a little girl.
If I had to give it an inch number, no less than 5".
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eyeassassin
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/04 22:19:02
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i will fish 4 if it is clear ice. if it is the pasty white looking stuff i like at least 6
REMEMBER HOW MUCH FUN YOUR FIRST BIG ONE WAS. TAKE A KID FISHING
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Skip16503
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/04 23:05:31
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griffon
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 08:14:27
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3" on a shallow panfish bite for me, but I know guys that will wander out on 2...
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anatikus
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 08:34:26
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ive set tip ups over 3" of clear ice and watched from shore....unless it was gillies in 4' or less and someone dumb like was me nearby ...otherwise 5.5" keeps the knees from knocking. 
fish heads fish heads rolly polly fish heads
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HereLilFishy
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 09:21:59
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Four long as it dont got alot of snow in it.
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dustydoo
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 10:10:12
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Went to pleasant many years ago with grampa and dad not quite 2". Stayed close to shore,ended up putting boards down because ice bowed and feet were getting wet.Now days at least 4" grampa loved to fish!!!!!!
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Big Tuna
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 10:10:47
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I have fished a little over 3 inches,but it was gin clear hard ice and sub cold temps (making ice all day).I was a lot younger and not as smart.The last mild winter we had we had ice before Chrismas then the big thaw,then a re freeze the first week in March,I fished on Shenango on 3 1/2 plus inches.I been ice fishing for over 50 years( yea first trip was to P.I. Erie when I was 7 years old I stil remember those SLOB perch in the 2 lb range and lake smelt by the tons,then we go into the weed beds by the monument and pound the biggest Pumpkinseeds you ever saw most where 9 - 9 3/4 inches. I got a new Jiffy auger and NO ice this year figures,I think where going to get it but it's going to take a I'll. Through the years I've fished every hot bite lake there was,had some of the best gills (9 plus inches) in the early 70's at Moraine,then the slab crappies(in numbers)14- 16 3/4 inches,Wilhelm was a gill meca limit of 50 9 inch fish where common,maybe to many the Dutch boys took thousands out. Shenago had some amazing crappie some of the biggest white crappies I've ever caught 14 -17 inches.I had days of 25-45 eyes on Pymy( a lot of subs but plenty over 15 inches) huge silver bass and even channel cats.
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RhnstnCowboy
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 10:13:10
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I got a new Jiffy auger and NO ice this year figures, Haha. Me too.
"Part of being a Leftist is the smug conviction that you and people like you are smart, while everyone else is stupid and/or evil" - T. Fleming
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Pajns49
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 10:39:16
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x3 Not a Jiffy but a Eskimo Auger.
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worm_waster
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 11:19:08
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+5 StrikeMaster Electric here, bought after the ice left last season.w_w.
If it has fins and gills, I'm there.
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fishinvic
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 11:42:50
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4" for me, went through lake pleasant when I was a teen did not like it. I take a lot of first timers out ice fishing so I make sure the ice is at least a good clear 4+.
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bigfoot
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 13:41:07
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Depends on the ice. I'll go out on 3" if it looks like good ice. After you have ice fished for a while you get a pretty good idea. I won't fish through ice that thick with other fisherman close by. In general though, I prefer at least 4"s.
How did the person who invented the first clock know what time it was?
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Bogeyjoker
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 14:49:35
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3" of hard black ice, which we rarely see around here. 4"+ for milky ice. When I was younger I would belly crawl out on an inch or so of clear ice in order to fish first ice. I have a bit more patience now, and maybe slightly more wisdom.
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icecube
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 15:12:52
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I like at least 4" of ice. And I would not complain if it was a little more. 
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Pork
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 15:15:09
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+1 ^...4" of good ice...
and even then, I don't really 'unpucker' until I'm on a consistent 6" of ice.
"If you ever get hit with a bucket of fish, be sure to close your eyes." ><)))*>
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Catchabigone
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 18:05:53
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4-5" .I have been ice fishing over 30 years and first ice still makes me nervous. I guess falling through part way and my son going completely under makes you that way.
Look to the heavens and thank God everyday that hunting is such a grand part of our lives. Ted Nugent
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fish whisper
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 18:24:27
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I prefer a steady 6 but then again on a cold winter I ice fish mancester and some creek mouths. Went to south pier other day the pond by it is locked I hope it freezes soon so I can put a beating on some big gills and crappies
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NeFiShNeTiMe
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/05 22:30:00
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I checked lake pleasant on the 4th and it was 2. 5 tonight was only 2 if that. Lebouf was 3 now has open water in spots.
""THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A SMALL MOUTH ON A STIFF ROD""
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JEB
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/06 15:05:58
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worm_waster
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/06 16:24:17
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I once fished on Tamarack on 2.5 of clear. No 4" crappie is worth that risk.  I think the scariest is about 3 with a bunch of snow on top. Sitting in a puddle of water is a bit unnerving on that little ice. This is a typical scenario on Eaton. (3" ice 2' of snow). Don't let someone on the ice give you too much peace of mind. Once I saw a fella on Eaton and walked out. I asked him how the fishing was and he said "real good till I fell through right there" and pointed to a hole a few dozen yards from where I was standing  I chose not to drop a line that day.... On the Main Bay I prefer 6" if possible, because currents can erode ice and thickness can and does often vary a couple of inches from location to location.w_w.
If it has fins and gills, I'm there.
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ICE NUT
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/06 16:45:31
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I like 4 inches more to feel really comfortablle!!! Its kinda funny though I just read ther are roughly 4 to 5 thru the ice fatalities a year in North America.Considering the number of ice fisherman in North america thats really low!! We have many many times a greater chance of dying in the car on our way to fish!!!!!!!!.In any case I like thicker ice!!!!!!!!!
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bigfoot
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/06 17:26:32
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Just a follow up. A couple years ago I was fishing on Dumans dam. The ice out towards the middle of the dam was solid. On my way off a man and two young children were just coming on to skate. They were out about 15 to 20 feet when all of the sudden the ice gave way and the fellow went in. Just because the ice is OK in some places, doesn't necessarily mean it's OK all over. Generally, it's thinner closer to shore, over a spring or where water enters and exits. When in doubt, don't go on. No fish is worth dying for.
post edited by bigfoot - 2012/01/07 09:58:36
How did the person who invented the first clock know what time it was?
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RhnstnCowboy
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/06 19:31:03
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No fish is worth dying for. Did you ever read Old Man and the Sea?
"Part of being a Leftist is the smug conviction that you and people like you are smart, while everyone else is stupid and/or evil" - T. Fleming
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maxlikes2fish
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/06 20:00:52
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A few years back my brother and I were walking out in the back of the PI marina and we were walking pretty close to each other until my 200 lbs and my bros 200 lbs made the the ice crack under our feet. Needless to say we put a dozen feet between us after that.....
220, 221. Whatever it takes....
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bigfoot
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/07 09:55:53
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ORIGINAL: RhnstnCowboy
No fish is worth dying for.
Did you ever read Old Man and the Sea?
As a matter of fact, I did. I've read quite a few of ol' Ernie's novels. One of my all time favorite's is "For whom the bell tolls." Gotta admit though, that was one heck of a fish!!!!!!!!!!!
post edited by bigfoot - 2012/01/07 10:10:05
How did the person who invented the first clock know what time it was?
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RhnstnCowboy
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/07 13:00:09
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As a matter of fact, I did. I've read quite a few of ol' Ernie's novels. One of my all time favorite's is "For whom the bell tolls." Gotta admit though, that was one heck of a fish!!!!!!!!!!! Haha. What a life that guy lead...
"Part of being a Leftist is the smug conviction that you and people like you are smart, while everyone else is stupid and/or evil" - T. Fleming
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treesparrow
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RE: ice thickness
2012/01/08 12:17:44
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I like others have fished with 3" good looking ice.I like it 6" and better, then I feel comfortable all day. Any
ice I like it under my boots and under my nose only with
Bourbon.
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