Doesn't seem as though there are very many people who enjoy being cold and staring down at a hole cut through the ice. I used to do it except for the being cold part, but in the last few years in my neck of the woods the weather conditions have not been all that conductive to providing safe ice thickness. By the look of things, that might change. Perhaps I will round up my equipment have have another go at it. Three inches of solid ice being a prerequisite!