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#1
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How to tell ice thickness
Hi everyone.
On the subject of ice fishing, can anyone tell me a cheap way to measure the ice thickness without buying one of those ice drill things? I have bought a house by quite a shallow lake, so could I carefully step out and hack a hole with an axe and does the ice get thicker the further out you go? Thanks a lot in advance. ARB |
#2
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How to tell ice thickness
Hi everyone. On the subject of ice fishing, can anyone tell me a cheap way to measure the ice thickness without buying one of those ice drill things? I have bought a house by quite a shallow lake, so could I carefully step out and hack a hole with an axe and does the ice get thicker the further out you go? Thanks a lot in advance. ARB With cottages and civilization around a lake - watch out for warm spots thin ice where drains / storm sewers enter the lake. Even with a foot of ice everywhere else - you could get a trouble spot. Thin ice also around dark spots in the ice - like logs or cardboard - that soak up the sun's rays .. when the rest of the lake is just marginal (a few inches). Take care. John T. |
#3
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How to tell ice thickness
The only effective method of measuring ice thickness is by cutting a hole.
4 inches of solid ice is ample for someone to walk on. It will take a couple of good whacks with an axe to cut through. If I can sink the blade of my axe through the ice with one whack, it's a bit too thin for my liking. If you plan to do the occasional fishing, you can make a cutter out of a long pole of metal and you can weld a square piece of metal to the end. You sharpen the square piece and hack a hole through the ice. It will cost you about 20 to 25 bucks to have one made at a welding shop. The width of the cutter should be about 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide. If you are going to go ice fishing more often and if the ice gets over 1 foot thick, an ice auger is the way to go. A manual ice auger to make 8 inch diameter holes will cost about 60 bucks. The cutters are very fragile. Any sand, or getting knocked about will prevent any further cutting until the cutters are sharpened. They should be as sharp as razors. When very sharp, the auger will go through the ice very quickly and easily. Occasionally, the cutters must be carefully honed otherwise you will have to buy new ones for about 20 bucks. I carefully hone mine (keep the original angle of cut perfect) and they get sharp enough to shave the hair on my forearm. There are 6 inch diameter augers and they are a tad less expensive. They are also fine if you fish in an area that is not really cold and the fish are not big. A rather large fish can go through a 6 inch hole but when it gets really cold, the holes have a tendency to freeze up and get smaller. In -15 to -25 weather, a 6 inch hole really freezes up fast. But....cutting a hole through ice is a bit easier with a 6 inch auger. Some people who do a lot of ice fishing, most guides, all outfitters, use gas operated augers. They cost about 350 dollars. When using one where there are many fishermen, you can offer to cut holes for a small fee. By the end of 2 years, your machine could have paid for itself. But, you will have to haul smelly gas, the extra weight and if the auger is not maintained, it could give you problems. Manual augers always start. "SC" wrote in message ... Hi everyone. On the subject of ice fishing, can anyone tell me a cheap way to measure the ice thickness without buying one of those ice drill things? I have bought a house by quite a shallow lake, so could I carefully step out and hack a hole with an axe and does the ice get thicker the further out you go? Thanks a lot in advance. ARB |
#4
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How to tell ice thickness
Well, I never realised there was so much to it. Thank you both for your
interesting and detailed replies :-) It will be my first time ice fishing at my cottage and I intend to go on 16th February in Nova Scotia. I will post the group to let you know how I get on. Thanks again ARB "smiles" wrote in message ... The only effective method of measuring ice thickness is by cutting a hole. 4 inches of solid ice is ample for someone to walk on. It will take a couple of good whacks with an axe to cut through. If I can sink the blade of my axe through the ice with one whack, it's a bit too thin for my liking. If you plan to do the occasional fishing, you can make a cutter out of a long pole of metal and you can weld a square piece of metal to the end. You sharpen the square piece and hack a hole through the ice. It will cost you about 20 to 25 bucks to have one made at a welding shop. The width of the cutter should be about 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide. If you are going to go ice fishing more often and if the ice gets over 1 foot thick, an ice auger is the way to go. A manual ice auger to make 8 inch diameter holes will cost about 60 bucks. The cutters are very fragile. Any sand, or getting knocked about will prevent any further cutting until the cutters are sharpened. They should be as sharp as razors. When very sharp, the auger will go through the ice very quickly and easily. Occasionally, the cutters must be carefully honed otherwise you will have to buy new ones for about 20 bucks. I carefully hone mine (keep the original angle of cut perfect) and they get sharp enough to shave the hair on my forearm. There are 6 inch diameter augers and they are a tad less expensive. They are also fine if you fish in an area that is not really cold and the fish are not big. A rather large fish can go through a 6 inch hole but when it gets really cold, the holes have a tendency to freeze up and get smaller. In -15 to -25 weather, a 6 inch hole really freezes up fast. But....cutting a hole through ice is a bit easier with a 6 inch auger. Some people who do a lot of ice fishing, most guides, all outfitters, use gas operated augers. They cost about 350 dollars. When using one where there are many fishermen, you can offer to cut holes for a small fee. By the end of 2 years, your machine could have paid for itself. But, you will have to haul smelly gas, the extra weight and if the auger is not maintained, it could give you problems. Manual augers always start. "SC" wrote in message ... Hi everyone. On the subject of ice fishing, can anyone tell me a cheap way to measure the ice thickness without buying one of those ice drill things? I have bought a house by quite a shallow lake, so could I carefully step out and hack a hole with an axe and does the ice get thicker the further out you go? Thanks a lot in advance. ARB |
#5
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How to tell ice thickness
Well be careful & wear your chest waders & PFD!
Glub! Glub! LOL "SC" wrote in message ... Well, I never realised there was so much to it. Thank you both for your interesting and detailed replies :-) It will be my first time ice fishing at my cottage and I intend to go on 16th February in Nova Scotia. I will post the group to let you know how I get on. Thanks again ARB "smiles" wrote in message ... The only effective method of measuring ice thickness is by cutting a hole. 4 inches of solid ice is ample for someone to walk on. It will take a couple of good whacks with an axe to cut through. If I can sink the blade of my axe through the ice with one whack, it's a bit too thin for my liking. If you plan to do the occasional fishing, you can make a cutter out of a long pole of metal and you can weld a square piece of metal to the end. You sharpen the square piece and hack a hole through the ice. It will cost you about 20 to 25 bucks to have one made at a welding shop. The width of the cutter should be about 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide. If you are going to go ice fishing more often and if the ice gets over 1 foot thick, an ice auger is the way to go. A manual ice auger to make 8 inch diameter holes will cost about 60 bucks. The cutters are very fragile. Any sand, or getting knocked about will prevent any further cutting until the cutters are sharpened. They should be as sharp as razors. When very sharp, the auger will go through the ice very quickly and easily. Occasionally, the cutters must be carefully honed otherwise you will have to buy new ones for about 20 bucks. I carefully hone mine (keep the original angle of cut perfect) and they get sharp enough to shave the hair on my forearm. There are 6 inch diameter augers and they are a tad less expensive. They are also fine if you fish in an area that is not really cold and the fish are not big. A rather large fish can go through a 6 inch hole but when it gets really cold, the holes have a tendency to freeze up and get smaller. In -15 to -25 weather, a 6 inch hole really freezes up fast. But....cutting a hole through ice is a bit easier with a 6 inch auger. Some people who do a lot of ice fishing, most guides, all outfitters, use gas operated augers. They cost about 350 dollars. When using one where there are many fishermen, you can offer to cut holes for a small fee. By the end of 2 years, your machine could have paid for itself. But, you will have to haul smelly gas, the extra weight and if the auger is not maintained, it could give you problems. Manual augers always start. "SC" wrote in message ... Hi everyone. On the subject of ice fishing, can anyone tell me a cheap way to measure the ice thickness without buying one of those ice drill things? I have bought a house by quite a shallow lake, so could I carefully step out and hack a hole with an axe and does the ice get thicker the further out you go? Thanks a lot in advance. ARB |
#6
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How to tell ice thickness
LOL and you forgot Brrrrr :-)
"Marc" wrote in message .. . Well be careful & wear your chest waders & PFD! Glub! Glub! LOL "SC" wrote in message ... Well, I never realised there was so much to it. Thank you both for your interesting and detailed replies :-) It will be my first time ice fishing at my cottage and I intend to go on 16th February in Nova Scotia. I will post the group to let you know how I get on. Thanks again ARB "smiles" wrote in message ... The only effective method of measuring ice thickness is by cutting a hole. 4 inches of solid ice is ample for someone to walk on. It will take a couple of good whacks with an axe to cut through. If I can sink the blade of my axe through the ice with one whack, it's a bit too thin for my liking. If you plan to do the occasional fishing, you can make a cutter out of a long pole of metal and you can weld a square piece of metal to the end. You sharpen the square piece and hack a hole through the ice. It will cost you about 20 to 25 bucks to have one made at a welding shop. The width of the cutter should be about 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide. If you are going to go ice fishing more often and if the ice gets over 1 foot thick, an ice auger is the way to go. A manual ice auger to make 8 inch diameter holes will cost about 60 bucks. The cutters are very fragile. Any sand, or getting knocked about will prevent any further cutting until the cutters are sharpened. They should be as sharp as razors. When very sharp, the auger will go through the ice very quickly and easily. Occasionally, the cutters must be carefully honed otherwise you will have to buy new ones for about 20 bucks. I carefully hone mine (keep the original angle of cut perfect) and they get sharp enough to shave the hair on my forearm. There are 6 inch diameter augers and they are a tad less expensive. They are also fine if you fish in an area that is not really cold and the fish are not big. A rather large fish can go through a 6 inch hole but when it gets really cold, the holes have a tendency to freeze up and get smaller. In -15 to -25 weather, a 6 inch hole really freezes up fast. But....cutting a hole through ice is a bit easier with a 6 inch auger. Some people who do a lot of ice fishing, most guides, all outfitters, use gas operated augers. They cost about 350 dollars. When using one where there are many fishermen, you can offer to cut holes for a small fee. By the end of 2 years, your machine could have paid for itself. But, you will have to haul smelly gas, the extra weight and if the auger is not maintained, it could give you problems. Manual augers always start. "SC" wrote in message ... Hi everyone. On the subject of ice fishing, can anyone tell me a cheap way to measure the ice thickness without buying one of those ice drill things? I have bought a house by quite a shallow lake, so could I carefully step out and hack a hole with an axe and does the ice get thicker the further out you go? Thanks a lot in advance. ARB |
#7
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How to tell ice thickness
Chest waders?? Isn't that the worst thing you can do? If the ice breaks and
your chest waders fill up with water then you'll sink right to the bottom. Dre "Marc" wrote in message .. . Well be careful & wear your chest waders & PFD! Glub! Glub! LOL "SC" wrote in message ... Well, I never realised there was so much to it. Thank you both for your interesting and detailed replies :-) It will be my first time ice fishing at my cottage and I intend to go on 16th February in Nova Scotia. I will post the group to let you know how I get on. Thanks again ARB "smiles" wrote in message ... The only effective method of measuring ice thickness is by cutting a hole. 4 inches of solid ice is ample for someone to walk on. It will take a couple of good whacks with an axe to cut through. If I can sink the blade of my axe through the ice with one whack, it's a bit too thin for my liking. If you plan to do the occasional fishing, you can make a cutter out of a long pole of metal and you can weld a square piece of metal to the end. You sharpen the square piece and hack a hole through the ice. It will cost you about 20 to 25 bucks to have one made at a welding shop. The width of the cutter should be about 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide. If you are going to go ice fishing more often and if the ice gets over 1 foot thick, an ice auger is the way to go. A manual ice auger to make 8 inch diameter holes will cost about 60 bucks. The cutters are very fragile. Any sand, or getting knocked about will prevent any further cutting until the cutters are sharpened. They should be as sharp as razors. When very sharp, the auger will go through the ice very quickly and easily. Occasionally, the cutters must be carefully honed otherwise you will have to buy new ones for about 20 bucks. I carefully hone mine (keep the original angle of cut perfect) and they get sharp enough to shave the hair on my forearm. There are 6 inch diameter augers and they are a tad less expensive. They are also fine if you fish in an area that is not really cold and the fish are not big. A rather large fish can go through a 6 inch hole but when it gets really cold, the holes have a tendency to freeze up and get smaller. In -15 to -25 weather, a 6 inch hole really freezes up fast. But....cutting a hole through ice is a bit easier with a 6 inch auger. Some people who do a lot of ice fishing, most guides, all outfitters, use gas operated augers. They cost about 350 dollars. When using one where there are many fishermen, you can offer to cut holes for a small fee. By the end of 2 years, your machine could have paid for itself. But, you will have to haul smelly gas, the extra weight and if the auger is not maintained, it could give you problems. Manual augers always start. "SC" wrote in message ... Hi everyone. On the subject of ice fishing, can anyone tell me a cheap way to measure the ice thickness without buying one of those ice drill things? I have bought a house by quite a shallow lake, so could I carefully step out and hack a hole with an axe and does the ice get thicker the further out you go? Thanks a lot in advance. ARB |
#8
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How to tell ice thickness
Good if the water is about 3-4 feet deep.Still wear a PFD though
"Dre" wrote in message ... Chest waders?? Isn't that the worst thing you can do? If the ice breaks and your chest waders fill up with water then you'll sink right to the bottom. Dre "Marc" wrote in message .. . Well be careful & wear your chest waders & PFD! Glub! Glub! LOL "SC" wrote in message ... Well, I never realised there was so much to it. Thank you both for your interesting and detailed replies :-) It will be my first time ice fishing at my cottage and I intend to go on 16th February in Nova Scotia. I will post the group to let you know how I get on. Thanks again ARB "smiles" wrote in message ... The only effective method of measuring ice thickness is by cutting a hole. 4 inches of solid ice is ample for someone to walk on. It will take a couple of good whacks with an axe to cut through. If I can sink the blade of my axe through the ice with one whack, it's a bit too thin for my liking. If you plan to do the occasional fishing, you can make a cutter out of a long pole of metal and you can weld a square piece of metal to the end. You sharpen the square piece and hack a hole through the ice. It will cost you about 20 to 25 bucks to have one made at a welding shop. The width of the cutter should be about 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide. If you are going to go ice fishing more often and if the ice gets over 1 foot thick, an ice auger is the way to go. A manual ice auger to make 8 inch diameter holes will cost about 60 bucks. The cutters are very fragile. Any sand, or getting knocked about will prevent any further cutting until the cutters are sharpened. They should be as sharp as razors. When very sharp, the auger will go through the ice very quickly and easily. Occasionally, the cutters must be carefully honed otherwise you will have to buy new ones for about 20 bucks. I carefully hone mine (keep the original angle of cut perfect) and they get sharp enough to shave the hair on my forearm. There are 6 inch diameter augers and they are a tad less expensive. They are also fine if you fish in an area that is not really cold and the fish are not big. A rather large fish can go through a 6 inch hole but when it gets really cold, the holes have a tendency to freeze up and get smaller. In -15 to -25 weather, a 6 inch hole really freezes up fast. But....cutting a hole through ice is a bit easier with a 6 inch auger. Some people who do a lot of ice fishing, most guides, all outfitters, use gas operated augers. They cost about 350 dollars. When using one where there are many fishermen, you can offer to cut holes for a small fee. By the end of 2 years, your machine could have paid for itself. But, you will have to haul smelly gas, the extra weight and if the auger is not maintained, it could give you problems. Manual augers always start. "SC" wrote in message ... Hi everyone. On the subject of ice fishing, can anyone tell me a cheap way to measure the ice thickness without buying one of those ice drill things? I have bought a house by quite a shallow lake, so could I carefully step out and hack a hole with an axe and does the ice get thicker the further out you go? Thanks a lot in advance. ARB |
#9
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How to tell ice thickness
Ice doesn't necessarily get thicker as you go out - and in fact - often
gets thinner, especially in large lakes. Small shallow lakes can be dangerous, my friend - beware - because of incoming artesian springs. An ax will work, just don't whack too hard - and don't go out too far - testing every couple of feet as you go. Good ice is black - as it has little air in it. Where is your lake? My name is John A. Vance - and I've just published a book called 'Ice Fishing Basics' that deals with ice thickness and various methods of cutting holes - but if you have any specific questions - I'd be glad to help ( yes, for free). Just e-mail me at and I'll give you any info/knowledge I can! best of luck - John SC wrote: Hi everyone. On the subject of ice fishing, can anyone tell me a cheap way to measure the ice thickness without buying one of those ice drill things? I have bought a house by quite a shallow lake, so could I carefully step out and hack a hole with an axe and does the ice get thicker the further out you go? Thanks a lot in advance. ARB |
#10
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How to tell ice thickness
NEVER EVER use chest waders for ice fishing. If the ice broke you would
drown Steve "Dre" wrote in message ... Chest waders?? Isn't that the worst thing you can do? If the ice breaks and your chest waders fill up with water then you'll sink right to the bottom. Dre "Marc" wrote in message .. . Well be careful & wear your chest waders & PFD! Glub! Glub! LOL "SC" wrote in message ... Well, I never realised there was so much to it. Thank you both for your interesting and detailed replies :-) It will be my first time ice fishing at my cottage and I intend to go on 16th February in Nova Scotia. I will post the group to let you know how I get on. Thanks again ARB "smiles" wrote in message ... The only effective method of measuring ice thickness is by cutting a hole. 4 inches of solid ice is ample for someone to walk on. It will take a couple of good whacks with an axe to cut through. If I can sink the blade of my axe through the ice with one whack, it's a bit too thin for my liking. If you plan to do the occasional fishing, you can make a cutter out of a long pole of metal and you can weld a square piece of metal to the end. You sharpen the square piece and hack a hole through the ice. It will cost you about 20 to 25 bucks to have one made at a welding shop. The width of the cutter should be about 2 1/2 to 3 inches wide. If you are going to go ice fishing more often and if the ice gets over 1 foot thick, an ice auger is the way to go. A manual ice auger to make 8 inch diameter holes will cost about 60 bucks. The cutters are very fragile. Any sand, or getting knocked about will prevent any further cutting until the cutters are sharpened. They should be as sharp as razors. When very sharp, the auger will go through the ice very quickly and easily. Occasionally, the cutters must be carefully honed otherwise you will have to buy new ones for about 20 bucks. I carefully hone mine (keep the original angle of cut perfect) and they get sharp enough to shave the hair on my forearm. There are 6 inch diameter augers and they are a tad less expensive. They are also fine if you fish in an area that is not really cold and the fish are not big. A rather large fish can go through a 6 inch hole but when it gets really cold, the holes have a tendency to freeze up and get smaller. In -15 to -25 weather, a 6 inch hole really freezes up fast. But....cutting a hole through ice is a bit easier with a 6 inch auger. Some people who do a lot of ice fishing, most guides, all outfitters, use gas operated augers. They cost about 350 dollars. When using one where there are many fishermen, you can offer to cut holes for a small fee. By the end of 2 years, your machine could have paid for itself. But, you will have to haul smelly gas, the extra weight and if the auger is not maintained, it could give you problems. Manual augers always start. "SC" wrote in message ... Hi everyone. On the subject of ice fishing, can anyone tell me a cheap way to measure the ice thickness without buying one of those ice drill things? I have bought a house by quite a shallow lake, so could I carefully step out and hack a hole with an axe and does the ice get thicker the further out you go? Thanks a lot in advance. ARB |
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