The plunging temperatures and winter weather being felt throughout the Cariboo has put ice fishing to the forefront of many minds, but when is it safe to do so?
Jude Dion, outdoors-man and business owner in 100 Mile House, has the general rule of thumb for ice safety:
“Four inches to walk on for good ice. Whether its ready or not depends on where you go, like many of the smaller lakes, like Snag, are already frozen. Four to walk, eight inches to snowmobile, eighteen inches to drive a vehicle.”
Dion recommends that would-be ice-anglers auger holes periodically to check ice thickness and use either a buddy system with rope or a longer stick when going out further to avoid falling through if the ice breaks.