If you're wanting to go onto an ice-covered body of water for ice fishing or just want to walk on the ice, the Kansas Wildlife Parks and Tourism provided some tips to make sure you stay safe.

 

New, clear ice is the strongest, and white ice may only be about half as strong. Wait for at least four inches of clear, hard ice before walking on any ice-covered waterbody, and five to seven inches of ice is necessary to support a snowmobile or ATV. It usually takes several days of calm weather with single-digit temperatures to make safe ice.

 

KDWPT recommends never recreating alone, especially during winter; invite a family member or friend. Should an incident occur, chances of survival may be increased with more people present.

 

When ice fishing, it’s best to use an auger to cut holes which is a quick and efficient method for drilling into the ice. In Kansas, holes cut in the ice of public waters may be no more than 12 inches in diameter.

 

Falling into frigid water can be a deadly mistake as hypothermia can overcome a person within minutes so be sure to proceed with caution.