A group of people walk out onto a frozen lake or pond in the middle of winter. They are pulling sleds full of fishing gear behind them. Some will bring stools to sit down on and others will have portable shanties or fish houses delivered by a truck. They are about to engage in a popular winter sport called ice fishing. Ice fishing means catching fish with a short rod through a hole that is made in the ice on top of water.
The first and most important thing to remember about ice fishing is your safety. You can never put your guard down when you're on the ice because there is no guarantee it is entirely safe. Always make sure the region you choose to go ice fishing has at least six inches of ice on it. There are many things that can affect the depth and strength of ice. If the wind blows frequently then the ice will freeze slower and won't be solid. Ice will not form as well if there is a lot of heavy snow covering it. Repeated thaws or freezing and refreezing again can also weaken ice. Moving water such as underwater stream currents can cause the ice to wear thin. Weeds, vegetation or pond plants such as cattails can decrease ice thickness and strength.
Gray or dark colored ice is usually soft and can't hold any weight. If ice stops freezing, it can become slushy. Don't walk on slushy ice because it means the ice is weak. Be very cautious on river ice. It can be as thick as pond ice but it's not as strong. The kind of ice you should look for is clear ice which can have a blue or green tint. The strength and ability of clear blue ice make it the safest kind of ice. You still need to proceed with caution if clear blue ice is in an area of water that could cause it to wear thin like the middle of a body of water. Blue ice can also become thin near the shore if it's the end of the season. Wet snow will freeze and form white opaque ice which isn't near as strong as clear blue ice. Ice thickness and strength can vary in different parts of ponds, lakes or any body of water. You are going to be out on the ice for a while when your ice fishing so if you have any doubt of its safety then stay off of it.
You should always take items with you that test and measure the thickness of ice. Ice chisels are handy for testing ice strength. If you break the ice after hitting it with an ice chisel two or three times then that is a good sign the ice isn't safe. Ice claws are very important to carry with you in case of an emergency. If you fall into the water, ice claws can help you escape. You stab the claws into the ice and grab the ice claws to pull yourself up. Ice picks can be worn around your neck in case you need them quickly.
You can enjoy ice fishing more if you are comfortably dressed and warm. Protecting your body against the cold and wind is very important. Layering your clothes is not only a good way to keep warm but safeguards you against hypothermia and frostbite. Layering also makes it convenient for you to either remove or put clothes back on depending on how hot or cold you are. The first layer should be long underwear made of material that keeps moisture away from your skin so you stay dry and warm. Next, you should wear clothing that will keep your chest warm such as quilt material. Wind will make your body feel colder so your top layer of clothing should be a wind resistant garment or windbreaker. A lot of heat is loss through the head area. Protect your head with a stocking cap that is made of wool or fleece. Make sure the cap fits over your ears. In extremely cold weather you can wear a stocking cap that fits over your whole face.
You'll also want to make sure your feet and hands are warm. You can wear lightweight gloves to perform the needed tasks during ice fishing. When you're not doing anything but sitting there then you can put heavier gloves on top of the lighter ones to protect your hands from getting to cold. To keep your feet warm you can layer your socks. Nylon or rayon socks are good choices. There are many boots to choose from that are well insulated. You can wear separate felt liners with some insulated boots to ensure that your feet stay warm and dry. Ice fishing can be much more enjoyable if you can give it your full concentration without the worry of being cold.
Great work!!