Put and Take Sverige
Safe ice – before you ice-fish
No fish is worth going through the ice for. Before you go out to ice-fish you need to judge the ice yourself and have the right safety kit in place. Treat this page as a reminder of the basics, not a promise that a given ice will hold. That responsibility is always yours, every time.
Never go alone on uncertain ice. Judge the ice again every time, even on water you know well.
Basic rules
- Black-ice thickness. As a rule of thumb black ice should be at least about 10 cm for one person. It is a thumb rule — bearing depends on ice type, temperature and load.
- Never alone. Go with company and tell someone where you are going and when you expect back.
- Right kit. Always wear ice claws around the neck, an ice pike to test with, and preferably a throw line. A floatation suit adds more safety.
- Test as you go. Check the ice in front of you with the pike all the way out, and turn back as soon as the pike goes through easily.
Be extra careful at inlets, outlets and sounds where water moves, and at reeds, jetties, stones and shallows. Snow-covered ice hides weak spots. Black ice is usually stronger than white, air-filled ice, but always judge on the spot. Other people’s tracks are not proof. If you go through: face the way you came, drive the claws in, pull yourself up, roll away from the hole, do not stand until you are on safe ice. Practise the technique in advance. More: winter fishing, rules.
FAQ
How thick should ice be to hold?
As a rule of thumb black ice should be at least about 10 cm for one person, and the ice even and checked. It is a thumb rule, not a guarantee, because conditions vary. Always check locally.
Where is ice weakest?
At inlets and outlets, sounds, reeds, jetties and stones, and where currents move. Snow-covered ice and black ice also have different bearing. Be extra careful at all such places.
What do I do if I go through the ice?
If you have ice claws: turn toward the way you came, drive the claws into the ice and pull or kick yourself up. Then roll away from the hole and do not stand until you are on safe ice. Practise the technique in advance.
Is it safe to trust that others walk on the ice?
No. That someone else has been out does not mean the ice holds you, or that it holds in another place. Ice can vary strongly on the same lake, and it may have worsened since they were out. Always judge yourself.