Anglers reminded to check ice thickness during ice fishing season

Ice fishing shacks are appearing once again on bodies of water in Saskatchewan, so the Ministry of Environment is issuing its annual reminder to anglers to think first about safety.

“Unseasonably warm temperatures throughout December means that many waters in Saskatchewan still have not fully frozen,” the ministry said in a media release Thursday. “This makes it especially easy to misjudge ice thickness.”

Ice should be at least four inches thick for a person to walk on it and at least eight inches thick to handle the weight of a snowmobile. Cars and trucks shouldn’t go on the ice unless it’s at least a foot thick.

The ministry also reminded anglers to:

• Plan ahead and tell someone where you’ll be fishing and when you plan to return;
• Be prepared, wear proper cold weather apparel and layer clothing to stay warm, and assemble some safety gear for emergencies like a cellphone, icepicks, a throw rope, flares and a life jacket or flotation suit;
• Stick together and try to fish with others instead of alone;
• Avoid open water; if there’s open water nearby or the ice looks slushy, stay away; and
• Don’t assume, because ice conditions can change rapidly. Test the ice thickness before going on it and check with local anglers for information about the body of water.

The ministry also reminded people to know the limits for different species of fish, carry their licence, mark their ice shack, and clean, drain and dry their equipment.

More information is available on the government’s website.

(Government of Saskatchewan/Submitted)