Late Season Ice Fishing? Here's How Much Ice You NEED to Have

This is the time of the year where we often end up with people unintentionally wandering out onto ice that is no longer safe enough to handle the weight of people, let alone the vehicles they try and drive out there.

You should always double and triple check the thickness of the ice you're going out on. Make sure that the thickness is consistent and not just thick in one area. Especially now as spring is beginning to (sprung?) around New England, many bodies of water are quickly becoming unsafe for even small vehicles like ATVs and snowmobiles, let alone trucks.

According to NOAA, you need a minimum of 12-15 inches of ice to hold your pickup, 8-12 inches for a small car, 5-6 inches for an ATV, and at least 4 inches for a person. Remember, increasing daily temps and beaming sunshine are doing a number on Maine's lakes and streams so if you're planning to do any late-season ice fishing, make sure to double and triple check the ice!

Keep in mind that these are minimum requirements and that bringing your vehicle on the ice is something you should think long and hard about. And when driving on ice, it's best to keep your window down do that in the event of a fall-through, you can get out of the vehicle before it sinks to the bottom and fills with water.

With that said, check out this fail video of people falling through (intentionally and otherwise) ice that wasn't quite thick enough!

Central Maine Roads & Streets To Avoid In A Snowstorm

Recently, we asked our co-workers, families, and listeners what roads you should try to avoid when we're getting a storm. Take a look at our list and let us know if you agree.