When the summer fishing season ends, it's time for the winter season. Winter fishing is almost no different from summer fishing. But there is only one danger - you can fall through the ice. Therefore, you need to follow safety precautions and know what the thickness of the ice should be for safe movement on the surface. If you follow all the rules, winter fishing will become even more exciting than summer fishing.
Officially permissible thickness
In many regions, fishermen go out on the ice when its thickness reaches 7 cm. However, 10 cm is considered a safe indicator. Walking crossings are allowed at 15 cm or more, and transport crossings - over 30 cm.
It is worth considering that ice coverage may vary from place to place. Even with its optimal thickness, a thinner crust is observed in the center of the lake, near the shore and in the river confluence zones.
65 mm is not a safe enough thickness for movement
For one person and a group of people
One person can walk when the ice thickness is more than 10 cm in fresh water and at least 15 cm in salt water. In river mouths and channels, places with dense vegetation, near trees and bushes, the strength of the ice cover is weakened. When the ambient temperature remains above 0 for several days, the strength of the ice floor decreases by a quarter of the required value.
When going out on the ice, you should be guided by its appearance:
- blue color - reliable;
- white - the strength is reduced by 2 times;
- matte - dangerous.
For group walks on the ice, you need to wait until its thickness reaches 15 centimeters or more.
Acceptable safe thickness for movement
Thickness for car
If you plan to travel to a frozen body of water in a car, it is important to take into account the safe ice thickness values. At the same time, the weight of the vehicle is taken into account.
Official figures:
| Thickness at which ice can withstand transport load, m | Vehicle weight, kg | |
| fresh water | maritime | |
| 0,7-0,8 | 0,6 | Up to 20 |
| 100 | 0,95 | Up to 40 |
In addition, do not forget to take into account the depth of the reservoir, the intensity of the current, the distance to the destination, and the number of moving vehicles.
For winter crossing
The indicators are presented in the table:
| How much ice holds - the weight of a moving object | Distance from the edge, cm | Allowable thickness, cm | |
| for fresh water | for salt water | ||
| Weighing 100 kg | 100 | 10 | 15 |
| Up to 80 | 150 | 20 | 25 |
| Up to 300 | 200 | 25 | 30 |
| Up to 650 | 240 | 35 | 45 |
| Up to 1000 | 250 | 40 | 55 |
Knowing the mass of the technical product, it is easy to calculate the safe thickness.
Ice crossing for vehicle movement
What is freeze-up
In late autumn, you can observe how the water in reservoirs becomes dark, almost black. At the same time, it has a dense and viscous consistency. This indicates the beginning of freezing of the reservoir. After this comes freezing. This term is usually used to describe not only the layer of ice covering rivers, but also the process of formation of the ice cover, as well as the time period during which it does not melt.
The characteristics of the phenomenon, such as the period, thickness of the ice and the speed of its establishment, depend on several factors:
- from the landscape and terrain;
- on the characteristics of the river bed and bottom;
- from the weather - atmospheric temperature, wind and its intensity, as well as the presence of fogs;
- depending on the size and flow of the river - the smaller the reservoir, the faster freezing will occur.
In addition, the duration of this natural phenomenon is determined by the thickness and structure of the ice layer, as well as the duration of the cold period.
In mountain reservoirs with rapid currents, continuous ice cover is not established. Lowland rivers may also have areas that are not frozen. They are called polynyas:
Such areas occur in places where the current is the roughest or the water is warmer than in the entire body of water.
Factors affecting strength
Ice grows gradually and unevenly, depending on the rate at which the water cools. When there is no wind, the crust thickens by 2.5 mm per 1 degree of ambient temperature. For example, if the temperature remains stable at 5 degrees, 1 cm of ice can form in a day. Salty and muddy water freezes more slowly, therefore, the growth will be less.
Other factors also influence the formation of ice crust:
- depth of the water basin;
- river current speed;
- amount of snow cover;
- wind power.
On small lakes, the ice thickness will be greater, since the huge water mass in deep water areas inhibits icing. Therefore, it is impossible to accurately determine the thickness of the coating from the shore.
A lot of drifted snow is also bad. He applies pressure, and water begins to wash it away through the cracks that have formed. As a result, slush appears and then ice. Going out on such a surface is life-threatening. A sharp cold snap also has a negative impact on the formation of ice. This leads to the appearance of wormwood, through which water reaches the surface and freezes. As the temperature rises, it prevents the ice floes from expanding to their original size. This is where ice piles and hummocks arise along the coastline.
It also happens if you don’t know the safe thickness
Allowed ice capacity
Shallow ponds and lakes freeze before others, while deep ones are delayed by 15–20 days. This trend can also be observed within the same reservoir. On rivers, the rapids are the last to set. To understand how long it will take for the layer to grow to a safe ice thickness for fishing, just look at the table:
| Ambient air temperature, ºС | Growth rate per day when the reservoir is not closed, mm | Increase in cover thickness at initial 10 centimeters, mm/day. |
| -5 | 5 | 5 |
| -10 | 11 | 9 |
| -15 | 16 | 13 |
| -20 | 21 | 19 |
| -25 | 28 | 22 |
In theory, ice formation should occur at a rate of 2.5 mm/day per 1ºС, but this statement does not work in large bodies of water. In addition, even minor snow accumulations slow down the increase in ice thickness. A thick layer presses down the crust, cracks form, water penetrates through them and melts the upper surface of the coating - weakening it. The ice thickness for safe movement is justified: a table depending on the number and equipment of fishermen, air temperature.
| Load Description | Minimum thickness at 0ºС | Minimum thickness at -5ºС | Minimum thickness at -10ºС | Distance between load application points, m |
| Single people without load | 4 | 5 | 6 | 2―3 |
| Fisherman with equipment | 7 | 8 | 9 | 2―3 |
| Group of several people | 10 | 12 | 15 | 10 |
In the spring, movement across a reservoir becomes more dangerous than during the period of first ice formation. It is important to know all the rules and remember that when edges appear, then before going out onto the pond it is necessary to plan and ensure a safe and reliable return to the shore.
Theory and practice
For the movement of vehicles, the route is cleared on both sides of the axis (at least 10-15 cm) and marked with milestones up to 15 cm in size. Ice roads must be in one direction, so the return path is laid at a distance of 100 meters or more.
Fishermen should make holes at intervals of 5 meters, near the shore - 3 meters. The diameter of the holes should be no more than 10 cm. It is advisable to arrange them in a checkerboard pattern. For safety reasons, the holes are fenced off with snowdrifts and covered with wooden shields. Frozen ice should be knocked down manually or using special equipment.
Once every 5 days, the local Hydrometeorological Service takes measurements of the thickness of the ice cover. When there is a thaw, measurements are taken more often.
Formula for calculating the thickness for vehicle movement:
Htr = N x A x P
- H is the thickness of the ice build-up;
- N is the coefficient of vehicle throughput (500 cars per day - 1, 400 - 0.8, 300 - 0.6, and so on);
- A – value characterizing the load (indicators for wheeled or tracked vehicles);
- P – mass of cargo transported by car, tons.
The calculation formula may be supplemented depending on regional conditions.
| Optimal load, t | Required safe thickness (cm), taking into account the average daily temperature for the previous 3 days | Distance between cars, m | ||
| At minus 10 ᵒС and less | -5 ᵒС | Short-term thaw | ||
| Tracked vehicles (tractors) | ||||
| 4 | 19 | 21 | 29 | 10 |
| 6 | 22 | 24 | 31 | 16 |
| 10 | 27 | 30 | 38 | 21 |
| 16 | 35 | 40 | 51 | 26 |
| 20 | 40 | 45 | 55 | 31 |
| 30 | 50 | 55 | 69 | 35 |
| 40 | 56 | 62 | 80 | 40 |
| 50 | 62 | 70 | 87 | 45 |
| 60 | 70 | 76 | 99 | 50 |
| Wheeled transport | ||||
| 4 | 23 | 25 | 32 | 19 |
| 6 | 30 | 33 | 41 | 21 |
| 8 | 35 | 38 | 49 | 23 |
| 10 | 39 | 43 | 54 | 26 |
| 15 | 47 | 51 | 65 | 30 |
When using the values from the table, it must be taken into account that the average daily degree and ideal conditions for the growth of ice cover on freshwater bodies are taken. If the ice is porous, the thickness should be doubled. When the water is salty, the correction factor changes to 1.2.
If necessary, the thickness of the coating is increased artificially. To do this, water the desired area with water and wait for the layer to freeze.
winter road
Rules of conduct on thin ice
When moving on thin ice, it is advisable to use already trodden paths, and if there are none, check the strength of the covering with a stick. The first step is taken without lifting the feet from the surface. You cannot test the strength with a kick. When crossing the bay, you must avoid dangerous areas. Particular care should be taken in areas with intense currents, springs, exposed frozen vegetation, and where streams or sewage flow into the water.
If a group of people is moving, you must stay strictly behind each other at a distance of at least 5 meters. You must be prepared to provide emergency assistance if someone falls through the ice. When fishing, it is unacceptable to make many holes nearby and gather in large groups. In the case of traveling on skis, check the availability of a ready-made ski track and follow it. If there is not one, unfasten the ski fastenings and carry the poles in your hands without putting on the loops.
A backpack or fishing suitcase is hung on the shoulder, or better yet, dragged on a rope or sled 2 meters behind. When going fishing, find out the weather for the planned day in advance. If strong winds are expected, then there is a high probability of ice floes breaking off from the shore.
When going to the ice, it is recommended to take warm clothes with you in reserve. Then, if you fall into the water, you can change clothes immediately after rescue.
Thickness measurements
Possible dangers
Spring ice is dangerous! In spring, as temperatures rise, vertical cavities form in the ice. There are no reliable values for the bearing capacity of ice with a damaged structure. Such ice, even with a thickness of 30 cm, can fail a fisherman – an underglacier.
Under the snow, which has packed into the cracks and formed a heat-insulating snowdrift, the ice in the spring is so weak that sometimes it simply melts completely. Therefore, in spring it is better to avoid snowdrifts.
Expert opinion
Alexander Petrovich
participant of the Russian Championship in fishing with a float rod
Dangerous situations often arise on warm spring days, when lure fishermen go to fishing spots at dusk on ice that is strong from the night frost. By the afternoon, the ice can weaken so much that it is often difficult for an angler to even imagine.
It is for this reason that every year a huge number of winter fishing enthusiasts fall through the ice!
We recommend reading: Choosing a spinning rod for fishing from the shore, review of current models
Rivers and straits, as well as the mouths of rivers and streams, are also dangerous places. In the straits, the current intensifies, and if somewhere in a narrow place the bottom is also higher, then the current becomes very significant. Currents in lakes often eat away the ice at the ends of capes.
In the sea, currents support the movement of rising or receding water. In shallow and narrow areas, the ice can thin significantly over just a few meters.
Ice is also fragile at the locations of various sewer outlets. Bridges, piers and large rocks become especially hot in the spring sun and can cause currents that weaken the ice near them.
Dangerous places at the beginning of the season can be poorly frozen deep areas of reservoirs. In spring, danger again lurks near the shore, where reeds, water flowing from land, and large stones increase the fragility of the ice.
Spring waters running on top of the ice corrode old fishing holes so much that even a person can fall into them. Also, most often on small forest lakes, I came across underwater springs, which are especially active in March-April. Here and there tracks on the ice tell of a moose that fell through the ice above such a spring and fought for a long time before getting out onto the ice.
The skis hold up well on thin ice, but if you fall through, there is a real danger to your life. Finnish sleds also cope well with danger, so on unreliable ice it is better to walk and push the sled. Too brisk a step is more likely to lead to a treacherous place.
Sami sleighs (without runners) will protect the traveler if you put a load in them. If you fail, the ice auger and heavy backpack will not interfere with getting out of the water and the risk of destroying your equipment is reduced.
Rules of conduct on a frozen pond
You should not experiment by testing the reliability of the ice crust with kicks. If the coating has already formed, but is quite fragile, you need to check it with a pole. It is better to move along already trodden paths. If you are a pioneer, you should avoid dangerous places. Remember the characteristic signs of a thin coating: cracking, sagging, water appearing on top. If this is observed, move with legs wide apart and slowly.
It is not permissible for a large group to walk on thin ice and run. Be sure to keep a distance of 5-6 meters. If it is necessary to cross a particularly dangerous area, take an accompanying person with you for insurance. Even from a distance, he will be able to provide timely assistance to a person in trouble.
Signs of thin ice
A well-formed ice shell is indicated by its greenish or blue tint. There should also be no snow cover. The fragility of the surface is indicated by its porosity and grayish color. And snow-covered areas are especially dangerous because they prevent you from seeing flooded areas and ice holes. Also, the thickness is thinner where reeds or reeds or other aquatic vegetation grow.
There are other signs of an unsafe surface:
- looseness and pure white color;
- presence of water on top;
- characteristic cracking sound when stepping.
How to check thickness
Before moving onto a frozen body of water, it would be a good idea to externally assess the strength of the coating. The first ice is like a spider's web - thin and transparent. Smooth and without cracks, with a bluish tint, is considered safe for humans. If it makes a characteristic sound and bends under the weight, then it’s not worth the risk. For the first time you have to go down extremely carefully. You should tap it with a stick first before moving.
It cracks and bends underfoot - this is a sign of its unreliability.
Movement on ice
Skis. Some fishermen prefer to move on ice on skis when it is not possible to travel by car. The minimum ice thickness for fishing and movement is at least 8 cm. Anything less is considered unsafe.
Skiing on clear ice is not an easy task; the ice must be covered with a small layer of snow.
Snowmobiles. If you decide to go on snowmobiles, the safe ice thickness for fishing should be at least 15cm. When going fishing with a snowmobile, make sure that the ice is already strong. To travel on snowmobiles, the ice must be covered with a small layer of snow.
How to behave on ice
The actions of many people on the ice, especially children, can often be called unreasonable. Officially, a thickness of at least 10-15 cm is considered safe. For mass events, the standard increases to 20-25 cm.
Before going out into a crusty body of water, be sure to study the rules of conduct and what thickness can support a person. Otherwise, harmful consequences are inevitable.
How to behave
Ice formation on water bodies
In November, a small amount of ice forms on the reservoirs; in mid-December, it becomes covered with strong ice that can support a person.
It is impossible to say for sure that it is safe to move on the ice surface in mid-December.
It all depends on the weather; it happens that reservoirs begin to become covered with ice in mid-December, or it may be that in November all reservoirs are already covered with strong ice that can withstand not only a person, but also a car.
It all depends on the climatic characteristics of the region. In the northern regions, reservoirs are covered with ice much earlier and turn into an ice highway, along which vehicle traffic is allowed almost until spring.
Dangerous areas
Ice cover is especially unsafe for movement on it in the fall, when ice is just beginning to form, and in early spring due to the onset of a thaw. Typically, the coating along the shoreline is thicker than in the center of the reservoir. You should avoid areas covered with a thick layer of snow, ice holes, ice holes and fishing holes, estuaries - moving through such places a person risks falling into the water.
It is worth avoiding swampy areas, even in severe frosts. The gases released make the ice brittle.
Safe Ice Thickness for Fishing
It is generally accepted that ice thickness for winter fishing is 7 centimeters safe for movement. However, a thickness of 10 centimeters is considered more reliable.
If you decide to drive on ice by car, make sure the ice is at least 30 centimeters thick. If the thickness is less, driving a car on ice is dangerous.
If the thickness of the ice on a reservoir is more than 15 centimeters, movement on it is officially allowed in order to shorten the journey. It is important to remember that on large bodies of water, ice thickness may vary due to currents.
Rules of conduct when getting into water
If a person suddenly fails, one must strictly follow the rules of conduct:
- don't panic;
- spread their arms to the sides so that they can lean on the edges and not swallow water;
- avoid impulsive manipulations, try to crawl out of the font (if you have access to a rope, use it to pull yourself up);
- do not rely on small areas of ice;
- after hitting the surface, they crawl or roll away from the edge of the hole - you cannot suddenly get up and run.
If there is anyone, you need to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations. If you intend to help someone who has failed to get out, you need to find a way to increase the supporting area (this could be sports equipment, plastic). It is unacceptable to stand on the edge of a broken ice, you must act at a safe distance. They throw a rope to the victim and begin to slowly pull him up. Then you should change him into warm clothes, give him hot tea without alcohol and call an ambulance.
Security measures
Basic precautions that everyone should know before going out on the ice:
- step on the ice, after making sure that it is durable;
- move along paths laid out by other pedestrians;
- check the reliability of the covering with a stick if there are no signs of movement;
- they return back if, when stepping on the ice, a cracking sound appears and water comes out;
- move away from dangerous areas slowly, with sliding steps, without lifting the sole from the surface and without stopping;
- bypass places where fishermen gather, since additional load can lead to the appearance of cracks;
- postpone visiting a frozen reservoir if it is cloudy, slushy or snowing outside;
- do not visit water bodies at night in winter;
- stay away from ice holes, ice holes and areas with strong currents;
- do not stomp to test strength.
Rules of conduct when getting into water
Time of ice formation in Russia
Most of the regions in the Russian Federation are located in latitudes with a cold climate, where winter lasts more than 3 standard months. The first ice capable of supporting the weight of a person appears on reservoirs by the end of November. Coverage suitable for vehicle movement is formed only in mid-January. At the same time, the weather for the entire previous period is taken into account. When the ambient temperature remains within 0 degrees for 3 days, the strength decreases by a quarter of the original value.
Officially, ice crossings across water bodies begin to function in mid-January. They close at the end of February, provided there are no short-term thaws in winter. It is important to remember that the timing of ice formation varies depending on the region. Therefore, you must first find out the weather forecast and official statements from the authorities regarding the thickness of the ice cover.
Ice properties and safety
photo by the author
For winter fishermen who go out on the ice of different types of reservoirs, it is simply necessary to know and understand what conditions of the evolution of the ice cover determine the safety or impossibility of being on it. In this case, the main characteristic of ice will be its strength, which is a variable value, highly dependent on the type and structure of the ice, its temperature and thickness.
It happens that the beginning of winter is accompanied by frequent thaws with precipitation in the form of rain or sleet. Then the ice cover freezes in stages during the frosty intervals between cyclones. At the same time, its thickness increases both from below - due to the crystallization of the surface water of the reservoir, and from above - due to the freezing of the snow-water “porridge” that appeared on top of the ice during the next bad weather. Such ice turns out to be cloudy and multi-layered. It should be borne in mind that it is approximately two times weaker (withstands half the static load) of ice, transparent as glass. Therefore, it is safe to go out onto the whitish, opaque ice cover when it reaches a thickness of more than 10 centimeters, and even if the air temperature is negative. This is important to know for the reason that anglers, as a rule, tend to areas with such ice, since fish usually accumulate here in low light conditions and they bite much better in such places.
As already said, pure, transparent ice is the strongest. This is a crystalline monolith formed from the freezing of the supercooled upper layer of water. However, it makes sense to fish from such ice only at great depths, where little light reaches and the fish are not shy. Therefore, it will be safe when it reaches a thickness of at least 5 centimeters - only in this case the ice can reliably support one person, but groups cannot gather on it.
| photo by the author |
The strength of the ice cover increases linearly with increasing thickness and decreasing temperature. But here you have to imagine that the temperature of the ice varies in thickness: at the top it is equal to atmospheric temperature, and at the bottom it corresponds to the freezing point of water, that is, about zero degrees. And since the temperature coefficient of linear expansion of ice is enormous (for example, five times greater than that of iron) and many have probably seen how strong vessels with frozen water burst, it becomes clear that similar processes are inevitable with ice on a reservoir: according to As its thickness increases, layers at different temperatures experience an expanding load in both the transverse and longitudinal directions. That is why, during sudden warming or cooling, the ice on reservoirs bursts with a deafening roar and long cracks spread across it. In addition, in the vast water areas of lakes and reservoirs, these cracks, on the one hand, cause the formation of ice hummocks, and on the other (to compensate) - wide leads into which one can easily fall, especially after snowfalls covering the open water.
You might think that cracks on the ice surface form haphazardly, chaotically. However, not everything is so simple if we remember the mechanism of ice formation: at the beginning of winter, when the ice is not yet the same thickness everywhere, stresses are localized in narrow zones where thick and thin ice cover meets, that is, where shallow water abruptly turns to depth. Experienced fishermen know that bottom dumps, where fish often stay, should be looked for along old and wide cracks, usually running parallel to the main channel. In this case, the deep side of the reservoir will be determined by the crack located close to the usually steep bank, and vice versa.
To imagine what kind of ice can be expected on a reservoir at the beginning of winter, you should know that its growth during the day is highly dependent on the air temperature and the existing thickness. It looks something like this: if the ice was already about 10 centimeters, then over the next day it will add 4 cm at a frost of minus 5; 6 cm – at frost 10; 8 cm – at minus 15; 9 cm - at minus 20. But if the initial ice thickness is, say, 20-30 cm, then the daily increase at the same temperatures will decrease by about 3-4 times - it’s impossible to say more precisely, since this is also affected by the quality of the water.
| photo by the author |
Of course, the ideal picture of ice freezing is greatly changed by the thickness of the snow cover on it, which acts like a fur coat. It is known that the thermal conductivity (cold conductivity) of snow is up to 30 times less than that of ice (much depends on the density of the snow), therefore, during snowfalls, depending on their intensity, an appropriate correction must be made to the calculations.
It is important to understand by the appearance of the first, fragile ice how it reacts to the load. Experienced fishermen say that young ice will not deceive, will not let you down, but will notify you of danger in time with a loud crack and the appearance of cracks. A load applied to thin ice (a fisherman on ice) causes it to sag (deform) into a bowl shape. With a small load, the deformation is elastic in nature, and the bowl expands symmetrically around the perimeter. If the load is higher than the elastic limit, then plastic deformation of the ice will begin and the deflection bowl will begin to increase faster in depth than in width - this is the beginning of ice destruction. In quantitative terms it will look like this. For the strongest transparent ice, its central deflection to a depth of 5 cm will not cause cracks; a deflection of 9 cm leads to increased formation of cracks; a deflection of 12 cm causes through cracking; at 15 cm the ice falls through.
Under the influence of a load, cracks in the ice appear both radial - emanating from the point of application, and concentric - around this point. Radial cracks only warn of insufficient ice strength, which requires extreme caution on it. But if concentric cracking is added to the radial cracks, accompanied by a characteristic creaking sound, you need to immediately leave the dangerous area with a sliding step; in a particularly critical situation, it is better to lie on the ice in order to increase the area of weight distribution over the surface, and crawl in the opposite direction. You need to know other rules of conduct on thin ice:
– under no circumstances should you walk along it in single file, otherwise the radial cracks on the path will quickly grow concentric;
– do not go fishing alone;
– check each step on the ice with a pointed pick, but do not hit the ice in front of you with it - it’s better from the side;
– do not approach other fishermen closer than 3 meters;
– do not approach places where driftwood, algae, or air bubbles are frozen into the ice;
– do not walk near a fresh crack or on an area of ice separated from the main body by several cracks;
– quickly leave the dangerous place if water begins to flow like a fountain from the hole you have made;
– it is necessary to have means of insurance and rescue (a cord with a weight at the end, a long pole, a wide board);
– do not combine fishing with drinking alcohol.
Anatoly Mailkov January 16, 2012 at 00:00
