Many people are out on the water this time of year to ice fish, but with the temperatures up and down, ice safety should be a top priority. S and W Bait and Tackle in Brainerd has a few tips anglers should know before heading out on the lake.

According to the Minnesota DNR, no ice is safe ice and the first tip one should take into consideration is how thick the ice should be before walking onto it. If someone were to fall through the ice, it is recommended to have safety gear, such as spikes and cleats, that can help pull oneself out.

Safety standards suggested there be a minimum thickness of four inches of ice before walking on it. A spud bar is used to check ice thickness and how deep ice could be.

For those wanting to take a four-wheeler or a snowmobile, it is recommended to have at least five to eight inches, but for anything bigger, such as a car or pickup, safety guidelines recommend nine to seventeen inches.

According to S and W Service Guide Nate Blasing, fourteen to sixteen inches is recommended to feel comfortable with a vehicle, because the ice thickness has been known to vary depending on location.

Anglers will also want to be well layered with multiple clothes in case of frigid temperatures. Instead of gloves, Blasing recommends mittens with heat packs in them. He also says a couple layers of socks and foam pads in a fish house can be helpful to keeping one warm.

With Minnesota winters being long and bitterly cold at times, water temperatures can be exceedingly dangerous. As such, a new ice fishing flotation device has been made available. The gear consists of overalls and a coat made with a flotation device inside the lining. The device is made to keep anglers upright until they can use their spikes to pull themselves out. The device can vary in price. Both the coat and the overalls can cost $400, but one can also spend as much as $800 for a higher-end brand. Blasing claims the peace of mind is money well spent.

By — Hanky Hazelton