Re: Stupid question
 

Again guys, thanks for all the tips and direction. I was finally able to get out yesterday, had 2-3 inches of snow, then mostly, 2 of ice, then 1-2 or water, then 4-6 of ice under that. Did hit one spot that only had 2-3 of ice. But for the most part, it was all pretty solid. Unfortunately right after i got set up, Sun came out, and with my limited experience, i have never done well under bright sun. But felt good to finally get out.

Re: Stupid question
 

I'm very surprised how LITTLE new ice has formed under the now mostly frozen slush... I would proceed very cautiously onto new ice or ice that wasn't thick before the snow. Places that were locked tight with 4-5 inches or more seem mostly ok, but i'd obviously still be cautious with that too.

Re: Stupid question
 

Get this. I finally got back out Sunday. (I was hoping to go tomorrow, but have to get my power auger running & my buddy backed out. He's younger & would whack holes.) So I step out on the ice, I'm thinking it's been 12 degrees here so many nights, might as well proceed, but of course not. I'm cautious. So I whack with the splitting bar and I'm through real quick. I get my hand and fingers in the whole to find what's holding me. It was 6 or 7 inches of snow ice, a 2-inch layer of slush (I was surprised it wasn't just water) and a HALF INCH of hard ice, obviously it had thinned. So I'm nervous, and Brian is nervous in turn. But our buddies up lake just walk straight out and don't go through, so we follow. And out there, there was about three inches of hard ice under it. But it was weird. I've been on all sorts of ice with water inbetween, but never that little of original ice....I was a little surprised that snow ice held us. The splitting bar got through it so easily. BTW Loads of pickerel. A couple of 12, 13 inch perch. A bass.