Ice fishing and ice safety guides
Plain answers on how thick ice has to be, when your lake usually locks up, and where to fish. Every guide lists its sources. No ice is ever 100% safe, so check it yourself.
Ice safety
How thick is safe, how to read first ice, and what to avoid once you are out there.
- First Ice: How to Read It and Check It SafelyFirst ice is the first sheet of the season. Learn clear vs white ice, when lakes lock up, and how to check it step by step. MN DNR minimum for foot: 4 in.
- Ice Thickness Chart: How Thick Is Safe Ice?Ice thickness chart from the MN DNR and NY DEC: inches needed to walk, ride an ATV or snowmobile, or drive, plus white ice, slush, gear and falling in.
- Pressure Ridges, Cracks and Slush on Ice: What to KnowPressure ridges, cracks and slush make ice weak and unpredictable. Learn what causes them, how wet and dry cracks differ, and what to do if you break through.
Freeze dates
When big lakes have locked up in past winters, from state DNR and National Weather Service records.
- North DakotaDevils Lake ND Ice: When It Freezes and How to Check ItNo official Devils Lake, North Dakota ice-in date record exists that we could find. See what regional reports say about freeze-up, plus ND Game and Fish ice minimums and hazards.
- MichiganHoughton Lake Ice: When It Freezes and How to Check ItWe found no ice-in date record for Houghton Lake, Michigan. Here is what is documented: spring ice-out dates from 1951 to 2002, Tip-Up Town ice trouble, and how to check the ice.
- WisconsinLake Winnebago Ice: When It Freezes and How to Check ItWe found no official ice-in date record for Lake Winnebago. Here is what is documented: DNR ice warnings, sturgeon season shanty counts, and how to check the ice.
- MaineMoosehead Lake Ice: When It Freezes and How to Check ItWe found no ice-in date record for Moosehead Lake. Here is what is documented: ice-out dates back to 1848, Maine warden ice advice, and how to check the ice.
- MinnesotaWhen Does Cass Lake Freeze? Ice-In DatesCass Lake near Bemidji has 6 DNR ice-in entries from 2008 to 2025, ranging Nov. 24 to Jan. 7. See the dates, Bemidji for comparison, and DNR ice minimums.
- Vermont, New YorkWhen Does Lake Champlain Freeze? Closing Dates and Ice SafetyLake Champlain has locked up bank to bank in 163 of 211 winters on the NWS record, but only 9 of the last 27. See the dates, the bays, and ice safety.
- MinnesotaWhen Does Lake of the Woods Freeze? Ice-In DatesLake of the Woods ice-in dates from the Minnesota DNR record: earliest Nov. 16, latest Dec. 6, median Nov. 28. Year by year table and ice thickness minimums.
- MinnesotaWhen Does Lake Vermilion Freeze? Ice-In DatesLake Vermilion has 31 DNR ice-in entries across 24 years, 1983 to 2023, ranging Nov. 6 to Dec. 13. See the dates, the median, and DNR ice minimums.
- MinnesotaWhen Does Lake Winnibigoshish Freeze? Ice-In DatesThe MN DNR has only 2 ice-in dates for Lake Winnibigoshish: Dec. 2, 2019 and Nov. 29, 2023. See them, nearby lakes for comparison, and DNR ice minimums.
- MinnesotaWhen Does Leech Lake Freeze? Ice-In DatesLeech Lake has 9 DNR ice-in dates from 1996 to 2023, ranging Nov. 19 to Dec. 17, with a median of Dec. 1. See the dates, the sub-basin records, and DNR ice minimums.
- MinnesotaWhen Does Mille Lacs Freeze? Ice-In Dates by YearMille Lacs ice-in dates from MN DNR records: earliest Nov 19, latest Dec 22, typical Dec 3. Year-by-year table, freeze-up factors, and ice thickness rules.
- MinnesotaWhen Does Upper Red Lake Freeze? Ice-In DatesUpper Red Lake has 7 DNR ice-in entries from 2014 to 2025, ranging Nov. 12 to Dec. 16. See the dates, Lower Red and Bemidji for comparison, and DNR ice minimums.
Best lakes by state
Where to fish hard water in each state, with the ice and regulation notes that matter.
- IowaBest Ice Fishing Lakes in IowaWhere to ice fish in Iowa by species: Spirit Lake, the Okobojis, Storm Lake, Clear Lake, Black Hawk, Rathbun, Big Creek and the Mississippi River. Sourced from Iowa DNR.
- MaineBest Ice Fishing Lakes in MaineMaine's best ice fishing lakes for togue, landlocked salmon and brook trout, with the reason for each from Maine IFW sources. Includes IFW ice and line rules.
- MichiganBest Ice Fishing Lakes in MichiganTen Michigan waters for ice fishing walleye, perch, crappie, pike and whitefish, each with a reason from Michigan DNR sources. Includes DNR ice safety rules.
- MinnesotaBest Ice Fishing Lakes in Minnesota: 9 Waters to KnowNine Minnesota lakes for walleye, perch, crappie and pike through the ice, each backed by MN DNR LakeFinder survey data, acreage and access counts. Safety first.
- New HampshireBest Ice Fishing Lakes in New HampshireNew Hampshire ice fishing lakes for lake trout, plus pickerel, perch and smelt, taken from NH Fish and Game sources. Includes state ice safety guidance and line limits.
- New YorkBest Ice Fishing Lakes in New YorkNew York lakes for ice fishing walleye, perch, pike, pickerel, lake trout and crappie, each backed by NY DEC county lists. Includes DEC ice safety rules.
- North DakotaBest Ice Fishing Lakes in North DakotaWhere to ice fish North Dakota for walleye, perch, crappie and pike, with each pick tied to ND Game and Fish outlooks. Includes official ice safety rules.
- South DakotaBest Ice Fishing Lakes in South DakotaSouth Dakota ice fishing picks for walleye, perch, crappie and pike, each backed by Game, Fish and Parks lake surveys. Includes ice safety notes.
- VermontBest Ice Fishing Lakes in VermontVermont ice fishing lakes for perch, pike, walleye, lake trout, smelt, pickerel and crappie, each picked from Vermont Fish and Wildlife sources. Includes state ice safety guidance.
- WisconsinBest Ice Fishing Lakes in Wisconsin: 10 Waters to KnowTen Wisconsin waters for walleye, perch, crappie and pike through the ice, each backed by WI DNR survey data, acreage and access notes. Safety first.
Lake ice fishing guides
Single lake guides: species, access, rules and ice safety for the big waters.
- North DakotaDevils Lake Ice Fishing GuideDevils Lake, ND ice fishing: what ND Game and Fish says about walleye, perch and pike, plus limits, sleeper house rules, access and ice thickness minimums.
- MinnesotaLake of the Woods Ice Fishing Guide: Access, Rules, SafetyLake of the Woods ice fishing guide: Minnesota and Ontario sides, walleye, sauger and pike rules, resort ice roads, sleeper houses, shelter dates and ice safety.
- WisconsinLake Winnebago Ice Fishing Guide: Sturgeon, Walleye, PerchLake Winnebago ice fishing from the WI DNR record: sturgeon spearing season and the ice, walleye, perch and panfish limits, shanty rules, access, and safety.
- MinnesotaMille Lacs Ice Fishing Guide: Species, Rules, Access, SafetyMille Lacs ice fishing guide: walleye, perch and pike rules from MN DNR, public access, plowed roads, rental sleeper houses, pressure ridges and ice safety.
- MinnesotaRed Lake Ice Fishing Guide: Upper and Lower Red LakeRed Lake ice fishing in Minnesota: walleye, state access on Upper Red, why Lower Red is closed to non-members, plowed road cautions, rentals and ice safety.