There are tons of different ways to spend time outdoors during the Christmas holidays. One of the best chances to sit back and relax while still keeping engaged in an activity is ice fishing!
While most lakes and fishing holes should be more than frozen in by now, it's still smart to remind winter anglers of the potential hazards of ice fishing. General rules state that 4 inches of ice is enough to support a person, 8 inches is enough to take on a snowmobile, 12 inches enough for an up to 2-ton automobile, and then 12 inches or more is recommended for heavy trucks.
Sometimes the ice looks better than it actually is, as the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment shared to avoid ice that looks slushy, has thawed and froze over again, is near open water, is layered due to sudden changes in temperature, and finally if it has structures on it such as pressure ridges.
Other general reminders include that it is illegal to leave litter on the ice, fishing limits are the same as open water season, and that use of a spear on ice-covered waters is prohibited. Find more guidelines from the government here.