Quinte Fishing

I plan on getting my quad out on the ice this year to make things a little bit more comfortable and fun. I'm just wondering about the best way to go about it. I fish Potters Creek area often and I know last year there was always an obvious track across. Is this the best bet as it is "known" ice or does the constant traffic and snow wear weaken it at all?

How about checking the ice. I only go out about 600m or so from the launch area. A direct route almost straight across, and I plan on fishing there every time. Should I be walking out and checking the ice at all? I know the obvious answer is just to walk out and forget about the quad if I'm concerned. I would if I planned on doing it only occasionally but I'd like to get out several times a week even if it's only for a few hours and anything to make it more comfortable will be great (and I bring a lot of gear).

I know these may sound like silly questions but I just want to make sure I'm being safe. I remember reading that someone went through on foot near a hard hut (rental) at Potters last year when the ice was solid. That sticks with me.

Any tips/best practice is appreciated!

Ice thickness is never %100,

no atv or sled or hut would go thru 12" of ice, (IF) is nice black ice. late season honeycomb crap is a totally different story.

advice would be, try to know the conditions, once we get into a stable freezing pattern and good ice, sled/atv travel is always relatively "safe"

always variables though

I agree with falsetto. There's never 100% uniformly safe ice.
I say that because you can't account for where people wander.
If there's lots of ice and you stay on well traveled paths your probably OK.
But again there's variables like type of ice, weather and currents that can change everything.
Basically the risk is yours.
If you have any doubt about your safety, then pay attention to that doubt.

I use a sled at times when ice thickness allows for it. One thing I always do is stay away from walkers, so off the path.

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Fishing the St.Lawrence River 12 months a year!

Travelling on the same path helps the ice form in the sense that you are constantly packing down the insulating snow

Where a float suit and you may lose your atv but you aren't losing your life

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U.S.C.G. Licensed Captain
Pure Fishing Ambassador

Anyone know if it's safe enough now to bring out the snowmobile east of the bay bridge? I saw a few machines out by potters just don't know about the east side yet.