Bench check
Ice numbers, lane and return time written on a card beside the kit.
Lane-based night ice safety guides and routines by IceGrid
Safety & guides
Map your night before you touch the ice
Start with the grid, not the weather app. Pick a lane, write one clear plan and let every move on the ice follow that pattern.
Ice primer
Read ice as numbers and lanes, not just “looks thick”
A calm night starts with measured ice. These ranges are not universal rules, but they give your kit a language to follow.
Thin check
< 10 cm
Slow with a spud bar, test every step and turn back if you feel any hollow sound.
Lane A window
~ 10–15 cm
Light solo kit only. No extra chairs, no heavy buckets and never a crowd around one hole.
Lane B window
~ 15–20 cm
Family bubble with a simple path in and out. Extra layers and snacks in one shared cube.
Lane C window
> 20 cm
Deep-cold kit with more weight, long walks and sonar. Still one exit lane kept clear.
Pre-ice strip
One repeatable line from home bench to first hole
This is the route your routine follows before you ever step on the ice. Short, predictable and written where everyone can see it.
Route & signal
Someone at home knows where you park and when a “back on shore” message should arrive.
First measure
Test ice thickness before you even think about dragging the sled onto the lake.
Turn-back line
Decide the latest safe time to head back while the night still feels easy.
Lane cards
Put each safety lane on its own small card
A pocket card beats a crowded app screen. Lane A, B and C each get a short rule set: ice band, distance, turn-back line and who the night is for.
Lane A — solo strip
Light kit, early ice, one clear exit lane. Card notes: safe thickness range, max walk distance and a strict return hour.
If any note on the card feels wrong on arrival, you switch to “no-go”, not “maybe”.
Lane B — family bubble
Short path, simple holes and a warm shelter. The card lists where kids may walk and where they do not.
Everyone sees the card before leaving the car, not on the ice when hands are already cold.
Lane C — deep cold run
Heavier sled, longer walk and stricter fuel notes. The card tracks back-up time if weather moves faster than planned.
One person reads the card aloud before drilling the first hole in each new area.
Signals & light
Make it easy to see and find each other at night
A few tiny rules around light and reflectors keep the group connected without lighting up the whole lake.
Reflective line
One person wears a high-visibility vest or band. Everyone else uses small reflective patches on jackets and sleds.
Shore beacon
A single, steady light on shore marks the exit lane. It never flashes or changes colour during the night.
Simple phone signal
One short message template tells people at home when you reach shore, step on ice and start heading back.
Weather band
Decide cancel lines at home, not in the parking lot
A simple grid on paper turns the weather into three clear options: go, shorten or cancel. No arguing with radar loops in the dark.
Clear & stable
Wind and temperature hold steady. You keep the original lane and return time without stretching the plan.
Moving in
Fronts or snow bands are on the way. You still go, but the card shows a shorter lane and earlier turn-back line.
Cancel band
Conditions cross your written line for wind, visibility or warmth. You cancel without bargaining with yourself.
On-ice grid
Walk one clean lane, not a web of tracks
Your steps and sled follow a simple line: shore, test zone, fishing block and exit.
1. Shore line
First measures stay close to solid ground.
2. Test block
You drill a small cluster of holes before going deeper.
3. Fishing lane
Holes sit along one strip with a clear space to walk back.
Hole spacing
Keep holes close enough to talk, far enough to walk
A few simple gaps keep lines clear and the lane safe to cross in the dark.
Tight line
Short gap when you want quick hops between active holes.
Calm lane
Moderate spacing so two people can fish without crossing rods.
Wide band
Larger steps where you want room for kids, sled and shelter.
Sonar & grid
Let the sonar follow your lane, not random holes
Screen, holes and sled line up on the same strip, so every move makes sense in the dark.
Screen band
Sonar sits where you can see it while watching the nearest hole.
Cable path
Cables run along the sled edge, not across the walking line.
Quiet zone
No holes behind the sled, so you always have a clean retreat.
Emergency pocket
Keep self-rescue tools where your hands can actually reach them
Picks, rope and a whistle live in one lane on your body, not at the bottom of the sled.
Chest band
Ice picks hang on a short cord under your jacket, easy to grab even with gloves.
Hip pocket
Small whistle and light live in one zipper pocket you can find without looking.
Sled edge
Throw rope sits on top of the load, coiled and clipped to a sled loop.
Group roles
Give each person one calm job on the ice
Small, clear roles keep the night quiet: one leads, one watches time, one looks after the lane.
Lead
Walks first, checks ice and decides when to turn back.
Time keeper
Tracks return hour and short break reminders.
Lane watcher
Keeps the walking path free of gear and extra holes.
Comfort
Checks how everyone feels, hands out warm drinks and layers.
Night pace
Spread breaks along the lane, not only at the end
A light pacing strip keeps everyone warm and the route familiar, even when bites are slow.
First warm check
Short pause near shore to adjust layers and test hands.
Shelter break
Hot drink, snack and quick look at weather and ice notes.
Pack signal
One clear call that the next few fish are the last for the night.
Final message
Quick note home that you are off the ice and heading back.
Kids & first timers
Keep first nights short, warm and easy to explain
Simple rules on one card: where to walk, when to rest and how to say “enough” before anyone gets too cold.
Green — keep fishing
Hands feel warm, feet are dry and everyone still talks about fish, not cold.
Yellow — warm-up break
Pink cheeks, quiet voices, more time looking at phones than at holes.
Red — time to head in
Cold tears, stiff fingers or any child saying “I want to go home” twice.
Comfort checks
Scan warmth and focus every time you move the sled
One quick look at faces, hands and steps when you change holes tells you more than any forecast.
Face
Is anyone squinting or turning away from the wind all the time?
Hands
Do gloves stay on? Can everyone still tie a simple knot?
Steps
Does anyone drag feet or stop more often than before?
After the trip
Write two lines so the next night starts calmer
A short note on paper remembers more than your phone camera: which lane felt right, how the ice sounded and when you chose to leave.
Lane & ice: Which card did you use and how did the thickness match?
People: When did someone first ask “how long are we staying?”.
Turn-back: Did you stick to the written time or stay longer than planned?
One safety board
Keep your whole pattern on a single wall board
Lane cards, cancel lines and emergency notes all live in one place, not across five different apps.
Top row — lanes
Cards for lane A, B and C clipped in a row, easy to grab before you leave.
Middle — weather & time
Cancel band, return hour and a simple note of who is coming with you.
Bottom — emergency strip
Small card with rescue steps and the number you call first.
Pack your own lane, then add the guides
Choose a lane, fill a small card and walk the same calm pattern each time you go out.
- Step 1 Print a lane card and write your ice band and return hour.
- Step 2 Mark a cancel line for weather and how you will signal people at home.
- Step 3 After each trip, add two short notes so the next night starts smoother.
