Norman Rockwell-like images will soon be playing out on frozen waterways across Ohio, as ice skaters, ice anglers and others make the most of winter’s freezing temperatures. Unfortunately our changeable weather guarantees that ice is never 100 percent safe. To ensure your day on the ice will be a happy memory, take time to understand the potential hazards that surround these classic wintertime activities.

Many factors – not all of them visible at the surface – can weaken the quality of frozen water, including snow cover, wind, thawed and refrozen ice, and under-flowing water. Additionally, ice on ponds with aeration systems or fountains is much weaker than it may appear.

Ice begins to be considered “safe” when it becomes five to six inches thick, although the thicker the better. You can check the thickness by chipping a hole in the ice with an axe or hatchet. Keep in mind that one area of a frozen waterway may be several inches thick, while another spot of ice may be only one-inch thick.

Should you fall through the ice, try not to panic. First, turn toward the direction you came from and lean against the ice. Next, extend your hands and arms on the unbroken surface then propel yourself forward by kicking your feet. Lastly, as you come out of the water, do not stand up. Lie on the ice and roll away from the hole. Extracting yourself from such a fall is not easy. Your best option is to avoid the danger altogether by not venturing out onto questionable ice.

It’s hard to determine when (or if) safe ice conditions will surface in Ohio, but when they do, the Buckeye State has plenty of outdoor fun to offer.

Many Ohioans enjoy the exhilaration of ice skating on a natural waterway. As an alternative to private ponds or lakes, consider one of several Ohio State Parks that feature small skate ponds or outdoor rinks, such as Beaver Creek in Columbiana County, Malabar Farm in Richland County, Quail Hollow in Stark County, Delaware in Delaware County, Buckeye Lake in Fairfield and Licking counties, Dillon in Muskingum County (which has a sledding hill next to a skate rink), and Sycamore State Park in Montgomery County. Ohio State Parks suggests calling ahead to be sure conditions are good for skating.

If you're an angler willing to brave the cold, look to January and February to be the best months for creating fishable ice. And when the waters are frozen solid, there’s no better place to drop a line through the ice than here in Ohio. The state’s many farm ponds are famous for yielding stringers full of tasty panfish, such as bluegill and crappie.

Some of the most sought-after ice fish are saugeyes (a cross between the sauger and a walleye), because they are so active in the winter. Two of the best places for saugeyes are Indian Lake in Logan County and Seneca Lake in Noble County. Both of these lakes generally freeze quickly due to their shallowness. For a variety of reasons, anglers wanting to ice fish Lake Erie should consider hiring an experienced guide. During the season, Lake Erie ice fishing reports can be heard by calling 1-888-HOOK FISH. The report includes areas of current ice fishing activity, but not ice conditions.

This winter, get outdoors and enjoy the many recreational opportunities Ohio has to offer, but remember to play it safe and don’t take needless risks when venturing out on the ice.