New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar is reminding anglers to be safe when venturing onto the ice this winter.

“The possibilities of affordable outdoor adventures are endless across New York’s abundant natural areas and winter is no exception,” said Mahar. “I encourage those recreating on ice to exercise caution by routinely checking ice thickness when navigating around water bodies. Understanding ice thickness safety is essential, so be sure to ‘know before you go’ and adapt to conditions as necessary.”

Before leaving shore, ice anglers are advised to check the thickness of ice. Four inches of solid, clear ice is usually safe for anglers accessing ice on foot. Anglers should be cautious of moving water and around boat docks and houses where bubblers may be installed to reduce ice from forming.

The weekend of Feb. 15-16, 2025, is a designated free freshwater fishing weekend, when the freshwater fishing license requirement is waived.

DEC officials also remind anglers to make sure that they have a valid fishing license.