TALKED TO A COUPLE GUYS YESTERDAY AFTER SEEING 5 SHANTYS AND SEVERAL PEOPLE OUT ON LAKE INCLUDING A SMALL CHILD AND GOT THE REPORT OF 3.5 TO 4 INCHES--WENT OUT AT 5AM SUNDAY WITH MY ICE FISHING PARTNER AND ABOUT 3O YARDS OUT I HEARD A CRACK. I STOPPED AND HE HEARD THE SAME THING--I AM 240 HE IS 180 SO HE DRILLED THE PILOT HOLE. THE ICE WAS 2.5 INCHES AT BEST AND CLOUDY--NOT MY CUP OF TEA--BE CAREFUL--I AM HOPING THAT WE LOST ICE OVERNIGHT AND EVERYONE WASN'T FISHING ON 2.5 INCHES--BIG FREEZE COMING IN A WEEK OR SO IF MODELS COME TRUE--NOT WORTH IT ---I SPEND A WHOLE DAY WHEN I GO AND LOVE IT AS MUCH AS ANYONE BUT ONE MISTAKE COULD BE YOUR LAST --PATIENCE