For those of you who icefish, how thick does the ice have to be for you to be comfortable going out on it?

There was a news story on the local channel here last night that suggested that the ice should be at least 3" to 5" for one person to be safe.  The story also said that "clear" ice was the safest.

If you are not familiar with ice fishing, use caution!  If you are familiar with ice fishing, use caution.  The ice may not be of consistant thickness on the whole lake.  Currents, springs, inlets, etc can cause varying ice thickness.  Bore test holes to verify ice thickness if it is in question.  Also beware of concentrated loads (groups of people, trucks, etc)early in the season.  Warm spells can make a difference also.  Enjoy, but be smart!