As ice-fishing season kicks into high gear, it’s important to do everything we can to stay safe on the ice.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says there’s no reliable measure of how thick the ice should be before it’s safe, because ice of any thickness can still be dangerous.

The DNR offers the following tips:

∫ Know how to spot strong ice. The strongest ice is clear, with a bluish tint. The weakest ice, formed by melted and refrozen snow, appears milky. Ice with slush on top is only half as strong as clear ice; stay away. Test ice thickness with a spud, needle bar, or auger.

∫ Watch the weather. A sudden cold front with low temperatures can create cracks within a half-day, and a warm spell may take several days to weaken ice, causing the ice to thaw during the day and refreeze at night.

∫ Know the ice and the water. Remember that ice weakens with age, so a long-frozen lake or river isn’t necessarily safer. Be extra careful if you see open water near the shoreline. And know that, the stronger the current on the lake, the more likely the ice will give way to open water.

∫ Avoid dangerous spots, such as places with protruding debris like logs and watch for dock bubblers or de-icers near docks.

It’s always great to be on the ice, but make sure you do it safely.