With winter weather upon us, some anglers will be heading out onto the ice soon.

The DNR urges all people to be cautious this winter season.

If you are going to walk on the ice, they recommend you do it when there is at least four inches of thickness.

They also advise you allow enough time for the water to freeze.

"A long period of cold weather is required to make thick ice,” says Scott Thiede, Eau Claire County Conservation Warden.

“No ice is 100 percent safe, especially with the currents under the ice, an area that is 15 inches in one spot could be 2 to 4 inches in another spot."

People should know what to do if the ice breaks and they fall in.

"Remain calm, try to get yourself horizontal, kick with your feet, bring your hands up onto the ice shelf, kick with your feet, kick hard, and that will push you onto the ice,” says Thiede.

“If the ice breaks, keep kicking, keep yourself in a horizontal position. And when you’re clear of the ice hole roll on the ice, that will distribute your weight."

People going out on the ice should inform someone when they go.

Anglers should also check with bait shops or other businesses near the water to check on ice conditions.