Ice fishing season officially opened up in the province today, and with that comes a heightened need to discuss the dangers of being out on the ice.

Over the Christmas season there were a number of deaths caused by people falling through the ice, including the tragic death of 10-year-old Joshua Wilcox on Christmas day.

Speaking on the Outdoor Hour with Leslie-Anne Corrigan, Gord Follett and Dwight Blackwood of the Newfoundland Sportman say they would not venture out on the ice yet, especially with a vehicle.

You need a good few months of very cold temperatures before the ponds are safe to venture out on with a skidoo or quad. As well, they note that the amount of snow on the ponds can be deceiving as the snow acts as an insulator. Underneath the snow is a layer of slush and underneath that is a thin layer of ice. They say not to be fooled by the amount of snow.