Never been spearing

[PurpleCatMan]

I have been ice fishing for a few years, and I love sight fishing in the spring for bedding bass... I'm thinking I might like this whole darkhouse thing.

Equipment questions:

I have an otter wild 2 (black) and a bunch of ice fishing equipment. I'm sure i'll need a saw, some decoys and a spear. What other equipment will I need? What is the device called that holds the decoy in the appropriate place?

General Questions:

Does the decoy need to move or does it stay stationary? What types of areas do you look for? On top of weeds? Shallow? Inside weedline? What time of day is the best?

Thanks,

Kent

[mnspearingguide]

The otter should be sufficient, if anything might need a tarp, old sleeping bag, or blanket if it needs to be darker of the top.

A saw will be handy, or a auger and cut your spear hole with round holes over lapping each other, can always take a chisel and break the points if you prefer. I would recomend getting a pair of ice tongs, to pull the block of ice out of the hole, this will allow you when you leave to push the block back in the hole so it freezes faster, and snowmobiles won't hit the block. Please mark the hole with a branch so someone doesn't drive into the hole.

Most guys just modify a fishing reel to hold the line for the decoy, this allows a drag to be used if a decoy is hit hard. Bait casters work well, also there should be a thread on one of these forums that talks about what some of the guys are using. If you have metal poles in the otter some clamp the rod to the pole, others just wire tie it.

The decoy movement has been a long debated ordeal for some time. Some people like it moving all the time, others won't touch the decoy after its in the water. I personally try both, let it set for a while, and then swim it for a bit too, Also using a live sucker works well on some lakes.

Areas to look for are points, weed lines, drop off's, inside turns shallows, and funnels, no different than bass fishing, where there is bait fish, there will be pike.

Each lakes differs on the activity time of day, Traditionaly its a couple hours in the morning, and the last couple hours in the evening, but that changes from lake to lake, and from time of year. Will have to get out and put some time in to figure out your lake. Some lakes will be most active during mid day.

Hope this helps get you started, there is a ton of knowledge in these forums. use it the best you can.

[mnspearingguide]

I should also add, if you can get a chance to get out with someone spearing, take the opportunity to do it. The time would be valueable. We have all learned from our mistakes, and some of us are still learning, this can save you some tough moments on the ice.

There are lots of guys that will take someone out, also a few guides that specialize in spearing. So Don't be afraid to contact someone.

[MJ1657]

Great post Mnspearingguide you pretty much wrapped it up.

[mnspearingguide]

Now we just need some ice on the lower 2/3 of the state

[MJ1657]

Now we just need some ice on the lower 2/3 of the state

No kidding!

[Dunnyboy]

I would highly encourage you to follow your instincts and try spearing. If you like bow hunting for deer or pike fishing, I think you will like it a lot. Fair warning though it is very addictive! I just started last year and I learned a lot from this forum. I read every post as far back as it went, it took me a while but what a great resource. Also do not be afraid to ask more questions the guys on this board are very helpful. Thankfully Pike are pretty cooperative and even rookies like me get a few. Good luck!

[Laska]

Great post Mnspearingguide you pretty much wrapped it up.

yeah what he said....

[shamalex72]

+1

A saw is not needed,but nice to have.

Many decoys are not needed,but nice to have......and so on.

I have cut many,many holes with just an auger over the years, the saw just makes it a little easier. You should be able to make do with what you have just to try it a few times. If you enjoy it,then you can upgrade.

[Laska]

When I first started as some of you saw way back on lil long lake, I used a hand auger and chisel with no tongs- you can start out with anything, the saw is a plus big time, can get by nicely with a power auger and chipper.

[mrklean]

Auger works just fine I wouldn't invest in a saw right away wait a year till your hooked then get one

[Gordie]

First ice the only thing a guy needs is a good chisel and a good ice scooper.

Later in the year as the ice get thicker its nice to have the creature comforts of the power auger and the ice saw along with a set of ice tongs.

[merkman]

Come out to fish lake just west of Hwy 35 at the harris exit.

On the 16th of Dec (if we have ice) there will be a bunch of guys there to help you out.

We will have hot dogs and chips on the ice too.

-Merk

[Archerysniper]

Come out to fish lake just west of Hwy 35 at the harris exit.

On the 16th of Dec (if we have ice) there will be a bunch of guys there to help you out.

We will have hot dogs and chips on the ice too.

-Merk

I'm not so certain we will have ice for our little event

[merkman]

I'm not so certain we will have ice for our little event

True True...

There will be ice in the Cambridge area though...

Probably no fish... but ice

[TroutYammer]

I don't use artificial decoys. I use a 8" sucker minnow with a "sucker pin" throught the back under the dorsal fin. As a novice I find it easier to let the minnow make the action rather than me wiggling a fake minnow.

Keeps my hands free and allows me to focus on the viewing window.

[merkman]

I don't use artificial decoys. I use a 8" sucker minnow with a "sucker pin" throught the back under the dorsal fin. As a novice I find it easier to let the minnow make the action rather than me wiggling a fake minnow.

Keeps my hands free and allows me to focus on the viewing window.

If you are the kinda guy that wants to see as many fish as possible, I think having both a live and a fake down is the best way to go (other than the hillbilly spinner of course )

but there are many other reasons why people spear with fake decoys.

Some people get a rush knowing that they carved the decoy that brought the northern in.

some go spearing and don't care if they see fish at all, for them just getting out on the lake is enough, and any fish they do see are a bonus.

some don't like the hassle of a live decoy... buying it; getting it out to the ice; keeping it alive; excetra

then there are places like the Cambridge area where there is no where close to purchase live decoys.

On some lakes fish get to active with live decoys, other lakes it doesn't seem to matter.

there lots of factors going into live versus fake the debate, in the end it matters what works for you.

I agree with your comments though.... playing Puppeteer while watching a fish blaze in and out of the hole as you grab for the spear can be a little challenging...

[Spike76]

This is challenging, but I call this spearing. Some days they go after the live decoy and some days after the wooden one. I almost always use both. The satisfaction I get out of spearing a northern that went after the decoy I repainted, red and white, tells me if I would carve my own, I would feel more satisfied. I keep the decoy alive by taking the foam ring out of the top of a round metal minnow bucket, older ones need to have holes put in the air pocket, so the inside bucket sinks. Have a chain attatched to bucket good, the wire handle might unhook. I've had minnows last for weeks when kept in the lake this way. Last year I needed a new decoy almost every day, some days I used two different live decoys. Good luck spearing, but try not to get too hooked on it. It's rough when there is not enough ice.

[merkman]

I keep the decoy alive by taking the foam ring out of the top of a round metal minnow bucket, older ones need to have holes put in the air pocket, so the inside bucket sinks. Have a chain attatched to bucket good, the wire handle might unhook. I've had minnows last for weeks when kept in the lake this way.

I think I might do that this year... go to the bait store and get a few decoys and keep them at the bottom of the lake... then I will .have live ones. Otherwise it is a pain for me.

[BOUNCED]

I think I might do that this year... go to the bait store and get a few decoys and keep them at the bottom of the lake... then I will .have live ones. Otherwise it is a pain for me.

If you use REAL decoys there's no need for live bait.

[Gordie]

If you use REAL decoys there's no need for live bait.

Or spoons

[Archerysniper]

Or spoons

Gordie spoons don't work

[Mcfin]

Hey Spike! Did you get the idea for the sinking minnow bucket from Champ, the master spear chucker from Brainerd?

[Bulldog512]

Hey Spike! Did you get the idea for the sinking minnow bucket from Champ, the master spear chucker from Brainerd?

I had the opportunity to spear with Champ. He sure knew where to get those gators

[Spike76]

Yes I did, and that wasn't all he taught me. He was one of the best, and I sure miss him.