First Ice and the Spud Bar (Chisel)

[scott b]

Hey everyone.

Not trying to ruffle any feathers here, but I thought I would vent a little about the use of a spud bar. There is nothing worse than sitting on thin ice, (dare I say, catching fish?) and along comes Johnny Fisherman with his spud bar testing the ice.

Here's what I KNOW about fish. THEY DON'T LIKE LOUD NOISES! THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD CLINK THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD!....And so on.

Thin ice is a time for super quiet stealth movements (ninja style) if you actually want to catch fish. Even setting down the bucket too hard could spook fish from the area for a while. By using a spud bar I feel you are stressing these fish (That just went through a severe cold front and are lethargic anyways). Should we add to the lethargy?

Do yourself a favor before you post about how the fish were "not hitting". Put away the spud bar and the 30lb test you use for Gills. If you're that scared to go on the ice... DON'T GO! Spare the rest of us so WE can enjoy the first ice bite.

I feel so much better now. Thanks for reading.

Feel free to comment how a spud bar saved your life and you use one to be safe on three inches.

Again.... That scared? Don't trust it? First time out? Wait a day or two PLEASE!

Save us from your First Ice Thunderstorm. The weather is bad enough.

Oh boy here we go!

[simple1]

Interesting?

[Rick G]

I gota feeling your going to "ruffle some feathers" starting this topic

All I have to say about this is better safe than sorry on thin ice!

[MnCatGuy]

So you suggest walking out and hoping for the best?

And your saying there's 3"s on Tonka?

[JigginIsLife]

An awfully odd take on using a spud bar... I guess I can agree with you as far as the noise, but that would be about as far as I would go. Definatly not on the same page possibly not even in the same book. I would much rather scare away some fish than go through the ice. I have never been one to ridicule the safe ones, as I am one to over think safety and prepare for the worse. But with that being said, i do like a nice buffer from other fisherman, i cant see how/why he would have gotten so close to bother you this much... Better safe than sorry, rather catch no fish being safe than catch my limit and end up in the drink... my .02

[scott b]

If you want to catch no fish then why go?

[JigginIsLife]

Its not always about catching fish....

[scott b]

Not 3" On Tonka. NO. Previous experiences over the years. Be safe people.

[scott b]

If you just want to get away from the wife try bowling! It's fun!

[Great Outdoors]

Hmmm, how does a person in stealth mode, (Ninja style as you call it) put a hole in the ice without making some noise with either an auger or spud.

Testing ice thickness with a spud could be called an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure, for the more cautious, or less macho fisherman!

[tsande00]

Wow.

[scott b]

The best test is to walk out. If you hear it crack under your feet...Turn around and go home. If it doesn't, LIGHTLY bounce harder and harder. If it doesn't crack under your feet at this point you can move on doing the same thing over and over till you get to your spot. Walking cracks = no good. Jumping up and down (lightly) cracks? Move away. No cracks under your feet? Drill.

This is just my experience for the past 28 yrs. Do not follow this as a guide. This is just what I do. Starting weight 90. Now 235.

[scott b]

Auger is far more stealth than a spud.

[JigginIsLife]

This has gotten to be a pointless thread. if you dont want to deal with other people on a PUBLIC lake go buy your own. or move to a place where you dont have to deal with other ice fisherman... like texas or florida

[nofishfisherman]

Any bets on when Hotime goes for his first early December swim?

If I'm on early ice I'm using a spud bar to test the ice no matter what. You can't possibly tell by looking at the ice how thick it really is, especially with a little snow on it. Also lakes don't freeze evenly, you may find 3 inches in one spot a 1 inch 20 feet away. I'd rather turn the fish off for a little while and make sure I'm staying on the right side of the ice. I value my life more than a few extra fish in the bucket.

Frankly I think not using a spud bar on early ice is down right stupid.

[mn_bowhunter]

Go under the ice and listen to an auger grind away and tell me it's stealth. If fish are afraid of noise explain how the fastest limit of walleyes I've ever pulled happened when some buddies drove snowmobiles around me to be annoying. No lie 6 walleyes in under 3 minutes on 2 lines. What is a bigger problem is those idiots wearing life jackets or using seat belts.

[JigginIsLife]

Go under the ice and listen to an auger grind away and tell me it's stealth. If fish are afraid of noise explain how the fastest limit of walleyes I've ever pulled happened when some buddies drove snowmobiles around me to be annoying. No lie 6 walleyes in under 3 minutes on 2 lines. What is a bigger problem is those idiots wearing life jackets or using seat belts.

This is almost good enough to post on my fb wall... love it... too funny!!!!

[nofishfisherman]

Go under the ice and listen to an auger grind away and tell me it's stealth.

I'm guessing he'll be under the ice before to long. Hopefully someone will be able to pull him out so he can report back his findings.

[scott b]

Hey Jigginislife. I love Ice fishing. Just don't like unnecessary noise is all. If you see some one out in a spot, would you be the one to scare all the fish away?

For me (when I go fishing) I would like to catch some fish. Just like when I go bowling I would like to get a strike. When I do anything that I put allot of effort into... I would like to succeed.

Dave Genz has a great video on first ice using the VEX through the ice without drilling. Pretty quiet with the electric drill. This is an old technique that is being brought back up. Only his video was shot on 9 inches of "first ice".

If he were fishing and taping a show and you just felt like being really safe at this moment, do you think he would have caught as many?

[scott b]

You are all taking it the wrong way. I haven't been out yet. But Isle bay is sounding appealing this weekend.

My point is not to go if you need your baby blanket. A really loud baby blanket.

For those of us that do go on a solid three inches....good luck.

I live in the Metro and am smart enough to know that the lakes around here won't be ready till Christmas or New Years....Maybe.

[hunt3r]

^hahahaha this is all really funny. to each there own i guess. i remember lots of times where i was catching fish while a buddy was chopping or drilling holes and where other people were catching while i was. i dont get the point of the rant? it kinda sounds like you just want someone to blame for not catching fish. or you want a thread full of people trolling you. funny

iv been fishing ramsey county and washington county lakes since the week after thanksgiving and im pretty glad i had my spud

[scott b]

Were they chopping and drilling while you were on say 4in? Or was it more like 15"? Then I stand corrected. Point is noise (Thundering banging) on thin ice = less fish.

[hunt3r]

both. iv seen it happen this year already it was probably only 3 inch of ice. and the one this year it was with a chisel not a auger

[fisherman-andy]

I can understand frustration when due. However its not like one cant move or punch more holes to find fish if needed. Public lake, people are free to do what that want legally, or anything not out of norm.

Plenty of fish in the sea, If I was no longer catching fish out of hole I just move on. No need to turn things to dump.

I dont care what anyone says, I take safety first beyond all. However I also have the decency to not approach my neighbor on the ice and keep at least 15ft apart. There's also no point in hating your neighbor if their action wasnt illegal or wrong.

[PFUNK]

Everyone is entitled their opinion but ragging on people for being safe... really? With the amount of commotion people make on the ice and still manage to catch fish, you can't tell me that a fellow hitting the ice and using a spud bar on his way out can ruin your entire day of fishing. I completely understand you not wanting unnecessary noise made and wanting other fisherman to be considerate, but asking people to stay home if they are gonna use a spud bar to be SAFE.... that's asking a bit too much. But you got it off your chest now so hopefully that was enough. Careful up on Mille lacs if you do go... search and rescue is plenty busy every year with all the "brave fisherman".