How do you check

[Dan_L]

There always has to be someone who walks out first. how do the firsties do their checking?

i myself is the first crazy fool to walk out, but i bring a 5 10 pound rock and toss it up and out. if it stays up your good to walk out for another toss.

howz abot yous?

[outdoorsman1972]

I carry an ice chisel and that will give you about a 6 ft reach depending how long your arms are.

[Gissert]

First and foremost, I have a life jacket and ice picks on when checking new ice. I like to check it with two guys when possible, and have each of them carry a throw rope with a chunk of 2 x 4 on one end.

Second, I bring my spud bar and check the ice every few yards. With the spud bar, you can get a good idea of the thickness by the sound and crack pattern on the underside of the ice. I'll do the rock thing from shore sometimes before I step out, but I like the spud bar much better. I leave all my gear on shore until I am sure it is okay to fish on.

[augernaut]

spud bar is the best, I think. And like gissert does, I wear a PFD on the thinnner stuff, and carry ice picks. Have never gone through, and am going to try to keep that streak going!

[Tyler D]

I'd have to agree, a spud bar and ice picks is the way to go. I keep going out until I go through with one hit, then go back a little and start fishing.

[fishin789]

We take the biggest guy in the group and tie a rope around him. and he goes out with the spud bar. If he doesn't go through we follow him. so far no one had gone through yet.

[fishnhooks]

Quote:

---

I like to check it with two guys when possible

---

Me too, I send them out and if they make it I will head out there myself

"hooks"

[Tyler Holm]

If you take the spud bar and make two solid strikes in the exact same spot and you don't break through, your good to go. I do this "double chop" every 5 years or so. A solid hit can dig 1" to 2" and double that number and your safe.

[waskawood]

Is once every 5 years often enough???? Sorry, couldn't resist.

[The Grebe]

Yes, yes it is! Then 5 years later, you come and chop it again, so on and so forth and by about the 25th year, the ice is thick enough, but by that time, you are to old to give chit, you don't go out and you are safe! Works every time.

A spud bar and common sense.

[riverrat56]

I have a good friend that is bout 60 lbs heavier than me, I just tell him don't worry if you go through the lake is only 5 ft deep, your head will stick out and ill just keep the hole open till spring when it thaws.

Seriously, I take a spud bar, wear my life jacket, and I still making my buddy walk infront of me.

[IceJohn]

I use a spud bar.Hate to see rock on the ice ruin 2 sets of blades from rocks sinking in ice.I always have my safety stuff with me.ICE JOHN FISH ON

[gvg_uwec]

totally agree IceJohn

[Turkeynate1]

I agree also IceJohn. People please don't throw rocks on the ice. It not only makes the lake look like dump, but can be very dangerous. A snowmobiler could hit a rock that refreezes in the ice and kill them. Plus other people can ruin there auger by hitting a rock that is frozen a few inches down without them seeing it.

If your going to check the ice, do it the right way with a spud bar.

Thanks Guys!

[Bobby Bass]

I hate being the big guy!

[black max]

I also will go with a spud bar. if you can make two hits your safe uaually. Sometimes I will push my otter sled ahead of me also with my gear to test and if I need to I could jump in and prob use it as a boat if needed.