Ice safety....early & late ice...buy a spud and learn to use it

[bret]

The Leesburg drowning is terrible.  I feel like guys should own a spud and learn how to use it.  Check out the videos....yea i know I'm preaching but I don't care. 

Spuds are cheap....buy one!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhaafSfEFuk


http://icefishingtoday.com/dave-genz-ice-safety/

[catchinhogs82]

Excellent videos never even thought about carrying a throwable will have to ad that for next year.

[RoeBoat]

You're right Bret, I don't have one but will next year.  I try not to push the conditions but I also know that there is no such thing as safe ice, just too many variables.  We all need to be more careful.  Take all the saftey precautions available and don't go alone.

[walleyepac]

The Leesburg drowning is terrible.  I feel like guys should own a spud and learn how to use it.  Check out the videos....yea i know I'm preaching but I don't care. 

Spuds are cheap....buy one!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhaafSfEFuk


http://icefishingtoday.com/dave-genz-ice-safety/

X2!

[wax_worm]

x1000.   If you don't know how to use one then ask someone on the ice that is using one and watch the videos.  Knowing the feel of hitting good ice vs crap ice is important to know not just if the spud goes through or not.  8 inches of junk ice could have you swimming or worse by noon on days in the 50s with sun.

[Gills-only]

x1000.   If you don't know how to use one then ask someone on the ice that is using one and watch the videos.  Knowing the feel of hitting good ice vs crap ice is important to know not just if the spud goes through or not.  8 inches of junk ice could have you swimming or worse by noon on days in the 50s with sun.

                     Last ice very hard to "read" with a spud, although better than not having one, first ice much easier to read ,  The sound on honeycomb ice is very hard to distinguish "safe" sound, as I have said before on 4"first good ice is very easy and standing on 10" honeycomb ice its a thud that is hard for guys to comprehend as they see 10" of ice!!   It just comes with many years of experience!!

[Jigmup]

All the advice in the world won't stop this from happening. Valuing one's own life and every breath they take is what will fix it. I have gone from doing the most insane things to forcing myself into paranoia so that I can go home at night and kiss my wife and kids.

Life...you only get one shot at it!

[bgriffis17]

we all have to work at good ice safety . fishing pardners, ice picks, spud - ice chisel, rope, floating ice suit or P F D, let somebody know when you should be back from the ice. I cant do it for you and if you cant do it for your self this is what happens.  just my two cent's.

[slabslayer77]

Saw this link on the Illinois page and it is full of great information.

http://lakeice.squarespace.com
 

[The real Fire]

https://vimeo.com/59993471 

I went to Tractor Supply and bought a 16 lbs spud bar for $29.95 a few weeks back. Put a baseball bat grip on it from MC sports for a handle and a parachute cord above that so I dont throw it to the bottom of the lake by mistake. I will not be caught on ice without it. 

[wax_worm]

https://vimeo.com/59993471 

I went to Tractor Supply and bought a 16 lbs spud bar for $29.95 a few weeks back. Put a baseball bat grip on it from MC sports for a handle and a parachute cord above that so I dont throw it to the bottom of the lake by mistake. I will not be caught on ice without it.

Smart move!  Make sure you have all the other safety measures too.

[crappieslayer37]

https://vimeo.com/59993471 

I went to Tractor Supply and bought a 16 lbs spud bar for $29.95 a few weeks back. Put a baseball bat grip on it from MC sports for a handle and a parachute cord above that so I dont throw it to the bottom of the lake by mistake. I will not be caught on ice without it.

Ty always nice to hear of someone who heeds the advice of a lot of experienced fisherman on this site and do buy or make a spud. It can literally be the difference between life and death. If you don't have one get one. And if you truly can't afford one then Let us know and I'm sure that all of us can contribute in getting one.

[crappieslayer37]

Got out on some ice that was 5 inches thick and hard as a rock today. However ten yards away was open water and without a spud I'd never try it. Actually took 9 hard whacks to get through. After this rain it will be gone but it was a good find as I know it is probably first to freeze and obviously last to thaw.

[walleyepac]

You catch any?

[crappieslayer37]

You catch any?

only seven crappies that I kept and threw back about 15 shorts.

[Stinkybaits]

Amen Bret! Ill further that and throw in all should be wearing a floating suit. They work and keep you alive so they are truly no brainers imo. The basic suits are fairly inexpensive and plenty warm for most of our ice days.

[Hexagenia51]

X2