how many carry a spud ?

[Idahogator]

I consider tip-ups, bait, and an auger "essential" to land fish. Bring 50 spuds, but no bait or lures, tell me what you land.

Genius question ~ Smart answer is, with 500 pounds of spuds, you'll very likely land when you touch bottom.       

So, if you try that, I wish you good luck.     

Good luck this season & may you stay dry.   

[Idahogator]

I don't use a wrist attachment if I do fall through I don't want to be attached  to a heavy steel bar. Any thoughts?

Yes sir, best thought is ~ use a spud of solid gold.       

Thought #2, use some common sense.   

[Spider1]

Ha, down under.     

Stop littering the bottom ~  use a wrist attachment.     

It's caveman easy.     

lol, I didn't do it on purpose! 

Actually, I had a strap but it was just like a second thought to grab the spud and expected the ice to be around 4". live and learn.



50 spuds??? no bait or lures??? whaaaat?  I don't know how heavy my diy spud was but I hardly noticed it in my hand as I walked. Prolly why it's at the bottom of a lake, lol! a spud doesn't need to weight much, just have some weight and a sharp enough end... with a wrist strap, definitely a wrist strap!

yeah, caveman easy

[GrizlyGarou]

I don't use a wrist attachment if I do fall through I don't want to be attached  to a heavy steel bar. Any thoughts?

If you're using the spud right, I'd guess that you wouldn't fall through.......

[ship of fools]

I consider tip-ups, bait, and an auger "essential" to land fish. Bring 50 spuds, but no bait or lures, tell me what you land.

Two separate topics here really .....  obviously to land fish then the essentials are fishing gear, bait etc. A spud can be used to chop holes in early ice and chip out frozen tip ups and is definitely not the least bit essential.

I'm sure the OP was referring to the use of a spud bar as a safety device and as far as that goes along with with common sense and a set of picks a spud bar is absolutely an essential item in early ice or certain waters with pressure cracks etc. All of the rods, reels, bait, flashers etc won't help you in the least to determine ice strength. You also read about people drilling their way out which isn't a smart thing to do.

The idea is you throw for every step you take. Ideally you can stand on any ice your spud won't penetrate so if you give it a good whack you can safely step there.

They are dirt cheap - $30 or under at Dick's.

I know i would rather stay on top and not catch fish than hammer fish and go for a swim 

[shanedoe]

If you're using the spud right, I'd guess that you wouldn't fall through.......

Chances are if spud goes through ice you are already on iffy ice.

[subtlehustle76]

Two types of people in OP's question. Spud carrier and non-spud carrier. I'm of the non-spud carrier breed.

[Idahogator]

Two types of people in OP's question. Spud carrier and non-spud carrier. I'm of the non-spud carrier breed.

A breed with a death wish.     

Just stay with/close to others and you'll be fine.   They'll even pull you out, just in case you misstep .   

[NEicebuster]

Many of us consider it to be absolutely essential!

X2

[ship of fools]

Two types of people in OP's question. Spud carrier and non-spud carrier. I'm of the non-spud carrier breed.

Do you carry picks at least?   Less than ten bucks and a good idea

[GrizlyGarou]

Chances are if spud goes through ice you are already on iffy ice.

I use mine to cut holes, not just check the ice. I bring the auger out once I know every where I want to go will hold me up, but even then until there's a foot or so I still bring the spud if I know there's springs or current or I don't know the pond well.

[Rugg]

X2

X3 I wont go without mine

[capt.crappie]

I consider tip-ups, bait, and an auger "essential" to land fish. Bring 50 spuds, but no bait or lures, tell me what you land.

50  spuds Will make alot of potato salad 

[sully]

never used to carry a spud ,but do alot of river fishin now and always take the spud...ive seen 8 inches of black ice disappear overnight in 10 degree weather because the current changed...that made me a believer in a spud

[Tunapursuit]

Lost the one I had and bought one last year for the late ice and plan on keeping it with me this year.

[maxsr]

I had one bad experience a long time ago when I asked some guys that were on the ice and fishing how much ice did they have, OH 6 inches the whole lake is safe, so I when on my way got to the area that I wanted to fish, got out the gas auger and started it and about one turn on the blade and it went through I had about 1 maybe 2 inches of ice got out of there as quick as I could went back to the guys and let them know what I thought about their help. They said well you should have checked we weren't out there. So with that I went home and made myself a spud bar and carry it with me until I am sure that the ice is safe and I am sure how thick the ice is when I am going out on any lake. I don't trust word of mouth any more. So if you don't have one make one a piece of pipe and an old chisel welded to the end of the pipe and you are in business.
Maxsr

[ship of fools]

I don't trust word of mouth any more. 
Maxsr

Words to live by there .....  literally! 

I love it when i am out on first ice and someone walks out blindly and asks "how much ice?"  ......   when i answer "at least an inch everywhere" you can usually see them pucker up   

[1moslab]

I have never used one and I have not seen one made for ice in person.but I don't see how I would Carry my digging bar hitting the ice every 2ft as far as I walk sometimes pulling everything and still have enough energy to drill all the holes .is there something I'm missing or are you guys just beasts?

[1moslab]

I have never seen one made for ice in person but I cant see how I would carry my digging bar and hit the ice every 2ft ,that is  a lot of hits at times.on top of pulling the load I take then drilling all the holes.am I missing something or are you guys just beasts.

[Spider1]

a digging bar is too heavy. A spud for ice has a bit of weight but not enough to be a burden. Like I said, the last one I had was just a 5' piece of 1 1/4" steel pipe. If it was 10# I would be surprised. It was more like carrying a good heavy hiking pole. Worked great opening old holes too. And yes, I'm sure it saved my life that day, or at the least a good dunking in 9ft of water.

[fryguy75]

I love my spud bar.  Different areas of lakes can have different ice thickness, and my spud bar has led me away from unsafe conditions on more than one occasion.  It provides me with a little extra comfort and eases my worries when I am trying to enjoy myself fishing  .

[boatman]

All this talk about spuds and not one picture. Come on guys lets see them spuds.

[nightfisher]

 I always carry a spud, a thump for every step on early and late ice. Don't have to rely on others that may think if it holds them its safe.
saw a few young guys out on a lake near me a few years back, got to within 50 feet of them and asked how the ice is. They said it must be safe, its holding us. they hadn't set up yet or drilled any holes. I put my spud thru in front of me with one whack, 2 1/2 inches. I said you may want to rethink that as you are over 50 feet of water. They beat feet real quick. Spud, picks and a float suit...... always. We're out there to have fun. Be safe.

[Idahogator]

Complete materials list and photos.

      http://static.uglyhedgehog.com/upload/2015/1/3/thumb-1420327867887-dsc05032a.jpg

[Dizzy]

I venture out alone more times than not, and usually at first light (few if any, others around). Always carry a spud and always walk with it. Twice saved me from getting onto very sketchy ice, including yesterday.

I have the quad-chisel, Mille Lacs version by Jiffy.



P.S. "HELLO" to all the PA guys! 

[1moslab]

Complete materials list and photos.

      http://static.uglyhedgehog.com/upload/2015/1/3/thumb-1420327867887-dsc05032a.jpg

[1moslab]

hello back at you dizzy, just waiting on the ice here

[GrizlyGarou]

This is what I use. Nice and light, so you need to keep a good edge on it. I hike in to a lot of spots, so the heavy steel bars aren't my idea of good. I can go through three inches in one whack, and the wide blade makes for smoother edges if I use it to cut my holes.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1277225

[1moslab]

cool I have one of them I thought the blade was to big because all the pictures I see have small chisel blades I will be giving it a try here soon.thanks

[GrizlyGarou]

cool I have one of them I thought the blade was to big because all the pictures I see have small chisel blades I will be giving it a try here soon.thanks

Make sure it's sharp. I bevel one side and leave the other flat. Keeping the flat side as the edge of your hole makes for a smoother edge. I also filed a triangular notch out of one end about 1/2" in to give it more bite. If you do drop it in the water, it'll float too!

The big steel bars have narrower blades because they're thicker. If you had a 4" wide blade 1/4" across, it'd take a while to get through the ice with it.