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like mikez stated, any ice that was on the ponds is now sagging into the water by the weight of the snow and slush. the snow insulates the water and will make it harder to freeze the water below. we will need colder temps for longer periods. That and you cannot visually see if the ice is even thick enough to encourage you to wander out further to check it's thickness. I'll follow the fat guy
Not an issue if you use a spud bar. Ice fishermans best friend.
How many hits with the spud and you keep going versus turnaround?
depends. if I just barely poke through with one hard poke I keep going. it's when it breaks through easily I step back. I measured and I can blow through 2.5 to 3in in one hit
It varies a lot Pat. It can vary by chisel brand and design, it can vary by my gut and by time of year. It can vary depending on how it feels when I hit the ice. The one thing I know...is my spud my third leg that never gets laid. Its the best piece of ice equipment I own. I lost my frabil 1 piece last year....on LG. I miss it a lot and would pay good money for a replacement as I can't find them anymore. Stepped chisel, 1 piece yellow paint with a black rubber handle. Have an eskimo redneck now...does the job but just doesnt have the feel of a 1 piece. I want to be able to feel how the spud responds to the hit...when the ice is hard you can really feel the feedback vs soft. It seemed to me I was losing a bit of that last year with the 2 piece...maybe just splitting hairs but on a subject as important as staying on top...I'll split hairs.
On Monday my shiner ponds were soft and wet, all the ice was sloppy. I didn't check them yesterday, today they were semi hard, top layer was ice, but under neath the ice was 3-4 inch of slush weak stuff, 1-2 light whack, no way would I even try this stuff. Ice is not looking very good, need a deep freeze maybe Sunday, bring a change of clothing and stuff.
If theres ice i better get out after this weekend with this 50 degree and rain not looking good
2 piece chisels are a joke like you stated jon. they dont give you the feel you need.is the steeped ones the ones that have that serrated look or the ones with a flat slant? if it's the serrated looking one cabelas makes a great one piece for 20$
Good stuff Jon and S&S. Thanks for the insight. I've got the redneck one piece, doesn't have the step chisel, but it does the job. I made myself a handle and lanyard out of paracord and was good to go.
I have to put a lanyard on mine so it doesnt accidentally slip out of my hands and down the hole.
chisel is a chisel in my experience. it's like a filet knife or like a baseball glove. you adjust to the tool and learn the feel of it. fits like a glove so to say. any chisel will work as long as you learn its feel. the most important item in ice fishing. I have to put a lanyard on mine so it doesnt accidentally slip out of my hands and down the hole.
I agree to this somewhat. I agree because you are right that adjusting to a tool is key to being proficient with it. However, some tools are designed to already be more proficient than others. Meaning, I wouldn't choose a Hyundai Accent over a jeep if I was going off-roading, nor would I choose a jeep over a Corvette if my intention was to go fast. I have both the 1 piece and 2 piece redneck and I do agree that the 1 piece is far better but i do not have any experience with any others. Lets not talk fillet knives T. LMFAO.
Fillet knives lives matter.
