IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Darkhouse Spearing => Topic started by: maxmartens on Dec 16, 2019, 04:21 PM
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Just jumped the boarder into Minnesota from Wisconsin. Have always wanted to give spearing a try. Full time ice fisherman with an insulated pop up I plan to spear outta. Whats a good starter saw, spear and go to decoy? Running a live sucker I am sure is better so I plan to do that.
Thanks!
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Im a greenhorn but spear out of a hub.fishs sporting saw is great.theres nils saw too.ive had good luck on any red/white sucker decoy.i speared my first pike on a red/white golfball on a wind chime spinner.i also have a live sucker pinned down the hole to but pike seem to be interested in flashy stuff.the pike i speared tried eating the golfball and i speared it while it was thrashing on that.lol 32”i started out with a cheap ebay spear.then got a amish made one once i knew what i was doing.i bought the spearhead then welded a rod to it.cheap around 40$ into it.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Ff83w4XH/C523-DE7-D-C68-C-46-D3-A54-B-B9641-E7-DFA66.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Ff83w4XH)
(https://i.postimg.cc/V0gkXqYb/image.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/V0gkXqYb)
(https://i.postimg.cc/D4kx1GCF/5-D2-CA3-D5-4-F9-B-4-F75-9-D16-737-B4-BDE9-FD6.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/D4kx1GCF)
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Just jumped the boarder into Minnesota from Wisconsin. Have always wanted to give spearing a try. Full time ice fisherman with an insulated pop up I plan to spear outta. Whats a good starter saw, spear and go to decoy? Running a live sucker I am sure is better so I plan to do that.
Thanks!
If you're completely new to spearing, I'd recommend finding an experienced spearer in your area and ask to go sit with him/her. That said, the Fishs Ice Saw mentioned by Doc is a great saw. Production made decoys by Bear Creek and/or Lakco will draw pike in and also gives you something to help size up those fish that do come in by comparing the quarry to the size of your decoy - hand carved decoys are what most seasoned throwers use, though. As to a spear - you get what you pay for holds true. Weight forward, round tine, welded barbs are spear attributes to look for, but you're going to end up buying (or making) a custom spear if you're gonna stay with the sport.
Check the Minnesota Darkhouse Angling Association for folks in the sport near you.
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Now that MN allows an added line w/hook, I just use a sucker or shiner rigged to a hook and a red and white golf ball on a spinner. I have used decoys before and sucker harnesses. I don't like the added weight of the harness. Last time I went I never had a northern grab the minnow, they'd come in slowly and stare at it or the golf ball.
Fleet Farm used to sell the Nils ice saw, which I picked up more than a decade ago - not sure if they still make them though. I hear good things about the Fish's saw.
I don't think you can get a bad spear, IMO. Back in the 90's I picked one up at Fleet Farm and I believe they're much better now. I bought a Clam spear several years ago, which has a wooden handle, but haven't used it because I continue to use one of my cheaper ones.