Author Topic: spud bar (Read 4673 times)

trapper2000 · « **on:** Dec 28, 2019, 04:56 AM »

https://www.facebook.com/BrettMcComasFishing/videos/1971194213169253/

hot tuna · « **Reply #1 on:** Dec 28, 2019, 04:19 PM »

Hey trap, I committed the sin.. used my trusty red white, blue spud all day on some really decent ice well below the blue line ( adks) and when I got home realized I left it there. Either at the guardrail or parking spot.
I'm confident though as it will still be there in am when I return.
Thankfully, my son will also have his spud tomorrow.
Life is good when your still on top

trapper2000 · « **Reply #2 on:** Dec 28, 2019, 04:25 PM »

that's one nice gill

hot tuna · « **Reply #3 on:** Dec 28, 2019, 04:39 PM »

A few phatties in there. Going crappie and perching searching, same spot tomorrow but if the gills still want to bite I'll play
🤞

hot tuna · « **Reply #4 on:** Dec 28, 2019, 06:48 PM »

Well I didn't have to resort to the lost and found.
My brother in law swung by the lake and picked up my spud bar.
We will be fishing together tomorrow and I'll feel better having a safety tool in my hand

trapper2000 · « **Reply #5 on:** Dec 28, 2019, 06:51 PM »

^5 I have a feeling it's not your first rodeo and you would have hade a safety tool no matter what ....... good luck and post some big gill pictures man

glad you got it back

hot tuna · « **Reply #6 on:** Dec 29, 2019, 08:48 AM »

Spud bar in hand and a good start to the day

hot tuna · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 27, 2020, 04:01 PM »

Folks,
This winter has been one of the most inconsistent ice I've encountered in quite a few years. If there is 1 tool you should have before you venture onto the ice it's a spud bar.
A coworker friend went through the ice this weekend. Ice that had lots of tracks in the snow and holes drilled leading to his travels.
He didn't however have a spud bar or ice picks.
Thankfully his pack basket helped him stay afloat and aided in his self rescue. He lost his gear but not his life.
He contemplated never going on the ice again but decided his love for the outdoors wasn't going to let him be denied so he purchased a spud bar , ice picks and a throw rope with bouy.
I'm grateful he's back to work and still my friend.

I was out this weekend on what looked like great black ice.
There was white ice from shore to about 50 yards out then clear black ice.
The white ice had 3-4" , once we hit the black ice with my spud it went through in 2 strikes.
We ventured no further.

Stay safe and stay on top !!!

CNYperchsearch · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 27, 2020, 04:40 PM »

Good video. Thanks for posting it Trapper.
I have to admit that I have a shorter than normal spud bar that I do use as a walking stick. My reasoning for doing that is that if there is any question as to the ice quality, my “walking stick” spud is right where I need it and not back at the truck or elsewhere. It is a well designed spud with good weight for its length, just not as heavy as many longer ones.
By using it as I do, I have backed away from two spots this year that I wasn’t comfortable with.
Also, even on nice thick ice, I’ve been on slick spots without creepers where the walking stick was handy.

trapper2000 · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 27, 2020, 05:19 PM »

CNY i'm sure glad it helped ya and that you carry a spud ... tuna glade your friend is ok and I have found a lot of places where the spud went threw this year ....be careful out there

filetandrelease · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 27, 2020, 06:12 PM »

remember when the sun starts to get warm black ice absorbs heat and white ice reflects, 2 things that don’t lie , a Stanley ruler and your spud

got em · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 28, 2020, 05:28 PM »

Yeah Tuna I heard he went through . . Glad he made it out okay. . . To everyone on the site. . If you don't have spikes . . A spud bar. . Throw rope with a float. . A whistle. . Please purchase these lifesaveing tools. . And always tell someone where you are going. . BE SAFE. .

Adironzach · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 05:35 AM »

Also, make sure you have a spare change of clothes in the car! If you do fall in, you're going to need to get out of that wet gear as quickly as you can. My spud bar has been invaluable this year. I know it has prevented me from falling in countless times already and is the only reason i've been able to fish as many days as i have so far.

Fishmon · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 06:59 AM »

Great tips and very timely. Bottom line is "Be Careful" especially when going onto a lake/pond you are not familiar with. One that I would add is wear creepers/spikes. A friend of mine years ago went onto very slick ice to put his creepers on and took a godawful spill. Next stop - Emergency room to get his badly dislocated shoulder put back into place. Really short ice fishing trip. Long, painful trip to ER!

trapper2000 · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 07:23 AM »

floatation isn't a bad idea! nice tips guys ....

pmaloney86 · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 09:39 AM »

Quote from: hot tuna on Dec 28, 2019, 04:19 PM

Hey trap, I committed the sin.. used my trusty red white, blue spud all day on some really decent ice well below the blue line ( adks) and when I got home realized I left it there. Either at the guardrail or parking spot.
I'm confident though as it will still be there in am when I return.
Thankfully, my son will also have his spud tomorrow.
Life is good when your still on top

Lost mine two weekends ago. I did the same thing and left it leaning on a rock wall that you have to get over to access the lake. i went back the next day and it was either buried under snow or someone took a liking to it. Finished up a new paracord lanyard and grip the other night on a replacement. NOT the year to lose your spud.

crrockwell14 · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 09:46 AM »

I like to think that my bulky, heavy, ugly, rusty spud will not look desirable to those who might take it. But it is always in my sled, and has been used as much as my boots this season.

Adironzach · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 01:05 PM »

Quote from: pmaloney86 on Jan 30, 2020, 09:39 AM

Lost mine two weekends ago. I did the same thing and left it leaning on a rock wall that you have to get over to access the lake. i went back the next day and it was either buried under snow or someone took a liking to it. Finished up a new paracord lanyard and grip the other night on a replacement. NOT the year to lose your spud.

Are you using tape as a base layer then wrapping the paracord overtop? Might have to craft something up similarly on my spud. Love that grip

pmaloney86 · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 01:12 PM »

Quote from: Adironzach on Jan 30, 2020, 01:05 PM

Are you using tap as a base layer then wrapping the paracord overtop? Might have to craft something up similarly on my spud. Love that grip

Yes, otherwise the paracord will slip down. I usually make a bump under the tap where I want my handle to stop. It is a simple axe handle wrap that is pretty simple to do but takes some time to tighten it all up. You can see mine gets better the further down you go. The tape layer does make tightening the wraps more difficult but I feel it makes it stay in place better. The lanyard video will come up if you type in paracord lanyard into youtube. That one is slightly more complicated but not too bad.

flyfish413 · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 02:19 PM »

Quote from: Adironzach on Jan 30, 2020, 01:05 PM

Are you using tap as a base layer then wrapping the paracord overtop? Might have to craft something up similarly on my spud. Love that grip

The paracord looks great and as mentioned you need a layer of tape underneath or it will slip. Other idea, a roll of baseball bat grip tape is cheap and goes on in a couple minutes, last forever and stays grippy when wet.

Adironzach · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 02:35 PM »

Appreciate the suggestions! If i have an old roll of baseball tape laying around i'll definitely go that. The youtube video is now que'd up the next time i need to kill a little time at work

Icedog40 · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 04:54 PM »

The old timer that taught me the sport taught me to always use a spud bar! I made my own out of rebar and an old helldog chisel. If its 4" of ice or less, I use it for my holes as well! Works great for making a livewell in the ice too...

I don't go fishing without it...

hot tuna · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 05:18 PM »

Before we could afford a cheap auger, we ice fished using a ice chisel ( bar) to chop holes for our tip ups.
Back then, 6 " ice was a pia to chop holes.

Remember folks, the spud bar has been used longer than many been fishing and for good reason.

trapper2000 · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 05:28 PM »

you got to where you could spud a hole pretty quick....remember the spoon auger those where the days you covered your holes and went back and spudded them back open.....

62&done · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 05:34 PM »

spud bar definatly saved my bacon last week on Onieda

filetandrelease · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 06:22 PM »

Quote from: trapper2000 on Jan 30, 2020, 05:28 PM

you got to where you could spud a hole pretty quick....remember the spoon auger those where the days you covered your holes and went back and spudded them back open.....

Yes sir if snow was available , stuffed full of snow and scoop out next morning , if not spud them , my spud has also saved my skinny butt more than once

trapper2000 · « **Reply #26 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 06:39 PM »

spud is your best friend out there

BeenPerchin315 · « **Reply #27 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 07:05 PM »

Musta just been dumb luck I have survived all these years with out a spud. Now that I have one and after the year we have had I won’t go out with out it.

hot tuna · « **Reply #28 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 08:03 PM »

Quote from: trapper2000 on Jan 30, 2020, 05:28 PM

you got to where you could spud a hole pretty quick....remember the spoon auger those where the days you covered your holes and went back and spudded them back open.....

We had a spoon auger passed down. I found better use in the forge than the ice use..

TNT5859 · « **Reply #29 on:** Jan 30, 2020, 08:07 PM »

Great video! Thank you!!!

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Author Topic: spud bar (Read 4673 times)

Fishmon

crrockwell14