splashhopper Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 I am getting anxious to try this ice fishing thing out... Went out to the local lake where I fished all summer and dang... it's frozen over... with evidence of people walking on it. I know most of the places where the water will only be 1-2 feet deep at the edges and also know where the drop off begins to the deeper water there as well. How do i "SAFELY" check the thickness of the ice. Note, the water is very slow with little to no current except in the very center of the lake ( 20-30 yards out. Thanks Splashhopper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basskicker09 Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 drill test holes or get a spud and stick it through the ice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 you put on a floater suit have ice picks in hand you walk a few feet and chip a hole with a spud, measure thickness then repeat till ice is too thin or you get to where you want to fish oh I like to hit the ice with the spud with each step I take or you wait till a nervy guy does it first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gbfisher Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 chip step chip step...till you end up where you want to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splashhopper Posted December 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 chip step chip step...till you end up where you want to go. What do I use to chip it with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vance Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 If you have a cordless electric drill just pop in an old drill bit and see how far you can drill into the ice-a lot less work than chipping thru the ice. vance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnF Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Get a fat friend to walk ahead of you. You follow and drill holes. JF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splashhopper Posted December 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Get a fat friend to walk ahead of you. You follow and drill holes. JF Are you busy tomorrow? I have a drill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBW Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Are you busy tomorrow? I have a drill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishfield Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Don't let him drill in a circle John ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnF Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Are you busy tomorrow? I have a drill Hot air makes me deceptively light. JF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnF Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Don't let him drill in a circle John ! He'll be hard pressed to keep up just drilling one hole in each spot. I move very very fast on unfamiliar ice. In fact I seldom go out on the ice except on a very fast moving sled. JF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twocoda Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 I know most of the places where the water will only be 1-2 feet deep at the edges still over your head ....make sure you wear the floater suit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splashhopper Posted December 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 He'll be hard pressed to keep up just drilling one hole in each spot. I move very very fast on unfamiliar ice. In fact I seldom go out on the ice except on a very fast moving sled. JF AS you know John... the little lake I wanna try doesn't have enough room to launch the sled... No worries though..... I will follow the tracks that stay above the water out there already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splashhopper Posted December 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 still over your head ....make sure you wear the floater suit They don't make em small enough..... maybe I will take the canoe out there then... but how am I gonna paddle it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinnimon Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Get a fat friend to walk ahead of you. You follow and drill holes. JF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinnimon Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 drill test holes or get a spud and stick it through the icehey i be bud,you be spud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gbfisher Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 What do I use to chip it with? A chipper.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splashhopper Posted December 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 A chipper.... that helped alot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinker Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 A chipper/spud is a steel bar with a chisel like end on it used to chip ice. Get one, its the first thing I grab on new ice. Like GB said, chip, step, chip, step. When the spud goes thru on one crack, that's your hole. Fer gawd sakes, be careful out there!!!! Newbies, on new ice is scary!!!! S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basskicker09 Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 attach a big sharp chisel to a long pole with rope round the end so you dont lose it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiel Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 Something like this..... Though I prefer a homemade one using a 1" cold chisel (sharp enuogh to shave) welded into some heavy pipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinker Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 The heavier and sharper the better. The rope on the end is also VERY important. Don't ask me how I know S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJQ Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 When I go through, its usually about an inch... when I don't its more... thats how I tell LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiel Posted December 19, 2009 Report Share Posted December 19, 2009 When I go through, its usually about an inch... when I don't its more... thats how I tell LOL. That's why I always let you go first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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