'24 - '25 Pike Spearing

[seeth07]

@Birdbander what do you use for cutting the ice when it gets really thick? We canned to cut in this last weekend but with 40 inches of ice we couldn't

 

[Bonasababy]

Not sure if it will conflict with Turkey chasing but if not I'll be heading to the world's largest decoy show in April. One of my attainable retirement goals is to build a spearing shack. Speared a lot up until kids came along. Grandkids to introduce to the sport now.

 

[Birdbander]

@Birdbander what do you use for cutting the ice when it gets really thick? We canned to cut in this last weekend but with 40 inches of ice we couldn't

I use a Husqvarna 395XP with a 28" bar. I have a 43" bar that I've had to use a couple of times.

 

[Bonasababy]

@Birdbander what do you use for cutting the ice when it gets really thick? We canned to cut in this last weekend but with 40 inches of ice we couldn't

We shared an old ice saw that was good for past 40 back in the day. I have a more modern one that folds and is more convenient. Most folks I know use a modern saw with an ice auger to drill holes in opposite corners and an ice saw goes both ways from those holes. Heavy chisel to break into a few chunks and ice tongs to to lift them out.

 

[Birdbander]

Not sure if it will conflict with Turkey chasing but if not I'll be heading to the world's largest decoy show in April. One of my attainable retirement goals is to build a spearing shack. Speared a lot up until kids came along. Grandkids to introduce to the sport now.

I'd like to get out to the Perham show someday. There are some incredibly talented carvers.
Hope you get that spearing shack built!

 

[Birdbander]

We shared an old ice saw that was good for past 40 back in the day. I have a more modern one that folds and is more convenient. Most folks I know use a modern saw with an ice auger to drill holes in opposite corners and an ice saw goes both ways from those holes. Heavy chisel to break into a few chunks and ice tongs to to lift them out.

I have one of the folding saws also and use it for thin early ice by drilling the corners as you describe but its just more work than I prefer. I know people that use the new electric chainsaws but nothing beats the horsepower of a big gas saw.

 

[seeth07]

I use a Husqvarna 395XP with a 28" bar. I have a 43" bar that I've had to use a couple of times.

I have a 42 inch bar but with the angle cut it's not anywhere near enough. Even a straight cut wouldn't really work. Once it's over 30 inches I'm not sure what to do to get that angle. Was wondering what kind of hand versions may exist for deep cutting

 

[Bonasababy]

I'd like to get out to the Perham show someday. There are some incredibly talented carvers.
Hope you get that spearing shack built!

Thanks. I've won a few way too nice decoys in raffles at Perham. They have lots of other wares there too...great place to shop for a man cave.

There's some chance I might get two or three grandkids to go with someday so am thinking something a little bigger with a hole in the middle.

We traditionally rotated carved decoys while also running a live sucker in a harness. Took some big ones off Leech and OtterTail back in the day.

 

[Bonasababy]

I have one of the folding saws also and use it for thin early ice by drilling the corners as you describe but its just more work than I prefer. I know people that use the new electric chainsaws but nothing beats the horsepower of a big gas saw.

Have used them before but ran vegetable oil for the bar...regular bar oil ain't great for obvious reasons.