I remember getting an Ice Pal sled for Christmas when I was very young. I thought I had the greatest thing in the world. It was red with white letters and silver runners. I hauled many fish off the lakes in that thing..
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I remember getting an Ice Pal sled for Christmas when I was very young. I thought I had the greatest thing in the world. It was red with white letters and silver runners. I hauled many fish off the lakes in that thing..
I still have my box. Still use it when there isnt snow on the ice. I have lost my fair share of homemade spuds too.
Only bad thing about them was, they tipped over easy. Should have made them wider. Don't know how many mantels I broke in the Coleman because of it. Carried the lantern a lot till I hit the ice. lolQuote:
Originally Posted by wicklundrh
I welded a short 8" cross bar on my homemade ice spud to keep it from going through the ice should my kids (or me) drop it. I've graduated to a hand auger.Quote:
Originally Posted by wicklundrh
There were many times that I "thought" of building my box bigger for that exact reason. I actually had a handle on mine so that I could carry it. Of course, in the summer, no one wants to work on building a new ice fishing box. It was a great idea and had great uses. In the end, it gave way to the plastic sled.
Mike, The 8" bar is a great idea however, I am reminded of a time that I lost a spud where the bar would not have helped. My best friend (and resident Idiot) was spudding a whole on Lake Cadillac. The ice was about 5 inches thick and I beleive we were spudding a spearing hole in about 6 feet of water. At any rate, he was in a hurry and decided to jump on the nearly 3 foot square he was spudding. As you can imagine, it gave way to his 250lbs frame and he went in to his arm pits. Of course, he wasn't in any danger of drownding as it was shallow and he is over 6 feet tall. In one hand was my spud, in the other was a cigarette. I watched as he put the cigarette in his mouth to free up one hand, and then drop the spud in the water to free up his other hand so that he could lift himself out.
The nearly 200 yard walk across the lake to the car seemed punishment enough at the time. It was my favorite spud
Wicklundrh wrote <In one hand was my spud, in the other was a cigarette. I watched as he put the cigarette in his mouth to free up one hand, and then drop the spud in the water to free up his other hand so that he could lift himself out.> Wow that must have been on great tasting cigarette. I quit back in the 60's when they went from 18 cents to 35 cents a pack. (USAF Commissary) I can't imagine saving that smoke.
I never had a problem with my box tipping over. My fat butt must have held it down LOL As for losing a spud, I never lost one. I had a rope tied on mine with a loop on the end that went around my wrist.
The older my bones get the more thankful I am for the auger. I used to do the rope thing with my spud but I hated tying anything that heavy to my wrist in case I went through the ice. There were times I'm sure when my wife probably would have liked to tie it around my neck. Now a days I ice fish in the canal at Bolles Harbor or in the lagoons at Sterling. Both crappie and blue gill spots with some perch (usually small), The water by the launch ramps is only about 6 ft. With this weather I'm sure the ice is shot. I'm going to check it out this afternoon. I think this morning will be a good time for a little squirrel hunting.