Minnesota is one of the few States that allows this dying sport. It is kind of like deer hunting so that's why I like it.
I take a weeks vaca every year to do it and this year instead of shoving the block of ice inder the ice pack I decided to see if I could bring it up easier than I have in the past.
I was successful and believe I have a technique. I suppose the block weighs around 350 pounds os so.
I have used chainsaws, chisels with augers, etcetera but without a doubt the ice saw is best. I had to have this one custom made and I guess you can find them readily now on the market although none of the one's I have seen have the craftsmanship of the one I have.
Anyway here's a series of pics showing cutting the ice block an bringing it out.
I'm aways amazed when I roll the ice block in the hole just how big it is.
There is no law stating I must do it. Snowmobiles like to run the lakes so I did put up a marker on the block. If you look at the pic with the dark house you'll see a 2x4 with signal lamps screwed into the 2x4 which sits upright in the center hole of the block.
I did shine my headlights out onto the lake to see if I could see the marker and it was very bright. If someone hits that well...they might be drinking and over the limit which is enforced big time on snowmobiles.
The State does require a fish house that sits overnight on the lake to have some small reflective material on it so I feel I did more than required. A few Game Wardens came by on sleds when was I obviously tearing my stuff down to leave, they were checking out ice house licenses and looked over and waved but never stopped. I would have thought if they had a concern that was when to approach me.
Markers similar to mine are what is used at times to warn others of thin ice etcetera...anytime one ventures out onto the ice your taking a risk of some sort esp with the machines.
I live in MN too and I love the rush of water skipping with my snowmobile once the ice startes melting. I only go on the edge of the lake in no more than 2 ft of water because I want to keep liveing and the charges are huge if your craft sinks in a public lake.
Nice Pic's! What kind of fish do you normally catch during the winter? I was in MN back in April 2001 Minn/St Paul area for training .... I got there a week after a snow storm...didn't get a chance to see snow falling just the snow on the ground...spent alot of time at the Mall of America and walking thru the down town area....what got me was that I saw sooooo many Crow's on Building's and Power Line's....reminded me of the movie "The Bird's". I loved it there in Minn. and wouldn't mind taking a trip back there...Told my cuz about the Mall of America when I got back to Guam and when she went to visit my other cousin(her sister) in Missouri they took a road trip up to MN for Vacation
hey killer, you should come to wisconsin for our sturgeon spearing season. bigger hole,bigger fish. I use a husqevarna with a 48in. bar,Winnebago has about 30 in. of ice right now.your hand saw looks like one an old friend of mine used to set commercial nets under the ice. bet it works pretty good too.
I have always wanted to spear thru the ice.when I lived in the U.P. i loved to go ice fishing but never got the chance to spear. I do a lot of spear fishing by diving here, I guess I like sticking fish with steel
__________________
peace through superior firepower
