Ice Fishing Spud Bar for Sale Updated
Ice Fishing Spud Bar for Sale
When those nights start getting longer, and the temperatures get-go getting colder – you know it's merely a matter of time before your favorite fishing spot will be frozen over.
But that doesn't mean you have to cease fishing.
This is where the best ice chisels (spud bars) will come up in handy – especially for safe do on new ice early in the season, and melting ice in spring.
Even if you already own an auger, these tools offering a bunch of practical uses, which we'll explore in item equally you read on.
Let's take a look at what's on the market, with a complete heir-apparent's guide to follow.
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Table of Contents
Why You Demand an Ice Chisel for Ice Fishing
It's true that ice chisels aren't as popular every bit they once were, largely cheers to the advancement of the ice line-fishing augers. And you can follow that link for some great options if you need an upgrade.
Nonetheless, for fishing on new water ice, a good-quality ice chisel is going to exist essential in helping you understand how thick the sail actually is – and if you can safely walk on it in the beginning place.
And while your preservation is the number-one do good, an water ice chisel is also useful for re-opening one-time holes, too every bit starting new ones, or expanding a electric current hole, in social club to land a larger fish.
In brusk, if you're venturing out onto the early (or late) ice, then a chisel is going to exist an essential tool to help keep you topside.
And through the season, you'll reach for information technology time and again as a full general purpose tool for use in a variety of situations and circumstances.
Information technology's more than than just a walking stick (although it's very useful for that, too).
The 7 Best Spud Bars (Ice Chisels) for Ice Fishing
Rapala Ii-Piece Ice Chisel
One of the best fishing brands in the world, it stands to reason that Rapala would offer a decent entry, considering their extensive back catalog of quality angling accessories.
And indeed they do, with this extra-long, 62-inch ice chisel. Specifically designed to keep holes open up all season long, it'south made from super-tough welded steel, with a comfortable foam-grip handle, for controlled strikes with reduced vibration.
The 2-slice design ensures it's like shooting fish in a barrel to store and transport, and there's an extra-thick, rugged lanyard strap, then y'all don't accidentally lose the thing downward a new water ice hole.
Equally a defended ice spud bar, it's up there with the finest water ice chisels on the marketplace.
Pros
- Name to trust.
- Solid structure.
- Comfort handle.
- Lanyard.
- Durable chisel teeth.
- Blade baby-sit included.
Cons
- Weight not specified.
Takeaway
Another quality fishing accessory from Rapala, they as well brand some fine walleye ice fishing lures if yous're interested. But every bit far as ice chisels go, this is going to go the job washed and then some. Don't venture out onto the ice without it.
Eskimo CH12 Multi-Faceted Ice Chisel
Eskimo are known for their quality ice-fishing products, and they make some of the best ice shelters on the market, (besides equally merely about everything else to do with the sport) so follow that link and keep yourself protected out there.
This 64-inch chipper is a multi-faceted, two-slice tool, with a triple-action head design that will make brusk piece of work of the water ice with fewer strokes, ensuring you can save all your energy for reeling fish in.
The fully welded steel construction offers long-lasting durability in all weathers, while the foam-grip handles provide the ultimate in comfort and anti-vibration use.
The excellent weight-to-length ratio also ensures maximum efficiency with each drive into the water ice, offer the best possible impact with no free energy wasted.
Pros
- Name to trust.
- Congenital-to-last.
- Durable tether rope included.
- Comfy user experience.
- Rugged, heavy-duty use.
- Blade guard included.
- Highly rated among ice anglers.
Cons
- None to speak of.
Takeaway
Easily comparable with the Rapala, (this choice being slightly longer) the Eskimo 2-slice ice chipper is perfect for stashing at the bottom of your sled, or sounding out safe passage when first stepping out onto the ice.
And in that location's a unmarried-slice version likewise bachelor, if that ameliorate suits your needs.
Jiffy Deluxe Mille Lacs Water ice Chisel
Just when I think I've already constitute the best ice white potato, along comes another production to mess upward my review.
But then, Jiffy are something of a household proper name when information technology comes to this sport – considering they pioneered the original water ice drill over seventy years ago.
Their Jiffy Palatial water ice chisel is easily upwardly there with the previous two entries, given the fact that it smacks of quality through and through.
They're likewise famously based on traditional water ice chisels, used with neat effect up in Minnesota (where the winters don't quit).
Another multi-function pattern, you tin can nail out a pigsty in no time, carve the water ice to accommodate your needs, and flare out an existing hole to land a larger catch. And this item option even has adjustable lengths, reaching up to an impressive 69.5-inches when fully extended.
Pros
- Proper noun to trust.
- Solid, durable construction.
- Rugged lanyard strap.
- Bract cover included.
- Rapid hole cosmos.
- Professional-course design.
- Pop and highly-rated.
Cons
- On the expensive side (simply there's a cheaper standard option bachelor).
Takeaway
Anyone who has any knowledge of ice fishing will have heard of Jiffy, a company that has roots back to 1948, defended to making the best ice drills in the world. And these days, they've moved with the times, and offer some first-class electric ice augers as an culling to gas.
Regardless, this product is easily one of the all-time ice spuds out there, and then do yourself a favor and choice one up for particularly harsh winters. You betcha!
The Eskimo Redneck Saucepan Ice Chisel
Here we accept something a footling different now, with a more than compact ice chisel choice.
Information technology'southward another Eskimo product, this fourth dimension merely 19-inches long, which ways information technology's more suitable for close-quarters piece of work, say when you're reopening existing holes for tip-ups.
The attractive reddish finish is a fully welded steel design, with an efficient weight-to-length ratio for constructive use with maximum impact.
It features a dual-activity head, for chiseling or smashing the ice with a hammer activity, while at the other concern terminate you have a more than traditional chisel blade for chipping and shaving the ice with a stabbing activeness.
It all sounds rather aggressive, doesn't it? And yet, that'southward another advantage with this tool – it might merely come in handy for self-defense if you happen to encounter a large critter that'south looking for a snack.
Pros
- Name to trust.
- Built to terminal.
- Compact size.
- Highly portable.
- Blade covers included.
- Tether rope.
Cons
- No cream handle.
- Too small to utilize for safety while walking.
Takeaway
A great compact ice chisel to keep in your ice fishing sled (and you can follow that link for more of the best ice sleds on the market), this is the perfect weapon tool for when you're on your knees… sculpting angling holes, obviously.
To exist honest, having two ice chisels of different sizes is a groovy idea.
Bully Tools Steel Tamping and Digging Bar
Adjacent up in our review of the best ice fishing murphy bars, is this beast of an instrument from Bully Tools. Information technology'southward a 48-inch long steel tamping and digging bar, designed to exist used for commercial grade jobs.
While information technology'southward not specifically for ice fishing, it's more than adequate for chipping through the stuff, with a 3/8-inch thick head, the one-inch diameter steel bar, and a 3/8-inch thick plate.
Designed to last, it's rugged and durable, it weighs 11.69 lbs, and highly versatile for other tamping and excavation jobs y'all might have on or around your property.
Pros
- Solid, durable construction.
- Heavyweight pole.
- Chisel and tamper congenital-in.
- Highly rated.
- Versatile for DIY jobs.
- Heavy-duty use.
Cons
- No lanyard or condolement grip.
Takeaway
A great, multi-utilise tool that will come up into its own if you lot ever need a tamper or general postal service-digging head (I wish I had this while laying a fire-pit base of operations recently).
Information technology'll make brusk work of dirt, rocks, hard clay, and – of course – ice. Although you'll definitely want to fashion a lanyard for that purpose, and calculation a foam grip wouldn't hurt, either.
Nims Spud for Water ice Line-fishing
Our next entry is this Nims ice fishing murphy, which is a solid steel, i-piece tool for heavy-duty chiseling. Information technology'southward 54-inches long, with a serrated chisel edge that improves your shaving efficiency.
The T-handle at the height is a nice affect, which can help with grip and foreclose you from throwing the bar downwardly an water ice hole, and although it doesn't come with a lanyard, in that location is a place to adhere i.
The shaft is solid, i-inch in diameter, and the tool is versatile enough to be used around the home and garden – non but for ice angling.
Made for ice anglers by ice anglers in Michigan, this volition get the chore done and then some.
Pros
- Great price point.
- Durable, congenital-to-last structure.
- Simple, no-nonsense pattern.
- T-handle for grip.
- Heavy-duty look and experience.
- Versatile use.
Cons
- Tether non included.
Takeaway
It might not win any awards for cutting-edge water ice chisel pattern, but it'southward more than constructive at breaking up the stuff when required. Heavy, stiff, and durable, with a serrated edge – the water ice doesn't stand a chance.
NISUS Folding Heavy Duty Water ice Chisel
At present, hither'southward an interesting water ice chisel that seems to offer some polarizing opinions around the cyberspace, but I've included information technology here for you to make your own listen up.
Information technology'due south the but irish potato bar that comes in three pieces, which creates an water ice chisel that is 54-inches long when connected, and just over 20-inches when it's packed downwardly for storage and ship.
The handles are made of wood, while the chisel itself is a durable steel, with a step-head design for constructive chipping. There's no foam grip, but the wood is contoured for comfort, and the whole unit is lightweight at just nether v pounds.
It offers a nice weight-to-length ratio – which is all-of import for constructive performance, but the jury is out when compared with heavier, unmarried or two-slice chisels.
And I have to admit, I'd be much obliged if anyone could tell me what those two metallic hooks are for…?
Pros
- Highly portable.
- Deport bag included.
- Blade guard.
- Lanyard.
- Bonny wooden handle.
- Bang-up gift idea.
Cons
- Might not exist equally effective as an all-steel chisel.
Takeaway
On paper this is a neat idea, and it certainly looks attractive and practical, offering unbeatable portability. But you lot might be left wanting when it comes to the overall weight.
And are those hooks water ice picks? Scrapers? For hanging fish? Getting food out of your teeth? I'm stumped, folks. Let me know the answer in the comments.
What is an Ice Chisel/Murphy Bar?
I believe that 'spud' bar comes from an old Scandinavian word meaning "spear." Or, it might have something to do with digging up potatoes.
Either mode, that's exactly how you use these tools – to dig and spear at the ice, causing it to chip away.
Designed to be a hefty weight in order to offer an efficient strike, water ice chisels come in a variety of lengths – depending on what you're looking to use them for.
They have a multifariousness of uses, but the post-obit are the most useful and important for ice anglers:
- Sounding out how thick the water ice is – and if information technology'due south safe to walk on.
- Equally a walking aid while traversing water ice and snow.
- Opening new ice fishing holes.
- Reopening old holes – specially if using tip-ups.
- Flaring, or widening existing holes in society to land a larger catch.
- Whatever additional ice sculpting or shaving requirements.
They tin can also take other uses, which nosotros'll explore in more item, below.
But brand sure you're using some quality ice fishing cleats to help you stay upright if you lot are walking on the ice, and you'll need a decent ice angling pair of boots, besides. Follow those links for more.
How to Use an Ice Chisel
At that place's no employ simply hacking, stabbing, and hammering at the ice similar a demented series killer – there is a proper technique that will ensure you don't waste material energy and your efforts are effective.
And this is particularly important when you're using the chisel to check the thickness of the ice, and if it's actually safe to walk on.
In society to find this out, yous need to take a couple of downward swings at the surface with your water ice chisel, and notation if h2o comes through.
Depending on your chisel, and your strength, you tin roughly figure out how thick the ice is by comparing how many swings y'all take, and when the water begins to seep up.
For a visual demonstration, watch the excellent video below.
Information technology's widely agreed that four inches of ice is the minimum it should be to walk on, only some people are comfortable with it being three. Annihilation less than that is dangerous and should be avoided.
Once you're out at that place safely and comfortably fishing on the ice, you can too apply your chisel to flare holes – should you need to land a larger fish.
Merely be mindful of how you do this – always use a lanyard or tether rope, so you don't lose the chisel in the hole, and Sentinel YOUR FEET!
You tin also showtime new holes with an ice chisel – in order to drop in an ice fishing fish finder – which volition help upwardly your game when you're out there.
Think, ice is never 100% safe to walk on – even if information technology is super thick. You lot never know what might happen, so tread carefully and use common sense.
You should always exist wearing one of these water ice line-fishing suits or equivalent if you lot're going to be out there for any length of time. Look out for float suits with added buoyancy in instance you practice suspension through.
At the very to the lowest degree, a quality ice angling jacket is going to protect you from that bitter cold, and you lot might desire to think well-nigh a good heater if you're using a shelter.
How to Cull the Correct Ice Chisel for Water ice Fishing
At that place'southward non a great deal to ice fishing spud bars, simply information technology'south worth exploring nonetheless, so you make sure you lot go the right product for your needs.
Spud Bar Length and Weight
Length and weight are 2 important measurements when it comes to your ice chisel, and the production that's right for y'all volition depend on a couple of factors.
For the well-nigh part, ice chisels that are used to audio out the thickness of the sheet are going to be betwixt 45-65-inches long.
Basically, so you tin can use it comfortably from a standing position.
Murphy bars come in a variety of weights, and you want to strike a balance between weight and length in order to become maximum efficiency out of the tool.
Effectually 10-xi lbs is good weight for a standing ice chisel bar, only y'all tin can become heavier options. Think, you still demand to be able to elevator it comfortably.
Shorter, more compact ice chisels are as well available, commonly around 30 or so inches in length.
While non suitable to audio out the ice, they are useful when you're working down by an existing hole, for removing new ice, flaring the pigsty, and other uses at shut quarters.
I would highly recommend having both options in your water ice fishing armory – you're going to demand them. And using one of these awesome water ice fishing bibs is also a groovy idea if you are conveying a lot of gear.
Number of Pieces
Like a good travel line-fishing rod, some ice chisels can be broken down into more than one slice.
They are particularly useful if yous're curt on space, and you lot desire to stash it for easy transportation in your sled, or throw it over your shoulder.
One-piece ice chisels are generally stronger, more durable, and more effective at breaking up the ice, with the obvious merchandise-off that they are more challenging to transport.
Again, the blazon you cull depends on your needs and preferences, merely I personally prefer portability to power.
Blade Fashion
Be sure to examine the business organization terminate of the tool yous're most interested in, equally non all designs are created equal.
Some ice chisels come with a simple, flat blade, which is useful for full general-purpose ice clearing, and breaking.
More dedicated ice fishing chisels will have a bract that has a number of stepped or serrated teeth. This makes the tool more effective at shaving and sculpting water ice, and more efficient at breaking through to the water.
A blade with this design offers more versatility for water ice management in general, and as such, they are strongly favored among anglers in the community.
Handle and Materials
Ice chisels are generally made out of durable steel, just they might also have wooden or covered handles for comfort and a pleasing artful.
I would highly recommend using a chisel with foam handles for 3, key reasons.
As well as being pleasant to utilize, it will too help dampen the vibration afterward each strike to forestall fatigue and injury, and the extra grip will forestall it from slipping dangerously out of your easily.
Adept ice fishing chisels are designed to do one matter – break upward the water ice.
But the best water ice fishing chisels will offer extra features, and thus provide more versatility to the angler and homeowner.
They might take a tamping bar at the other cease – to double as a tamping tool for flattening building materials, such equally sand, dirt, and physical.
Some ice murphy bars come with a hammer-style business end, to give you another choice when you're breaking through the ice.
As previously mentioned, this tin also be used equally a weapon in the worst case scenario of an animal attack.
Most of these tools tin can also exist used to break up ice around the home and garden – particularly those models that are specifically designed for this purpose.
Some models come with a carry handbag, to go along all the pieces together, and there are others that have blade-guards included, so y'all can keep the chisel protected and in good status.
Terminal, and certainly not least, the elevation ice fishing chisels come up with a lanyard or tether, to stop you firing it downwardly into those freezing dark depths.
I wonder how many chisels are sitting at the lesser of lakes and rivers around the globe?
Information technology's not a affair of if these tools will slip out of your mitt – it's a matter of when. So if your model doesn't come with a rope, I strongly recommend you attach i before use.
And brand sure you're wearing some adept-quality water ice line-fishing gloves that will offer yous a skilful grip, and protect your easily against the cold. Follow that link for more.
Cost
Water ice fishing chisels don't cost the earth, and you lot'll become a good one for under $fifty.
Even so, spending that much on a piece of metal tin can put some folks' noses out of joint.
The question is, how much value exercise you put on your ain safety?
These products are going to be more effective, more efficient, and more than successful than anything you tin make or way together at home.
Invest in a good-quality spud bar, and information technology just might save your life.
At the very to the lowest degree, information technology'due south going to help you catch fish. And for more help communicable fish, bank check out this article on the complete water ice fishing checklist.
FAQ
How practise you use a irish potato bar?
There are several tips, tricks, and techniques you lot can use when employing safe spud bar do, aside from using it to open holes in the water ice.
1 of the nigh important aspects of the tool's use – is to non rely on information technology equally a walking stick. If you do that, at that place's a stiff possibility you might come across with some weak ice and autumn in – particularly early and late in the flavour.
The trick is to repeat a 'spud-step-spud-stride' technique – until y'all safely reach your destination. Take your time, and allow the spud bar to audio-out ice thickness – not your ain boots.
If, at any point, the bar breaks through the surface, or there'southward more than water coming through than you lot're comfortable with, you need to slowly retreat back the style you came, and either exit the ice, or endeavour an alternative route.
The video below offers a great demonstration of this, and so check it out when you tin.
Practice I need an ice chisel for ice line-fishing?
Technically, no, you don't need a chisel for water ice fishing. If information technology's the dead of winter and the ice is thick enough, you tin can probably get away with simply using an auger.
But what if you don't have that? What if your tip-up holes freeze over? What if you demand to find a safe way back to shore? What if you've no other tool to make an ice hole with?
All experienced ice anglers will take at least one chisel in their locker – so you should as well.
Can you walk on two inches of water ice?
I wouldn't recommend information technology. The minimum I would personally walk on is four inches, but to each their own. But two – certainly not.
Four inches of ice should safely hold upwardly to 200 lbs. V inches will hold 800 lbs. This article from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers more detailed, visual information.
How heavy is a spud bar?
They come up in a variety of unlike weights, depending on what you need the tool for, and how much you're physically capable of carrying/using.
For the nigh function, a good total-length spud bar is going to come in around the 10 lbs mark.
Summary
The ice chisels are going to keep you lot safe, and assistance yous dial through a thick sheet in order to gain admission to those hungry fish in the chilly depths, beneath.
Let me know which tool you lot've gone for and why, and delight feel free to 'flake in' with any advICE for wintertime fishing in the comments below (zilch).
I'll get my coat. I'm going to demand it, anyway.
Ice Fishing Spud Bar for Sale
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