The Spud Bar: The Most Important Piece of Equipment an Ice Angler Should Use

HookedUp101 Fishing Academy hosted nearly 10 youth ice fishing clinics throughout the past several ice seasons in various Southeastern and Central Wisconsin communities.

Safety is a key topic of discussion during each of the events--specifically the types of safety equipment that an ice angler would be wise to utilize in their arsenal of gear.

A common follow-up question during the ice safety portion of the clinics by the kids has been,

“Have you ever fallen through the ice?”

Considering the emphasis a recurring statement within the ice curriculum...

‘No ice should be assumed to be safe ice regardless of the time of year’

This is a great question that I love to entertain for the groups.  I’ve even had several parents chime in later in the program and mention that they had the same question at forefront of their minds as well.

I have NEVER fallen through the ice...

Not even to the point of having my foot break through some eroding shoreline ice during the late ice spring warm-ups we experience in March.  There is no need to ‘knock on wood’ as I mention this fact, as it's not a statement I fear will eventually become a reality because it’s simply NOT something I believe in leaving to chance.

I always cover the importance of ice cleats, ice picks, a PFD, throwable boat cushion, and a throw rope, but, if you'll notice most of that equipment is 'reactive' in nature.  

The most important piece of 'proactive' safety equipment that has kept me ice fishing on the topside remains to be the ‘Spud Bar’ or ice chisel.

A spud bar is a long piece of steel, generally about 4-5 feet in length with a tapered point at the end.  THAT’S IT!

To some anglers it’s something they leave out of their vehicle when embarking for the ice as it may be deemed inconvenient and cumbersome.

There are several benefits to having a spud bar along on an ice outing.   It can be used for added stability when walking across ice that is lacking snow cover and proves to be extremely slippery.  It is also used to create holes in the ice at the onset of the season (3-4" of ice) or later on during the year as an aid to break open old productive holes that haven’t frozen solid.  This is of benefit particularly in shallow water when you consider the alternative of drilling new holes in the same area with an auger and spooking fish.

Personally, a spud bar’s main use has been primarily as a safety device.

This $10-$40 investment (depending on the style you get) has been the first thing to touch the ice before I do season after season.  If I’m able to firmly strike the ice with a spud bar twice in the same location...*chink, chink*...and the integrity of the ice remains solid, I know I’m safe to step in that same location. 

Onto the ice I go!

BUT before each subsequent step onto the uncertain surface, I repeatedly strike the ice in succession using my bar as I walk.

It doesn’t matter what period of the ice season...even during that end of January and into early February, if I haven’t been to a particular body of water yet that year, I’m taking the spud bar in the sled for the inaugural walk out.

As an additional tip in outfitting your spud bar, be sure to invest in one that allows you to add a durable piece of rope or a strap to it.  Wrapping that type of support around your wrist will allow for easy handling.  It also only needs to happen once, before you realize that a spud bar tends to sink through unsafe ice or an old fishing hole rather quickly to the bottom of the lake if you’re grip is not firm enough.

Finally, I tell the kids and parents that if you take note while on the next visit to your sporting goods store--Notice that more and more retailers are beginning to carry this invaluable piece of 4’ steel in their fishing sections.

With the unpredictable, and mild winters we’ve had in the recent past, we’re starting to hear of more and more ice fishermen falling through the ice...some stories even contain an unfortunate and tragic ending.  I routinely wonder how many of these incidents could have been prevented by the plain and simple, consistent use of a spud bar.

R.I.P. Wisconsin's beloved fishing guide, Jim Hudson, of Ashland, WI.