Just found out about dark house spearing. What do i need to know?

[Gordie]

Looks like a great start for a great time on the ice.

Good Luck

[MJ1657]

Well I've almost got every thing collected still need to source some tongs but I've got a few leads on those there was supposed to be a set with the saw I got but oh well. I made the chisel from an old grader blade seems to work pretty good on the driveway.

Not shown is my new fatfish 949 that I just ordered

I bought a saw similar to that at an antique shop this summer and use it as wall art in my family room. I'm going to bring it to the lake one of these days and give it a try. Maybe we should try it out at the late season gtg.

[hawkeye43]

I think I will watch you with that saw, if it stays this cold we will need it

[MJ1657]

I think I will watch you with that saw, if it stays this cold we will need it

It might be just what that bum shoulder of yours needs to loosen it up!

[Archerysniper]

Mj bring it with to the ladies work shop, you can show them the old way.

[MJ1657]

Mj bring it with to the ladies work shop, you can show them the old way.

I think I will.

[Jdawg sk1]

Well guys I've got the saw all sharpened up and ready to go , the spears are both now sharpened one of them has been hardened and tempered the other was left raw, the fatfish 949 came in and is huge in comparison , and I've cut some carpet to line the floor with and everything is ready to go I'm booking a hotel room for Friday and Saturday and will be set up on the Nelson resevoir.

Wish me luck.

[Neighbor_guy]

Good luck!!

And most importantly... Have Fun!

[Gordie]

Good luck jdawg and I'm jealous as I wish I was going to be on the Nelson reservoir.

Please post some pictures of your trip.

[MJ1657]

You're jumping in head first. Way to go.

[Jdawg sk1]

Well I just got back and I can officially say I am a spear fisherman. The fishing was almost non existent but we did see a few pike I even threw at a small one and missed but I did spear a fish. About 3 feet past our hole on the second day was a small fish i decided that it would be good to have around to bring in the pike but if we didn't see anything by the end of the day I would try and get it anyways. Well we didn't see anything so I went for it. It was about a 16 foot crouched angled shot on a small fish and I hit it bam! It wasn't until I pulled it up that we seen it was a lost decoy sucker or even abandoned. It had a small treble hook in the side of it and a 3 foot line with a large weight attached to it, is this a common decoy method I think that having these laying around would not be good for any pike that happen to eat them.

[Gordie]

Most likely a quick strike rig type of set up that was lost buy a fisherman , it could have happened many different ways from weak line to it getting burnt off buy the heater. Who knows for sure but its a good thing you got it off the bottom and at least you know your aim is on.

[MJ1657]

Did the saw work good?

Glad to hear you're officially a spear fisherman.

[Jdawg sk1]

The saw worked quite well it's just really heavey to heave up and down the more angle the easier it was to cut. The toughest part was getting the 18" thick block out of the ice we used a auger hole in the block with a 2x4 and rope tied to it to help get it out. We found that thrice bound up lots and we had to drill a few more holes just to get some movement. On a side not my ice chisel worked awesome.

[hillbilly...]

18" that's it wish I would have measured the ice today but it was over knee height

[hawkeye43]

Jdawg sk1, How did that decoy do?? Any fish??

[Jdawg sk1]

Only seen 3 I think I was a little to enthusiastic with the decoy because my buddy always seen them when I was doing something else that reminds me I should post some pics be back soon

[Jdawg sk1]

Cutting the block

Posing with the block I'm the one with the red shooting glasses I also noticed I had 2 pairs of glasses on.

The block

View down the hole

And finally a pick of the tiny sucker on my spear which I understand is against the rules so I have included a link to abide by the rules and I know your itching to see it.

http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp208/jdawg-1/e373423f0dbbe8bfc442869190a3578b.jpg

[hillbilly...]

that's a good shot.... and some clear water

[MJ1657]

You guys pulled the block out with a rope?? I give you credit for your efforts.

Tell us how that worked out.

[Jdawg sk1]

I had tied a rope to a 2x4 with a hole in the center and augered a hole into the block. We the shoved the 2x4 down the hole with the chisel and it floated up perpendicular so we could lift on the rope. We then discovered that ice really likes to bind up so I put a few more holes on the block so it had some wiggle room. Once the block was smaller and we got it to flip side ways and got one edge above the ice we each grabbed some rope and dragged it up and out.

Any block extraction tips for next time would be great

I think we're going to do a second trip on the third weekend of February

[hillbilly...]

Ever body is gona tell you to get a set of ice tongs...if you made that spear you should be able to make a set of tongs

[Jdawg sk1]

I think that's what will happen I do have a set lined up for next year but I might make a set in the meantime . Could somebody post some pics of tongs with measurements on them . By having a few measure ments I should be able to figure it all out and build a set.

[MJ1657]

These are 34" tall. When I get off the road I'll get you any measurements you need. I should be home the middle of this week.

[Jdawg sk1]

Well guys I think I have the best wife in the world because she is letting me go spearing this weekend while she stays home at 36 weeks pregnant. Here's to hoping I don't get any urgent calls while out on the ice or even worse would be after the border crossing closes.

[MJ1657]

Well guys I think I have the best wife in the world because she is letting me go spearing this weekend while she stays home at 36 weeks pregnant. Here's to hoping I don't get any urgent calls while out on the ice or even worse would be after the border crossing closes.

Wow you are a lucky guy. Let us know how your trip turned out.

[hawkeye43]

You better treat that women right, its hard to find one like that.

[Jdawg sk1]

We got one guys we actually got one. We headed down south on Saturday morning got to the border for the opening at 10 sk time and 9 Montana time drove down to malta and over to the lake picking up minnows on the way. We got to the lake and headed to the north end searching for other spearers, once we found them I pulled out my new showdown troller and my bottle of washer fluid we then used it to check the depth through the crystal clear ice found a good spot at 10.2 ft and started drilling. I then took a peak saw some weeds and we cut the hole. Within half an hour of being set up we saw the first fish I grabbed my spear and threw and missed turns out my partner didn't pull the ropes inside after he secured them to the anchors so the spear didn't make it down. The next one came in a half hour after that and I let my partner take his shot and bam he got it.

We seen a few more and I missed a few more once I just came in from working the tip ups and seen one so I grabbed the spear threw and I was standing on the rope. I threw another but I just plain missed must be getting pike fever.

I did get one on the tip up though

That's all for now but next year I will be getting out earlier.

[bowhunt]

Glad to see that you had some success.

[Archerysniper]

Awesome,sounds like you are hooked now. Just like deer hunting take a breath and calm down,if they aren't coming in hot or spooky you have lots of time.