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Offline bearfat

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Dark House Ice Spearing
« on: October 10, 2006, 05:06:21 PM »
Well...with snow coming tomorrow for some of us, the ice freezing can't be to far behind. December is the best for Northerns although I never seem to make it.

Dark House Spearing is a dying sport according to DNR records. Spearing reminds me alot like deer hunting so that's why I'm attaching to a stricly "Hunting in MN forum". Our neighbor to the east WS does not allow spearing, another reason I'm posting the thread here,; it's just a limited sport that primarily MN does. 

I understand there are some ice fishing circles that feel spearing should be outlawed. I'm willing to go anywhere the forum goes. I might add I have never taken any of the super big northerns that anglers complain should not be speared. Spearing in some ways allows a perfect catch and release since you can take a picture and let it go totally unharmed whereas a fight on fishing line can build up acids in the fish which eventually kill the fish anyway (so I have read) even if you release it.

Have attached a photo of an ice saw which I'm sure few have seen. Had to have it custom made. Cut's a nice smooth spearing hole alot better than a chainsaw without any of the mess from the oil in the water.

Also attached various Dark House shots.











The hole really gives out alot of light as you can see. I'm using an "Otter" sled/fish house on top of a custom floor which tears down easily. The floor is needed to keep things quiet and or keep my feet dryer if water is coming up over the hole as it does on lakes up North. If it's real bad I can toss some 4x4 down first and then put floor over that.

Slush is a real drag up north on some lakes. I've had to deal with 4"- 6" some years if the snow load on the lake heavy.
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Offline HuntingGuy

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2006, 05:48:55 PM »
VERY nice!!  I've never done it, but I hear it's a blast. 
Quote
Spearing in some ways allows a perfect catch and release since you can take a picture and let it go totally unharmed
  How so???  ...Wish you the best of luck next month for deer season!!
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HuntingGuy
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Offline bearfat

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2006, 06:20:08 AM »
Not quite following your question HuntingGuy but say if a big 30 pound Northern comes into the spear hole and you don't want to take it. You simply lift your decoy out of the hole or just leave it be. The decoy cannot legally have any hooks on it because than you would be angling. The northern generally just look at it, although I have heard ocassionally they hit it.

You'd have to have the camera all set to go obviously. My new digital camera was kind of irritating in that it maintained the last settings which I saw no good purpose to originally because I rarely wanted to take the same shot. But if you are waiting for game and can preset the camera, it allows as little hand movement as possible. Simply turn it on and shoot.

If you look at my decoy in the hole you'll see it's barbless, no hooks. Also look on bottom. Eggshells used to give defintion, 3D perspective. You can also use sliced potato I guess. I've heard of guys using white landscape rocks too.

Had a big fat catfish come thru once with a pilot fish (minnow) hanging around it's mouth for scraps. That was interesting to watch. Actually know of alot of guys that ice fish catfish in winter using jigs/fat heads off bottom at Prescott, WS on St Croix river.
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Offline HuntingGuy

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2006, 03:27:37 PM »
That sounds fun FOR SURE!!!!!!!!
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Offline bearfat

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2006, 12:42:56 AM »
I'm reading the new legislative laws passed and it's almost a joke trying to decipher. Apparently while in  a dark house I can spear and or use one fish line now but reading this you would wonder:

97C.371 SPEARING FISH.

Subd. 3. Restrictions while spearing from dark house. A person may not take fish by angling or the use of tip-ups while spearing fish in a dark house, except that a person may take fish by angling if only one angling line is in use and any fish caught by angling is immediately
released to the water or placed on the ice.

 
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Offline ironfoot

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #5 on: January 01, 2007, 05:25:54 PM »
bearfat
Used to be, you could not fish with a line while spear fishing. Now I guess you can fish with one line while spear fishing, but the DNR wants to make sure you are not using a game fish as a decoy while spear fishing. That is why you have to either release, or  "put on the ice" any fish you catch.
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Offline curteric

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2007, 01:05:03 AM »
Bearfat

Looking at the picture of the ice saw, it looks like it was made by a gentleman in Good Thunder Mn. am I  right?
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Offline bearfat

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2007, 08:50:30 PM »
He goes by Neuleib? Repair Shop out of Rothsay MN. Can't read the handwriting well it's kinda shaky. Saw an article in "Darkhouse and Angling News"?

Cost me around $175 and worth every penny. Slick as snot it is. Better than the chainsaw, certainly safer.

I'm ashamed to say I have yet to get out this year.

Planning a weeks vaca in Feb but forgot to check out Lax Lake and conditions. Last year the December heavy snow load made the ice crappy all winter and unsafe to drive on. This year is so warm I'm wondering if it is thick enough?

I'll get out soon!!!! ;)
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Offline bearfat

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #8 on: January 20, 2007, 06:26:17 AM »
Here's a link to a video in the same dark house I started this post above with. Might give those of you that have never speared in a dark house a perspective of it.

I can tell you the old heart starts pumping once you get a pike come into the hole. They look huge!!!

http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l89/dmkilbride/?action=view&current=icefish2-06043.flv
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Offline snapcrackpop

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2007, 10:45:13 AM »
Another well known ice saw is made in Winger, MN.  Fish's Sporting Toys sell them for $114 and they fold up.
just search "ice saw".

Sorry, but I can't see any northerns in that video.
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Offline bearfat

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #10 on: February 21, 2007, 11:09:46 AM »
There were none to see. Think I put three days into that lake over the season and saw nothing.

Here's a video link to this years spearing different lake. Had two come thru and one was eating size, threw in front of his nose  :'(

http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l89/dmkilbride/?action=view&current=buckmt2-07xp1242.flv




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Offline Cheesehead

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #11 on: February 21, 2007, 01:55:51 PM »
Bearfat

That is very interesting. I live in WI and it is not allowed unless you are Native American and I am Danish.

Cheese
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Offline bearfat

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #12 on: February 21, 2007, 03:40:52 PM »
What about spearing sturgeon in Wisconsin?

I just found out it is the only thing allowed over there and they had a 100 pound 6 footer taken. Here's a pic of the story.



I'm thinking about checking it out next year for sure. Man...that looks like some real spearing to me!!
I'd be willing to take a whole week of vacation for that.
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Offline Cheesehead

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #13 on: February 21, 2007, 05:11:11 PM »
I was referring to fish other than sturgeon. I here sturgeon spearing can be very very slow, but when you get action its big time.

Cheese
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Offline dukkillr

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #14 on: February 21, 2007, 05:32:54 PM »
Really cool.  Never heard of spearing until today.  I'd love to see a video of one of those pike swimming up to your decoy.  Do you ever spear anything besides pike?
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Offline bearfat

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #15 on: February 21, 2007, 07:39:43 PM »
Catfish and roughfish are legal.

Had a catfish come thru one time with a pilot minnow hanging around his mouth waiting for scrapes.

The catfish came home with me for supper.

I don't think he was interested in the decoy, just passing thru...but not quite fast enough.
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Offline HuntingGuy

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #16 on: March 07, 2007, 02:55:27 AM »
BF, how do you like the taste of catfish?  Never tried it myself.  Any tips for preparation???
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Offline bearfat

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #17 on: March 07, 2007, 09:35:46 AM »
All I can tell you is you don't want the meat mushy.

Fry it up fast and in hot oil afrer you roll in it your fav batter.

Hey HuntingGuy I was looking at a couple of rifles at your workplace.

Rem 7615 police /pump .223 cal that takes AR-15 clips.
Rem 870 express synthetic 18" barrel 12 gauge. (choice of 5 shot or 7 shot same price)

I pretty much ruled out the 7615 but the pump...hmmmmmm.

I did pick up 500 rnds of 00 buckshot at the sportsman guide for $170.00
What a steal    :P



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Offline HuntingGuy

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Re: Dark House Ice Spearing
« Reply #18 on: March 07, 2007, 10:18:28 AM »
BF, NICE ammo!!  Looks like that'd give a guy a headache  ;D  You won't be sorry if you go with the 870.  For the price, it's the best tactical shotgun out there IMO.  There's no way it could top a Benelli M4 or something like that.. But in that price range, it's great.  Lots of neat add ons made for them, too.

Sent you a PM!
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