12-17-2012, 05:37 PM
I have seen other states were people go ice fishing and they use chain saws for cutting holes in the ice. Now is that legal here ? What are the pros and cons about the chain saw cutting ice ?
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12-17-2012, 05:37 PM
12-17-2012, 05:41 PM
aslong as its under 18 inches its fine but any more it can cause some problems, there has been times when i have seen scuba divers at deer creek that will cut a hole the size of a car to dive down in and they wont even mark where the hole is so the next morning when someone goes to fish it, it will only have a 1/2 inch of ice over that hole and somebody could take a swim, kinda scarry
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12-17-2012, 06:50 PM
Copied straight from the 2013 fishing guidebook.
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[size 2]When you’re fishing through the ice, you may not fish through a hole that’s more than 12 inches wide. The only exceptions are at Bear Lake, Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Fish Lake. For more information about ice fishing at these waters, please see [/size][font "Myriad Pro Cond,Myriad Pro Cond"][size 2][font "Myriad Pro Cond,Myriad Pro Cond"][size 2]Rules for specific waters [/size][/font][/size][/font][size 2]on page 20. [/size]
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[size 2]In some of the other states they cut big holes in the ice and pull an ice house over the hole so that a few people can fish in the same hole at once. A chainsaw is legal but could be a pain for only a 12" or smaller hole.
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[size 2]When you’re fishing through the ice, you may not fish through a hole that’s more than 12 inches wide. The only exceptions are at Bear Lake, Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Fish Lake. For more information about ice fishing at these waters, please see [/size][font "Myriad Pro Cond,Myriad Pro Cond"][size 2][font "Myriad Pro Cond,Myriad Pro Cond"][size 2]Rules for specific waters [/size][/font][/size][/font][size 2]on page 20. [/size]
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[size 2]In some of the other states they cut big holes in the ice and pull an ice house over the hole so that a few people can fish in the same hole at once. A chainsaw is legal but could be a pain for only a 12" or smaller hole.
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12-17-2012, 06:53 PM
i know its 12 everywhere but i was saying the biggest is 18 at those 3 waters for macs.
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12-17-2012, 08:16 PM
If I had my way, chainsaws would be BANNED COMPLETELY from use to cut holes for ice fishing. About 40 yrs ago I fell all the way through a hole some clown cut in Cave Lake southeast of Ely NV. The hole must have been cut the day before, it was about 6' X 6'. There was a light snow overnight that completely hid the hole which had frozen with about 3/4" of ice. But for a spur of the moment decicion to ask my brother in law to accompany me, I wouldn't be here today.
There was a big snowdrift blocking the road about a mile and a half from the lake so we walked in to fish. There was only a light breeze but the temp must have been zero or below. The walk back to the car was really tough. I was soakd to the skin & my clothes kept freezing stiffer & stiffer. I got to the point all I wanted to do was stop and rest but my brother in law wouldn't let me. Had he not been there, I'm certain I would have stopped and succumbed to hypothermia. I don't even remember being cold for the last part of the walk.
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There was a big snowdrift blocking the road about a mile and a half from the lake so we walked in to fish. There was only a light breeze but the temp must have been zero or below. The walk back to the car was really tough. I was soakd to the skin & my clothes kept freezing stiffer & stiffer. I got to the point all I wanted to do was stop and rest but my brother in law wouldn't let me. Had he not been there, I'm certain I would have stopped and succumbed to hypothermia. I don't even remember being cold for the last part of the walk.
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12-17-2012, 10:27 PM
Just take a tape measure with ya and measure out a 12 in hole. If anybody says anything whip out the tape measure.
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12-19-2012, 03:29 PM
Agree with geezer why on earth would need a hole bigger than 8 or 10 inches? maybe for a nice mac but cmon if someone fell through a hole you cut and died it would be on the news you would see it you would know it was you and then you have that on your mind for the rest of your life.... not worth a big fish to me
12-19-2012, 05:09 PM
There is no size limit when dip netting for cisco at Bear Lake.
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12-19-2012, 07:05 PM
that is true.
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12-19-2012, 08:48 PM
yes Bear lake is the place I have seen the most big holes. I have seen guys that took blocks of ice from the hole and put a semi perimete around it. I like to ice fish a couple weeks after the cisco run when the bigger guys get hungry again after feeding on cisco. Between the springs and the big holes it can be amusing.
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12-20-2012, 06:03 AM
Ok so it is legal i dont know how m question went from chainsaw to hole size .[crazy] So is there any pros and cons to using a chain saw instead odf an auger ? Also why would you need a hole bigger than 12 inches to catch a trout anyway ! [:p] Scuba divers should be made to mark holes with flags that screw on to the ice were they cut a big hole so people would be aware of the hole.Also those air boats too i think it was bassrods atv that fell through a hole in yuba one year because the air boat broke a big patch of ice the day before.
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12-20-2012, 08:29 AM
Hole size comes into play depending on how you cut your hole with a saw. An 8"X8" square hole measures real close to 12" on the diagonal so to stay legal you will have to pay attention to how big and how square you hole is.
Some of the cons of a chainsaw is that with the thickness of most of the ice in this state and cutting a hole that is no more than 12" any direction would be more of a pain than it was worth in my opinion. Then there is the weight, getting it to start in the cold, and the chance of getting wet out on the ice right at the first of your fishing trip. Another thing to think about is how long the bar on you saw is. As the ice gets thicker it would suck to come up a couple of inches short of punching through after all that work. This almost happend to us once at Fish Lake about ten years ago. When we punched through with our auger there was under an inch of space left between the handle and the top of the ice.
Augers have their problems also with blades getting dull and motors on the power augers not wanting to run so in the end it is just a matter of choice.
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Some of the cons of a chainsaw is that with the thickness of most of the ice in this state and cutting a hole that is no more than 12" any direction would be more of a pain than it was worth in my opinion. Then there is the weight, getting it to start in the cold, and the chance of getting wet out on the ice right at the first of your fishing trip. Another thing to think about is how long the bar on you saw is. As the ice gets thicker it would suck to come up a couple of inches short of punching through after all that work. This almost happend to us once at Fish Lake about ten years ago. When we punched through with our auger there was under an inch of space left between the handle and the top of the ice.
Augers have their problems also with blades getting dull and motors on the power augers not wanting to run so in the end it is just a matter of choice.
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12-20-2012, 12:55 PM
ya when it comes down to it i think it needs to just be common sense cause that is like walking through a mine field. Keep our fingers crossed for some good ice here soon!!![cool]
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12-20-2012, 01:57 PM
Thanks now i have something to think about i have had augers before and i have had bad luck witht them. [pirate]
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12-20-2012, 04:44 PM
They make it much easier to get the boat in.
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12-21-2012, 03:07 AM
Ok now thats a pro ! lol
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12-24-2012, 04:56 PM
I know they use chainsaws to open holes for Polar Bear plunges. But I think they also cut a slab with angled edges - so they can take the cap and drop it back in - avoids the safety hazard factor.
I thought 10" was the magic number?
Can't imagine a chainsaw being a safer alternative to an auger.
If you're going Scuba diving. . . I guess.
Seen some Youtubes of Pikefishing a big hole - with spears and decoys. That's a whole 'nother bag of waxworms....
I thought 10" was the magic number?
Can't imagine a chainsaw being a safer alternative to an auger.
If you're going Scuba diving. . . I guess.
Seen some Youtubes of Pikefishing a big hole - with spears and decoys. That's a whole 'nother bag of waxworms....