Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Is Anyone Spearing Pike This Winter?

Just wondering if any of you from Minnesota, Michigan, Alaska, or North Dakota are darkhouse spearers. It is the best of both fishing and hunting put together in one. The boys and I have been out once so far here in MN. We will be spearing every weekend until the end of Feb. For more information check out these sites:

http://www.mndarkhouse.org/
http://www.midarkhouse.org/purpose.htm

I would also encourage those interested in spearing to join up to support this heritage sport.

How in the world do you spear a Pike through 2 feet of ice?

Later in the winter we cut holes as big as 3'X4' through over 30" of ice. The holes are started with ice augers and then cut out with an ice saw. A chain saw can also be used. The fish are speared from inside a dark house or shanty which blocks out all outside light. The only illumination is from the big hole in the ice. We run a live minnow or a wood carved decoy to attract the fish into the hole. You can choose to drop the spear to harvest a fish or just watch the fish in their natural habitat. I was out today and so far the ice varies from 4"-8". I speared one northern pike for eating and watched a lot of big bass come through that were checking out an 8" decoy minnow (live sucker). It's like watching a big screen TV of underwater life. It is similar to the deer stand waiting for something to come through that is a trophy, just right for eating, or just to watch. I know there are a few practitioners of the sport in AK. A lot more participate in MN and MI.

We can have 5 tip-ups going, per person, at the same time we're spearing. We don't have the bigger fish, they have in the center of the state, but we stuck a 46 incher last year.

That is a nice size fish Watch4bear. Was she fat? I know of a guy up in Bemidji that speared one that length that wieghed almost 35 pounds.

I usually don't place out tip ups while spearing. Here in MN we are allowed two lines for ice fishing. The spear counts for one line so one one tip up can be used outside the dark house.

Do you have some favorite decoys to use up there or is it mostly live bait.

No live bait. I rigged a cb antenna, that, when we get a breeze, it moves the deek. 35 pounds, wow! Good fishing.

I tried it a couple weeks ago here in MT. The only thing I caught was a buzz.