Ice breaking theories?

[TF_NW Cut Angler]

How wide how far out should you break a gap in the ice? How close to the ice should you fish? Which side of the gap sdhould you fish? Broken Ice? should you push it under or scoop it out and place it to one side on top of the existing ice?

Any other theories / experiences of fishing in the ice?

[TF_Fred Davis]

yep using a chain and weight tied to a rope throw the weight out as far as you can comfortably slightly to the left, using the chain to cut through the ice from the point of entry to the near bank around a metre away from the line you intend to cut on the right, do the same on the right of the peg, now you will have a line cut in the ice at least a metre apart either side for what ever metres you have manged to throw out to normally around 9 to 11 metres maybe more, you can either tap with a pole cup to break the ice at the extreme end of the cut ice to cause the ice to break creating a horizontal break between the two cut line or throw the ice breaker straight into the middle of the two cut out lines at the top to create the break either method is dependant on how thick the ice is, as for getting the ice out just slide the broken slabs back under the ice to either left or right of the peg, any small remaining remnants can be netted out with a landing net.

job done

[TF_The Ginger magician]

one thing i have learnt is fish upto the ice but feed a little way back as the ice will/can start to re freeze during the match and all your feed bait will be under it

[two shakes]

Too many different factors to take into account before giving an accurate answer.Obviously the thicker the ice is the harder it will be to break and clear.Personally i like to break out as far as the far side of the track at least,and the width of the hole would again depend on thickness.Some days i’ve broken out to 9 or 10 metres but the holes only been maybe a metre wide,other days i’ve broken holes that are 10 metres long and 6 or 7 metres wide.One thing i will say is NEVER throw your breaker too far out without first checking how thick the ice is,as i’ve seen more than one person unable to retrieve the breaker after realising the ice is too thick to cut with the chain.Best advice i could give anybody is to take there time and pace themselves,and take a few layers of clothing off before starting,it can be back breaking at times,and will leave you with aching limbs,sore hands,and very sweaty,or a combination of all 3.
Test the ice at your feet,if its thin enough to cut then follow Freds directions,if not then start breaking at your feet and work your way out,if you get too tired at least you’ll still be able to fish,and make sure you use an old landing net and handle.I’ve broken ice that is 2 inches thick and have had fish topping in the swim minutes later,so don’t think its a pointless task.

[TF_Waveney One]

I always fish close to the far edge of the ice but in the middle of the strip I have cut. I am sure that the fish feel almost as secure under ice as they do under a bush.

Some good tips here about feeding slightly short of the far edge of the ice and not throwing the breaker out without testing the thickness of the ice first. I lost a perfectly good breaker when I couldn’t get it back and broke the rope!

[Anonymous]

In a perfect world i would want a Y shape cleared of ice to give the best cover but the most areas to target. The furthest two points of the Y shape wants to be around 1 ft wide. I never cut the ice all the the way to the fare bank if i have an island or im fishing on a snake lake. I want around 3ft of ice left tight to the fare bank margins to give the fish plenty of cover. The first 3-4 meters of ice closest to my peg is cleared to give me some open water for playing the fish. I always use an ice breaker that is made from lead in a can and attached to at least 2 meters of chain. The reason being that i want the lead to hit the bottom and color up the water in my swim. I see to many anglers using fuel cans filled with water or life boys to break the ice. They miss out on the added color in there swims in the 1st hour of the match. That 1st hour is often the best time to catch a few fish before the color drops out and the fish switch off. Once the ice is cut. I simply slide the larger pieces under the ice and net the smaller pieces and dump them on the bank. Dragging a large pole cup though the water quickly on the surface will drag the furthest bits of ice close enough to net. I always fish within a few inches of the ice at the furthest points of the Y. Also, at the point v. This allows 3 target areas where the ice is giving the fish plenty of cover. On a few venues. It can also be worth clearing a small channel down the margins. I only do this on venues that produces the odd fish in the near side margins in winter. If the swim starts to freeze up during the match. Move the surface water around with a large pole cup and this will melt the new cat ice. This does not seem to upset the fish to much. The fish are usually under the ice so should not be spooked to much. If there is not enough time to cut a Y shape in the ice. Usually if the ice is very thick. I cut a channel which is not very wide at its furthest point. The more ice thats left in my peg, the better in my opinion. I break the ice as fare as i can reasonably throw it an fish comfortably. Ice breaking is not a race. Im not bothered if im not ready at the all in. I just want the ice cut in a way that gives me the best chance of catching a few fish!

[TF_jono]

best tip i can say is take some sturdy gloves like gardening ones to protect your hands.

if its not too thick then break from the far side first cutting back.

if it is thick then start from the inside working out , like stated on here ive seen many a breaker stuck in the ice!

i like to break the ice a fairly wide channel that gives me a decent area to work the float it there is some tow on the venue.

[TF_MARKHLDAS]

I start close and work my way out and aim for 1mtr wide, once I know my breaker will go through the ice I throw as far as I can about 10 mtrs and work back, placing any slabs underneath that are not broken.

I don’t take my gear to the peg, I wear only 1/2 of my top layers. I always return to the car to warm up (reason for no gear) and normally remove that first layer of clothing cos I’ve sweated. I can then return to my peg warm to set up as normal.

I feed close to the ice and use that as cover, never considered the re-freezing.

I had two great days last winter catching double figures of silvers, a real sense of achievement in adverse conditions.

Really want to get out on Sunday but can’t move my car yet

[Author]

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