Ice Fishing Jigger
 

So, after viewing some youtube videos of 1st Nations and commercial fisherman using a "jigger" to pull a line between 2 distant holes in the ice, I've decided to build one of these ridiculous things.

Here's some videos of what I'm referring to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG1PD7eVwp8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsd3OUvXPgM

Anyone in Calgary interested in getting together to do this?

My tool kit is pretty sparse and one of the key components is a long flat metal bar, so some equipment beyond my cheap table saw and hand tools would be useful.

all you need is a fiddle and a newfie with cleats

I have plank jiggers, stop jiggers, and electric jiggers, The problem is having someone good enough to find if, Heck if you build a good one you should come after christmas and test it out.

The plan is to use it on clear ice.

What is the difference between a plank jigger and a stop jigger?

It has a drum and round wheels, Rubber bands and wind up and release and drives the wheels that kinda look like saw blades

I'd love to see a pic of that stop jigger. All I use is a plank jigger, never heard of the stop jigger. I love seeing new stuff.

Cool chair.

OK I'm curious.
And I have a small shop in the back.

I have heard of commercial fishermen having a dog that would follow the jigger and let the fellow know about where it is so he could locate it and make the hole. (you don't jig to an open hole you jig out the line then cut a hole right in front of the jigger and then advance it into the hole and bring it and the line up)

Painting some bright fluorescent stripes on the jigger will help you to see it through a lot of ice if the ice isn't cloudy. Sometimes you have to use an auger and cut down several inches to hit clear ice, then you can clean out that hole and see through the clear ice to the jigger. Or move your auger a bit and repeat.

I reckon the coldest I have ever been in my life was pulling nets on Pigeon lake at minus 30 something with a bit (or bite) of a wind.

I have all the tools so I can help you out with building that, Beeguy. I didn't get how you would catch fish with that thing. Is that fishing method even legal??

I was hoping to get a better look at the orange vehicle in the background of the second video. That would be awesome on the ice!

When your working your jigger it makes a knocking noise that is quite easy to hear.Thats the old way of finding your jigger.Now a days they use a FM radio transmitter on the jigg and follow it with a radio.They also have trolling motors mounted on the jigg to get them around.

I still like the old stop jigger, not as fast as the electric but very loud and easy to find, I set usually 45-80 nets in 2 days. You get guys 75 yards and augers roaring all around you the fm transmitter is hard. I will post pics of our stop jiggers that my dad made next week when i go to the farm and take a pic of them.

I would be into helping build a few as well

Got a full shop of toys

You net?
I'd think if you do you already have something to pull the line, and if you don't net, why would you need it?

What makes you think I need it?

I just want to make and use one for fun, for interests sake.

If you think about it, there are ways to sport fish with the use of a jigger that are totally legal. You dont have to use a net.

So,

quel probleme?

No problem, good luck. I've built some things I never used myself.
I was just curious, as I can't think of any legal sport fishing ways to use it - need to work on my imagination, I guess

How else am I going to run a rapala crank under the ice?:thinking-006:

Notice all of them use bright colors to help see through the ice. Do not forget about that. Edit: <-- Already been said.

Hint: Carry a 2L bottle of some sort of bucket you can fill from your hole. After clearing the ice of snow pour the water on and it greatly improves visibility into the ice. Especially on cloudy ice. Ive seen them through 4 feet of ice when there are 4 people listening to the ticking and everyone says different spot haha.

Ive also seen the main peice made out of a 2"x6".

Ive thought about making my own to pull cranks but the logistics dont seem worth it. Would take ~10 minutes per "cast." Doesnt mean it can't be made more efficient. I'd like to here how you guys do that!

Good luck!

I can see it now... You could then use it again to collect all the fish stunned by the spectacle :)

What we'll do is tie 2 lengths of mono 100m long to the nose of a taildancer and then take turns running across the lake trolling the good spot at 15' down.

Couldn't find anything in the reg's that made it illegal.