Pond Boss Forums AERATION Should I aerate? aerate all winter?

Homer - Guys that don't ice fish check thickness with a portable drill and a long bit. Once ice gets over 12" thick you will probably need a bit extension. I used to check ice thickness with an Ice spud (long handled chisel) with a blade about 2" wide. It's a lot of extra work getting through 8" to 12" of ice with a spud.

I now check ice thickness with my manual ice auger. New ice fishing augers have two cutting bits; one on each side of the spiral. For examples check on eBay.com for styles and prices in the fishing section. These bits are razor sharp and can drill through 8" of ice in about 15-20 seconds. There is also an auger out now that is called lazor style which has a little larger bits and cuts a little faster & abt $10 more. Auger diameters come in 3", 4", 5", 6" 7" 8"; most common style is 6"& cost abt $32-$45. Ice augers are sold in sporting goods stores, Dicks, Gander Mountain, Cabelas, & WalMart.

Get your self an auger and do some ice fishing for those bgills. They bite good under the ice and I have caught the occassional catfish while ice fishing. Good baits are waxworms, spikes, moussies, 2 lb test line on a small ice rod w/ a tiny float bobber or spring bobber (WalMart). Fish close to the bottom & 6" to 12" off the bottom in the deeperst part of the pond. As long as you are catching fish there you know oxygen is still there in the deep part. Its like having an oxygen meter as long as the fish bite.