Use this tool to cut holes in the ice to catch fish and access drinking water
By Jim Baird | Published Mar 17, 2022 4:00 PM
Fish can serve as a reliable survival food source in winter if you’re near a frozen body of water with stable ice conditions. A frozen lake can give you access to fishing spots not reachable from shore and to beaver lodges too. However, despite all the food (and source of hydration) below the ice, it’s unlikely that you happened to pack an auger or ice chisel in your survival kit. If you’re lucky enough to have an axe, it can do the job at getting you through the ice—but an ice chisel is a faster and more efficient option. An ice chisel can also be an effective key tool for snaring beavers.
If you have the right tools, knowing how to make a simple ice chisel can be very useful—and maybe even life-saving. Here’s how it’s done.
A fixed-blade belt knife, preferably with full tang, is key as it’ll form the “bit” of your chisel. A small folding saw will also make the process a heck of a lot faster. Consider carrying one in your survival kit along with a length of parachute cord, which is important for this process too.
Once the knife is tightly and securely lashed in place, you can head out onto the ice to use the chisel. Start slowly, striking directly downwards with the chisel and periodically removing the snow from the hole with your hand until you’re through. Just make sure you have basic knowledge of ice safety before you venture out and always check the thickness of the ice when in question.
Jim Baird's career in media and filmmaking began in 2008, after he returned home from a five-week canoe expedition in the Arctic Archipelago and wrote his first feature article on the experience. Baird went on to begin filming some of his adventures and started working with Field & Stream in 2009 after cold-calling their editor-in-chief at the magazine's Manhattan offices.
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