Some are designed to be able to open their own hole. Others you spud a starter

A Spud

Throw away all that junk and do like Hutchy said and get a chainsaw,unless you want to be (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) around all day instead of setting traps.

x2! I usually set 3 snare poles around every feed pile I can find or know of, plus any obvious or known trails in between. Just setting 4 different ponds that is a minimum of 12 different holes to cut through anywhere up to 30" of ice- I will stick with a stihl or jonsered myself.

If you have 6 inches or less of ice I would just use a spud. I don't break out the chainsaw for thin ice.

I can swing an axe better then a spud....I have a spud, it's heavy and can't get the job done for me like an axe...jmo
If your remote on foot like me, I'm not dragging a spud for a mile....chainsaw sounds best if your walk is close or on a snow machine.
Or wait till spring

I pull a sled with a spud, axe, trap setter, 330 or 2, 1.5 coils, 1 longs, 110, 120, mink lure, wire, pliers, snares, and depending on the area, 220 and bobcat box. Doesn't take much more to pull and I'm ready for most things I find on the location.

Axe is what i use all year chainsaw can stay home if youre on active runs it never gets to thick

When Boco Is All Jacked-Up On Poutine and Tim Horton's Coffee, He Doesn't Need An Axe, Spud, Or Chainsaw.

He Just Tears Open The Ice With His Bare Hands !!

w

6" of ice was a month ago , it's 12" to 18" now .

Now you have two additional tools to haul around with your chainsaw while trapping. Doesn't make sense to me.

The chances are very good that I'll catch my first under ice beaver in the next few days. In Alabama! Huh?

The fish's ice saw cuts through ice very well. I've used it up to 20" of ice. I've used it for beaver and now the spear shack hole. I tried my chainsaw last year and didn't care for it nearly as much as the ice saw.

You CAN use the ice saw to start the pilot hole...but the blade is somewhat flexible so I've always used a spud to start the hole. If you twist the handle when cutting, your cut will angle quite abit. So making a football shaped hole is pretty easy.

to be fair, the last few years a chainsaw hasn't been needed. We have had lousy weather up here. No cold, thin ice. And close to the house, you could kick a hole open with your foot. I used the chainsaw for a few baited sets though. This year though, it has literally been colder than twenty below for three weeks now. Ice is already thicker than it was all last year. I foresee some chainsawing needed!

one problem is that with an axe you get splashed when you break through the bottom of the ice. That SUX !

Also, in over 40 some years of looking...I have NEVER found a beaver run...where the ice was thin.

I don't think the frozen levels of overflow are prevented from freezing by beaver activity under the initial layer of ice.

Some places you get three layers of ice a few feet thick with water in between.Too messy to set those,leave for seed and go to the next one.
Some just thick shell ice and no water-same thing-leave em and go to the next house.

Boco "Some places you get three layers of ice a few feet thick with water in between" that is about the time I would be finding another winter activity and planning a spring beaver trapping trip!

White has been searching for that next house for 40 years maybe it will be the next one.

Problem is when every house is like that. Long ago I would use an ax for the first 12” or so then finish with a chisel. Now it’s chainsaw with no bar oil.