What do you guys like to use as an ice scoop for under ice trapping? I heard of someone using a shovel with holes drilled in it. I suppose that could work, but then it's more to carry. I started the year with a traditional plastic ice fishing scoop, but the head snapped off almost right away. Then I bought an extendable metal ice fishing scoop but accidentally snapped that in 1/2. I finished the season using the bottom half of that. It worked so-so. I don't use a chain saw though sometimes I think that might make life easier for water trapping under ice.

I have an old school steel ice fishing scoop...works well, I think its about 4" around

Same as Keets

I have an aluminum ended shovel with holes in it for the little under ice I'm trying to learn. It's big but up here it can be very helpful to have that strapped to the machine with the snow and slush we have.

Osky

I carry a plastic shovel so I can get to the ice and it helps me out when I get the snowmobile or wheeler stuck. I cut my holes with a chainsaw and remove whatever ice and snow that falls back into the hole with the shovel or my fingers. As you can see, quite a bit of debris fell back in this hole after I uncovered it to get to my catch. The shovel clears it right up.

Cut a plastic !/2 gal milk,bleach etc jug into a scoop shape and cut some holes in the bottom. Cheap, and works great!

Big Dipper Ice Scoop

You don't need one for setting if you use a chainsaw.
When checking with the chisel,if your going to re set,your snowshovel will work fine.

My trapping partner at the time made up the hardhat scoop,( in foreground) was the best one I have ever used and tried them all over many years. I primarily used a scoop shovel with holes which served when covering up the set to keep it from freezing the set in. We trapped when it could get to -40, not by choice just happened , so covering was a must.

Good safety tip there Boco, wearing your PFD when beaver ice trapping, and making sure it is zipped up when you are around the zone of " the dead mans knock"

When you are drilling holes use one of those tappered self tapping drill bits what go from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inch, get a used plastic grain shovel because when they freeze just a tap breaks the ice off.

If Rally Hess ever gets over to a Wisc, convention make sure you sit through one of his beaver ice capades shows