Probably I should invest in one, tired of checking ice with a machete. Did you guys buy one or make one and any preferences?

Have a chisel and a pick(goes to a point)My father made them both.

I have several spud bars I bought for a very few dollars at estate auctions, along with other tools. The old ones have better steel. Some of the new spud bars bend to easily, which makes them useless for heavy work.

Keith

Mine is made from a 3/4" rebar.

Good question! I’ve built, bought, and used a dozen or more over my lifetime and they all seem great until I’d use them after a while and I’d be thinking of a new design I figured would be better, cut ice like crazy! LOL I’m still searching for the best of the best ice spuds. I will say, these new ice saws are crazy good, cut ice like there's no tomorrow BUT-BUT-BUT you still have to spud a starter hole!

I made my current spud bar. Is 3/4 rebar handle about 5 1/2 ft long. Welded on a 6 inch piece of steel leaf spring for the chisel blade. Welded a short piece of rebar on top end to make T handle. It's a little heavy for some peoples liking. I don't use it to cut hole for trapping. I use it more for testing ice and pushing ice around.
The one I used when I was trapping under ice. Was the kind with wooden baseball bat type hand and steel bar to the flat cutter. That spud was one my father had made. Was lighter and easier to carry around. I cut a lot of hole for fishing and trapping with that spud. We didn't have all the fancy type ice drills like now day.
What ever you decide. Make sure the handle is stiff enough it doesn't vibrate. Even the 3/4 rebar will vibrate funny in your hand if you make the bar to long.
Very annoying.

Mac

I'm thinking of just mounting an old chisel on some steel conduit since it's available and the weight is just enough to give it heaft without being too cumbersome, I could also mount a hook on the other side for retrieval. Ever tried that combo before?

You might get away with 1 inch or bit bigger black iron or old galvanized pipe. Regular conduit unless you talking rigid conduit I think you would be quickly disappointed.
Also the tape they use on hockey sticks can be a nice addition. It really depends on what you want to do and intend to use it.
The ice saws mentioned above had handy. The one I used can chop a hole to start it. I think they work well on a foot or less of ice.
I forgot the ice saw I used are a bit spendy.

Mac

Kids lol, nah one they sold at fleet farm

No I haven’t tried that combo. I’d think the conduit is way to light as is the chisel. I suggest going heavy at the chisel end AND the shaft with a T or ball (I used an old trailer hitch on my last build) at the top but not a hook. If you build one pay attention to the chisel head because some designs are better at cutting than others I found! There is a spud sold by a MN company (Jiffy) that cuts quite well with a 3-step cutting design.

I've chiseled alot of ice with a jiffy, a lot

I am from the school of thought a chisel doesn't need to be overly heavy. Not if one is using it all day.

I use 3/4" conduit on my fishing spear that I use for salmon. Honestly it works really well. Ten foot length for reach, light enough you can carry it around without feeling overwhelmed, and sturdy enough you can put some force behind it.

Might have been able to get a similar wood dowel but the lumberyard hours are less convenient than the hardware store.

Problem here in Cordova is there isn't a road so it's hard to get certain things to town. You can ship it or bring it on the ferry but then you have prices and long waits to worry about.

X2, I would add keep the cutting edge sharp and it will cut fast!

If the ice is 6" or less you can use the saw like a spud and punch through to cut. The can cut a 16" hole in thinner ice. Neighbor builds and sells them. They start around $150 but if you think about not having to cut ice with a chainsaw or spending half a day chiseling a hole it doesn't seem so expensive.

If the ice is only 6 inches I can axe through it, but I do like working smarter not harder if I can help it. Not sure I can justify 150 for an ice saw to myself yet though. Maybe next year once I've paid off my car.

I've made a few, but the green ones they sell at 3 bears work fine and they're less than $50

My current one is a Redneck one piece. Very heavy, but it cuts better than any other I've had. Carrying it all day is a chore.

I'm remembering in highschool using a Pinch Point Bar to test ice on the lake. After about twenty minutes that thing felt like it was eighty pounds.

A friend made one for me out of a chipper knife and it was great. Cut the hole most of the way w/chainsaw and finish w/spud. The same friend borrowed the spud and lost it off his snow machine.

I believe I still have some chipper, blades for ice spuds,