The ice hook

I lucked out and found an ice hook at an antique store over the weekend. The ice hook is used when paddling when the water is partially covered in ice as described in Garret Conovers book "Beyond the Paddle." They were originally used in ice harvesting from about 1890 to 1930. I have one that I got on eBay but have been looking for a second one in case it ends up on the bottom of the lake. I was hoping to find one still on the handle and this one is on the original and is six feet long.

The ice hook is also called a pike pole and a pickeroon and were also used by loggers and firefighters. If this one was used in logging I think it would have been used to move logs that were floating in water, judging by the handle.

I have an old one of those and the metal work from another that needs a handle. I’ll dig it out after breakfast.
Jim

This is what I have. I’ve had the metal bits to make my own pole maybe 40 years but since I found an intact one I haven’t been motivated, perhaps they need a new home. The handle on mine is 4 1/2’ long.




Jim

Now that I have returned to the north I’ll have to keep my eyes open for an ice hook.
I remember some dicey moments crossing ice when my pole or paddle slipped and things moved a bit too quickly.
I’m to slow for that now, but a controlled pull sounds good.

Using ice hooks:

A light weight verson looks like an excellent tool for retrieving a hat that has blown off one’s head before it sinks.

Erica said:

A light weight verson looks like an excellent tool for retrieving a hat that has blown off one’s head before it sinks.

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I have a shepherd’s hook that works well for that and grabbing branches and as a seated pole for pushing on the bottom.
It probably wouldn’t work well on ice though.