Ice jigger

Lore & Background

The ice jigger consists of a slotted wooden board that floats under the ice surface and two levers connected in such a way that when a rope connected to one lever (arm) is pulled, the second lever (leg) jabs into the ice and pushes against the ice to move the board in the direction opposite to the rope pull. After each pull a spring resets the arm, and the action is repeated. In this way a person by an ice hole propels the jigger away. If the ice is transparent enough, one just makes another hole over the jigger when it moves far away. Otherwise the progress of the jigger may be monitored by the tapping noise of the jigger's leg. After that the jigger is pulled out of the second hole, together with the rope, and the net may be stretched under the ice using the rope from one hole to another.

Reader's Guide

The ice jigger's simple and effective design remained basically unchanged since its invention. It allowed indigenous fishermen of Canada to efficiently set nets under ice without needing to cut long channels. The device was later adapted by Colorado fishery biologists, who used a radio transmitter to locate the jigger under heavy ice cover, as described by Imler in 1971. Its significance lies in its enduring practicality for ice fishing, demonstrating an ingenious solution to a challenging environmental condition.

Did You Know?

• The ice jigger was invented by indigenous fishermen of Canada in the early 1900s.
• The jigger moves under the ice by a leg that jabs into the ice when a rope is pulled.
• A spring resets the arm after each pull, allowing repeated propulsion.
• Under heavy ice, a radio transmitter was used to locate the jigger, as described by Imler in 1971.