How to prevent your ice fishing hole from freezing

[Remps17]

Looking for ideas to prevent holes from freezing. I mainly fish with tip ups and with these cold temps I would rather stay in my nice warm shack then out clearing ice. I was thinking cutting up some old foam mats and putting them over the hole but not sure how well it would work.

tips and tricks would be helpful.

Thanks

[ghostguy6]

I bought a few of those ice hole covers from Cabela's while they were on sale, I haven't had a chance to try them yet though. FYI they re almost the exact same size as the lid for a standard 5 gal pail. I you glue one onto the lid they make an excellent seat.
https://www.cabelas.ca/product/61273

[CMichaud]

Not sure if it would work but what about a drop or two of vegetable oil?

Not sure if that is permitted mind you

[Half Pickereled]

“Water spitters” I am considering making one or two of these for my camera holes. There’s a few videos of them on YouTube. This one isn’t perfect but I think it’s a start, maybe an upside down cooler mounted over top would help on the colder days. http://youtu.be/Q2wubsd1pRA


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[cschache]

Always wanted to try a heating coil from a cattle waterer, its similer to an engine block heater or a small section of electric heat trace. I have purchased the heat trace and have not yet tried it this year in my shack, i do run a generator for tv and accessories so it will depend on whether or not my honda 2000 will be able to run 6 sections of heat trace for all the holes in my shack. i already have a large steel bucket on my wood stove for hot water and have used that in the past to pour it in the holes periodically to keep them open.

[iliketrout]

I bought one of those 2x2 pieces of pre-instulated tongue and groove subfloor and ripped it down the middle. Then I cut a slot in it for the tip up shaft. Basically a homemade version of that hole cover from Cabelas.

It doesn't prevent the hole from freezing but it delays it, and also blocks blowing snow from drifting in.

[ROA]

If you want to get fancy you could buy a Hotbox. They run a little lantern off propane inside an aluminium box.

[Hunter4ever12]

I bought a couple of these and am going to give them a shot.

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/99450/lakco-ripple-puck-hole-opener

[Mackinaw]

put a couple peices of lite charcoal in a tin can float it in your hole . or a tea lite candle

mack

[Red Bullets]

put a couple peices of lite charcoal in a tin can float it in your hole . or a tea lite candle

mack

Bingo. you win. I was just going to post a similar idea. If a person drills a second hole half way down adjoining the hole for fishing. Float the can in the secondary hole. It would still heat the water in the first hole.

We used to use a cast iron heater that went into our stock water trough. I'd stoke it up with coal and it would keep the water thawed for a few hours...even at very cold temps.

[Sundancefisher]

Adding anything into the water is pollution.

Outside of a heating source and cover nothing else is available.

[happyfisher]

That little puck that vibrates and i dont see how it would pollute anything....

Anyone try it? 30 bucks is kinda steep.....

I think it would break down overtime but is it worth it?

[35 whelen]

i bought one of those 2x2 pieces of pre-instulated tongue and groove subfloor and ripped it down the middle. Then i cut a slot in it for the tip up shaft. Basically a homemade version of that hole cover from cabelas.

It doesn't prevent the hole from freezing but it delays it, and also blocks blowing snow from drifting in.

yes

[cube]

Looking for ideas to prevent holes from freezing. I mainly fish with tip ups and with these cold temps I would rather stay in my nice warm shack then out clearing ice. I was thinking cutting up some old foam mats and putting them over the hole but not sure how well it would work.

tips and tricks would be helpful.

Thanks

I have taken a sheet of Styrofoam SM cut it so the pieces were bigger than my 10" holes (here larger is better for very cold weather) My largest ones are 2'X2'. You can leave them square or cut them round as you prefer. (You can also make them smaller if that works better for you.

I then melted a hole in the center just larger than the shaft of my tip ups, I imagine you could also drill this as well.

Then I cut a slot from the outside to the center hole, again just wider than the shaft of the tip up with a sharp razor knife. Be sure to keep the thin strip of insulation. This leaves you with a key hole if you will in the styrofaom which you can use to slide your tip up in. Then you squeeze the thin strip of insulation back in the slot just about sealing the tip up in.

The Cabelas black ones work ok as well but the Styrofoam SM insulates much better and certainly in very cold weather the SM out performs.

[Talking moose]

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[Talking moose]

Battery powered swim fishy’s... lol.

[WayneChristie]

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I can see a very aggressive pike slamming one of those in the hole. Then you would need a change of underwear as well. :sign0176:

[RavYak]

Foam mats will get the job done. Ghostguy posted a Cabelas version, Fishin Hole sells the HT one.

https://www.thefishinhole.com/index.cfm?action=product&kw=/H-T-ENTERPRISE-INC-/THERMAL-FOAM-HOLE-COVER/&se=28740

Or make your own from some sort of foam. All you need to do is cut a hole just big enough in the center and a slot from one side.

Or buy round insulated tip ups that cover the hole.

[Dave P]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyx3NNbyZZI

[mapleleafman3]

Lakco Puck Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3scZJmf_f2w

[happyfisher]

I asked another guy on this thread...he bought some....said they sucked and a waste of money

[Freedom55]

The best way to keep ice out of your hole is to make sure there is no ice around your hole. Works for me, every time.:)

Free

[Little red riding hood]

Maybe this is stupid, but what about a hand warmer in a zip lock bag?

[Dewey Cox]

Maybe this is stupid, but what about a hand warmer in a zip lock bag?



Hand warmers need oxygen to run.
They will stop working in a sealed bag once they use up all the oxygen.

[Talking moose]

Maybe a small fish tank arerator run off a battery?

[Jigapoolza]

I'm experimenting with the airator . The one I have runs on two D batteries. Tried it once last year with limited success. Going to cold lake on Wednesday and going to try it again.

[tool]

Wait until June, it's generally much easier drilling and the holes freeze over much more slowly.

:sHa_sarcasticlol: