Dopey Question

[RebelSS]

OK...for tonights dopey question: (Ya, I admit it) When drilling holes with my auger for my 4 man portable, I mark where the holes go with a penny..then move the shack and drill 'em. How do you do it with a drop down, (or any other) without pulling water and slush into the house?! I've been ice fishing for 20 years, and always wondered that...duh!

[ripstick]

We use to drill the holes and bring the auger up slowly so that it stays in the hole. Seems like you always get a little in the house.

[Boar]

Theres is a neat product that you place over the hole, like a tub with a hole in it for you auger, pull up the auger an the stuff stays in the tub an empty it out side. Boar

[jd524]

Ice Auger Slush Bucket....good investment.

[RebelSS]

Boy, do I feel like a dork...jd524-tell me about the slush bucket. I haven't seen one...readily available? Oh ya, thanks guys! Proves you can "always learn something when you think you know everything".

[T.O.W]

I drill my holes with the house dropped down about six inches from the ice, use an electric so it drills slow enough not to send ice chips all over the floor, clean the holes and then drop the house the rest of the way down. The holes line up pretty well. This may help as long as the drop down house is dropped using winches or hydraulics. And now reading about the Strike Master slush remover it will make it even easier. Good question.

[RebelSS]

T.O.W.: Ohhh...a slush inhaler!!!! Ya, I know what they are. Man, I've gotta slow down on the MGD's and listening to Henley/Eagles and Allan Clarke/Hollies. Time to listen to Minnesota Polkas and watch "Grumpy Old Men". I've actually named my Frabill Ultra-Ice rod and President reel the "Green Hornet"....!!! RIP Walter!

[jd524]

Boy, do I feel like a dork...jd524-tell me about the slush bucket. I haven't seen one...readily available? Oh ya, thanks guys! Proves you can "always learn something when you think you know everything".

It's a rectangular bucket with a hole in the bottom that you put the auger through. The bucket collects the water and ice shavings keeping them off of the floor.

[crothmeier]

i made my own slush bucket with a $4 rubbermaid tote available at any box retialer. works pretty good. i cut a thin pc of plywood to fit the bottom so i can still store stuff in it with the hole cut in it.

[dabaer]

what i have always done with our hydraulic and winch down houses is stand inside the house and drill the holes while the house is still up, i usually spin the auger for a bit in each hole to try to clean out the hole a bit. i then drop the house straight down. do a little bit of cleanin out the holes with a scoop and 5 gallon bucket and then start fishing!(with the house being up you will need an extension on your auger for most of the year.)

[beer batter]

Here's one fish house supply has for sale at $43.

[cold one sd]

I use a Slush Bucket and a Slush Inhaler.

[T.O.W]

Anyone know of a video link to watch the slush bucket in action?

[TV BOY]

I also drill holes with house up then drop it down. Then use the slush inhaler. I love the questions and looks I get with my extension on in December.

Another tip... I take my catch cover sleaves, Flip them upside down over the hole then drill with my extension on. i have an electric auger so the shavings stay inside the sleave. Then use the slush inhaler and a bucket. Late season however the ice will fill a 8" catch cover sleave.

Slush bucket is on the christmas list. I think that would be handy for reopening holes when the house is nice and banked in.

[Glockwinger]

I bought a slush bucket at the ice fishing show last year for less than $43. Very glad I did. Keeps the floor dry. It was at the vendor in the corner by the bathroom that had the wheel houses.

[kwiggy]

Having never been involved in the process of setting up a drop drown, I have always wondered how this gets done. Therefore, I wouldn't call this a dopey question. It's a great question. If anything, you could call it a "slushy" question! Either way, thanks for asking. Now I am a bit smarter and I didn't think that was possible!

[cold one sd]

I used to drop my wheel house about half way down, drill the holes and shovel the shavings out from under it. It always took a bit of adjusting to get the holes lined up when I dropped it the rest of the way. It was kind of hard to get them lined up correctly when I was by myself. Since I got the Slush Bucket and Slush Inhaler I just set it down and drill away. I also have a short handled broom to get any chips that end up on the carpet down the hole. It sure saves some time and mess this way. My next thing is to get a drop hitch on the front so I can leave it hooked to my pickup.