How to keep holes from freezing up??

[jcpmn82]

When ice fishing without a ice house, what's the best way to keep your holes from freezing up? I've heard minnow air bubblers, hole warmers, covers, etc. etc.???

[stumper]

Every couple minutes ,take your skimmer and clean the slush/ice from the hole.This will keep it from freezing shut.

[BobT]

I haven't had any trouble at all so far this year.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[wishing for walleyes]

Take a coffee can with charcoal in it.Make a auger hole 1-1 1/2 inches deep right next to your fishing hole.Make a trench connecting the two holes.That will keep your hole open for as long as the charcoal burns.Put a couple of holes in the coffee can just above the water level to allow air for the charcoal to burn.

[walleyeslayr]

Take a coffee can with charcoal in it.Make a auger hole 1-1 1/2 inches deep right next to your fishing hole.Make a trench connecting the two holes.That will keep your hole open for as long as the charcoal burns.Put a couple of holes in the coffee can just above the water level to allow air for the charcoal to burn.

I like that idea!

[JigginIsLife]

I have heard a couple things done in my day such as paint a pingpong ball black and let it float around your hole or keep a heater near the holes with a little pile of snowin front of it and let the warm water drain in

[Northlander]

Minnow bubbler is easiest and works great.

[pulleye16]

Coffee can with charcoal works great with open ice fishing. If you ever fish in those large ice fishing contests, you'll see tons of people using this technique. I've posted a thread like this before a someone suggested using those "floating pucks" people use to add life to thier decoy spread for duck hunting. Not sure what its called but its shaped like a puck and shakes and vibrates...haven't tried it yet,but good idea to keep the water moving and hopefully keep it from freezing (it'll even jig your bobber too)

[deadeye]

There was a ton of people doing the coffee can trick up a brainerd. It looked like it worked sweet.

For me its the big dipper.

[waterbound]

I've never actually tried using a minnow bubbler but I have drilled holes into air bubbles in the ice and occasionally a few bubbles would float up and it kept my hole open great. Otherwise I would just use a scoop to keep it clean.

[fishingalex]

I've had success with the coffee can down to -20 on a windy day. Just make sure you put it upwind if you are bobber fishing otherwise you will be losing a lot of hooks on the bottom of the lake!

[CRAZYEYES]

I heard prestone antifreeze works pretty well! Just kidding, DONT USE ANTIFREEZE. As long as its not to cold the bubbler works but otherwise I just scoop. Its rare to catch me out there without my protable and a suflower these days, Unless I absolutely have to I dont go without it.

[jcpmn82]

Every couple minutes ,take your skimmer and clean the slush/ice from the hole.This will keep it from freezing shut.

There's always gotta be at least one as ........

[jcpmn82]

Anyone ever use the hole warmers????

[merkman]

Catch more fish!!!! lol

[backlash 1]

If you do use the coffee can trick, please dispose of the coals properly when you're done. Unbelievable how many just dump them on the ice after the contest.

[ddsbyday]

If you can find a coffee can, make a hole in the bottom and coil copper tubing in it. You need an intake from the hole and a down spout squirting back in to the hole. Put some charcoal in it. (light it) You have just made a coffee perculator that will keep your hole open. The hardest part is finding a coffee can nowdays. This doesn't work with plastics

[crappiekid]

Cant believe nobodys mentioned putting buddy heater in front of the hole>??????

[dil]

I know this thread had been dead for a while, but I will second the coffee can idea. They are not hard to find if you ask at a school, they often get fruit in metal cans. I asked and got 20 cans in about 3 days. I host a huge party for the Brainerd tournament and now all my guest will have a coffee can ready to go on tournament day!