Keeping holes open???

[dfap2]

Quick question: Has anyone ever used "The Heat Pump" by Strikemaster to keep their fish holes open. If so, how did they work and are they worth the money?

Thanks for the help!

[Outfitter17]

Are you talking keeping them open in your permanent when you are gone or just keeping them open when you are fishing in your portable with the heat off?

[eyebjim]

The heat pump works extremely well. The first time I used it I woke up in the morning to find a 4 foot hole under one corner of the shack. Spooky. You can adjust the angle the water pumps out to change how well it works. I just wouldn't leave it on for too long til you get a sense for how much it will melt or get it adjusted so it doesn't melt, just keeps it open.

[dfap2]

In the permanent. I leave the heat on but the two holes in the way back by the door have a tendancy to freeze up.....even on a cold night when I'm spending the night and I'm all banked up. My fan in the front of the house helps but it runs down the center of the house and the holes are in the corners.

[dfap2]

eyebjim....that was my main concern. I have heard that the holes get way too big and actually put you at a risk. Are they noisy and can you run them for an hour at a time with good results?

[andrew chadwick]

have you tried candles? they seem to work for as long as they stay lit.

[dfap2]

Tried the candles but made a mess and the holes still froze. I am considering running pvc pipe down the edge of the ceiling on each side with a 90 degree angle at the end pointing down to the holes. Then, have a tiny fan blow the warm air into the pvc from the front of the shack to the back down the 90's pointing to the holes from the ceiling. Any thoughts and has anyone ever seen this?

[Draven422]

I haven't tried it, so I don't know if it works, but I've heard that if you put a piece of charcoal near the hole to where the water hits it, it will keep it open.

[eyebjim]

They are not that noisy but I probably wouldn't use it in shallow water for fear of spooking the fish.

[Harmonica Bear]

They work but they definitely make/create too big a hole. I used one in my permanent once...... fans and warm air currents are much safer.