Ground blind for portable fish-house

[flyfisher03]

Anyone use a ground blind as a portable fish-house?

Thoughts on pros or cons of the idea.

[coombia21]

There really isnt any cons.(depending on the blind) Using a ground blind as a fish house is the same thing as using one of clams pop-up shelters. It is also free if you already have a blind.

[PerchJerker]

I think the thing to watch for is making sure you can anchor it to the ice / snow some way -- not too important if it's not windy, but watch out on the windy days! Good luck.

[Gus]

if you are just looking to take the edge off and get out of "most" of the wind, they are fine. I've used one in a pinch, and the biggest thing to remember is ground blinds have shooting windows! Most don't close up tight like a hub style fish house so you'll be losing heat and letting in wind. Better than no shelter on some days!

[reinhard1]

i have had the flip up type for years but my brother had an old tent type with all the poles for years until the last two years when he broke down and got a flip up. however i am thinking about getting on of the cheap blinds for getting into hard to get to lakes up north, were foot travel is required. they are light and easy to transport and would be great to use for one person. however unless its calm out there snow is a must. shovel a generous amount all around the shelter and it should be no problem. good luck.

[JimBuck]

I have been looking for something like this to hit the market. I like the idea of 360 degree shooting windows on a pop-up fish house for watching tip-ups etc. As others have said, wind leaking might be an issue but on decent days I'm sure it would work just fine.

[flyfisher03]

I wonder if to cut down on the draft if a guy could use some velcro and some clear vinyl on the inside of the shooting windows.

[chris63]

Anyone use a portable fishouse for a ground blind?c63

[MinnGuy]

A ground blind works great when we trek into the Boundary Waters to ice fish. Since you have to carry all your equipment in, the light weight is nice. Don't expect more than a wind break. But then again, you're ice fishing so you are ready for the cold.

[cwebs]

I have been using my ground blind for three years and it works great so long as you tie it down. I have chased it across the ice befor!

[KG243]

The only thing I would worry about is that I think there is a law that you have to have some type of reflective material marking all the corners.

[flyfisher03]

I think the reflective tape is needed if it isn't occupied at night.

[LightningBG]

I would be worried about wind. I dont think my ground blind could handle some of the winds my quickfish fights off. I guess it depends on what ground blind you have. A lot of the hub style shelters aren't very expensive, $150 or so I think.

[FasterThanYou23]

Ive watched my buddy chase his across the lake on a windy day!

[bikeoutback]

I bought a cheap $99 ground blind to use ice fishing. The additional downsides to it than what has already been mentioned:

1. The flap on bottom was only an inch or two vs. my ice house has a 6 inch flap for slushing it down.

2. The door was just a zipper on the corner, what a pain to get in and out with the winter gear and to get buckets and bait in after it was set up.

[Ben_Fish_Catchin]

This is a project i've often thought of pursuing.. until getting the QF6. If you want to use the ground blind for fishing get yourself any thick fabric that can be used to stitch securely around the base. If its a hub system be sure to use a rigid stainless metal for stake eyelets at all hub corners and cut through the side hub points to add additional vertical eyelets to tie additional rope anchors on windier days. 360 degree windows are awesome for an ice house. Get yourself some lexan or plexi material and cut some windows larger than the openings that you can adhere velcro around the perimeter of them and the window opening. Amongst other recommendations - be sure to spray camp-dry over the whole thing and bar soap the zippers so they dont freeze you in. Oh, and for ice anchors; make sure to get screw in with a tapered end and a loop handle on top so you can screw them in easy and attach rope when it's windy. Reflective tape on each side and you should have yourself a badass little custom.