Alternative ways to bank your portable?

[slick2526]

In my own opinion having to bank your portable every time you want to get up and move is a big pain. I seldom bank my portable until its 10 degrees out and below.

Lately with the weather we have been having I don't have any other option if I dont want my hole freeze. I dont mind getting out and looking for fish in the cold but hole hopping really starts to suck having to re-bank the house everytime you want to move. Also now on most of the lakes in this area using slush is the only option we have and that isn't a good one at all.

So as the topic says. Have you figured out a alternative way to keep the skirt down on your house? This extra weight issue isnt that big of a deal to me because I am either using my truck or wheeler with my house. I was thinking either a sewn in length of chain or some type of small sand bags?

Open to any suggestions. thanks

P.S. This fish house has really caught my eye now because of this reason. Wish otter and clam would come out with something insulated like this.

http://www.shappell.com/iceshelters/bayrunnersledcabin.html

[Northlander]

I use some of Jay Soderblooms "Snakors". Reeds also had some very nice snakor stype deals that I have that are waterproof. When pulling with any motor vehicle that's what I use and no issues with the aprons freezing in.

I will talk to the brains at Otter and see if this is a idea they want to pursue. Could make them out of their cover canvas.

In a pinch you could get some heavy garbage bags and put DRY sand in them and make them about a pound a piece. Heck maybe even some pieces of PVC with some sand in them and make them about 16" long and spread them out on the apron? Just glue some end caps once filled.

[Might_B_A_Pike]

someone at the portable mod gettogether a few years back had some type of long rubber mat attached to the canvas flaps of his portable. seemed heavy enough to keep it down with no snow on top.

[Blackhawkxp]

This got me thinking and i might see if we have some old fire hose laying around at the hall that didn't pass pressure testing. I think it would be heavy enough to hold the flap down but not too heavy to take with?

[Down2Earth]

Decoy weights are what I used on my old one. Bend them out flat and bolt them to the canvas.

[magic_minnow]

old beach towels. doubles as hand towels!

[IcePro]

If the skirt of the house has a hem you can insert a 1"x2" into the hem or any other item you might have that will add weight.

People have also inserted chain and attached into place.

[slick2526]

I use some of Jay Soderblooms "Snakors". Reeds also had some very nice snakor stype deals that I have that are waterproof. When pulling with any motor vehicle that's what I use and no issues with the aprons freezing in.

I will talk to the brains at Otter and see if this is a idea they want to pursue. Could make them out of their cover canvas.

In a pinch you could get some heavy garbage bags and put DRY sand in them and make them about a pound a piece. Heck maybe even some pieces of PVC with some sand in them and make them about 16" long and spread them out on the apron? Just glue some end caps once filled.

I will have to take a look at those snakors. I really like the idea of the pvc with sand also! you cut to length what ever you wanted. I will have to pay attention closely when I decide to buy a new sled type portable. I want something with a sewn hem as mentioned. I think i would like to have a heavy duty zipper sewn in on the end to be able to insert and remove what ever I am using for weight with ease.

[slick2526]

This got me thinking and i might see if we have some old fire hose laying around at the hall that didn't pass pressure testing. I think it would be heavy enough to hold the flap down but not too heavy to take with?

If you get around to it let me know how the fire hose idea works out.

[slick2526]

Decoy weights are what I used on my old one. Bend them out flat and bolt them to the canvas.

did you have any problems with the weights freezing to the ice? That kind of worries me about using metal but I like the idea.

[slick2526]

If the skirt of the house has a hem you can insert a 1"x2" into the hem or any other item you might have that will add weight.

People have also inserted chain and attached into place.

I am kind of questioning my chain idea. I think I would be worried about it being more prone to freezing down quicker then something not metal.

[minnesotathorn]

I also use the soderbloom snakors. 2 of them on my flip over & 4 on my pop-up. they are sort of heavy & long so storing them is a minus but they work great. I did not overfill mine so I can bend them around the corners. I also used silica sand as it is dry. regular sand has enough moisture so it will freeze.

[dfeste]

I just throw a length of heavy chain in the box of my wheeler. It's not sewn in so I just lay it on top of the skirt. No freezing and seems to work well. Same concept as the Snakers just more compact.

[Naturboy]

How about filling an old bicycle inner tube with sand?

[Jdjulik]

I started to use a chain as well, works great, just make sure your hands are dry when you go to move it around after its been out in the cold! Lessons learned haha.

[Down2Earth]

Never a problem. From reading what others are doing the best part about this way is you are not dragging other things along that take up space. here are some pictures. They have been on for over 10 years with no problems.

[slick2526]

thanks down2earth. I like that idea of not having to install and remove every time I am going. I just dont know how crazy I am about drilling through the canvas on a new portable lol

[slick2526]

do you guys think rubber coated chain would work better?

[BoxMN]

Downtoearth, that is perfect, and I have plenty of decoy straps! I am going to do that to mine this weekend. I am also one who is not afraid to drill holes in a new (or old) boat, or new (or old) shack, to get it custom and easier and more fishable Your idea goes along with the "man, why didn't I think of that" category. I bet we see it in new shacks in the future... Thanks!

[Da Biggin]

So I looked into those snakers that have been mentioned and it appears to be a canvas material filled with sand. If that is the case, why not use something like women's leggings and fill with sand or as previously mentioned some type of waterproof tubular material and fill that with the weight of your choice? To be honest I never thought about doing this but after reading these posts it is definitely something I think I going to try. I have a couple of pairs of old Carhartts that I thinks I will rig to be my bags. Great ideas!!!

[stealth3350]

catch fish and lay them along the out side.. win win

[slick2526]

I normally do this but the fish I catch are so big I am worried about there gill plates cutting through my fabric.

[FISHINGURU]

I normally do this but the fish I catch are so big I am worried about there gill plates cutting through my fabric.

^^^ ^^^

These ideas would be sweet for them super cold windy days when he have no snow to bank with even if you wanted too.

I've always just used my gear, my tackle bag on one corner, my otter box on another, maybe a bucket with things in it, unused tip ups, slush scooper, ect.

[slick2526]

Figured I would bring this one back up to the top. Getting a new to me, used house soon. I still havent decided on what idea I like best. its a toss up between the snakors and the decoy weights for sure. I think I am leaning more toward the decoy weight idea since its mounted onto the fabric and its not something I have to put on and take off every time I want to move the house

[Naturboy]

Skis, I use my snow skis when it's really windy. After 3 years I think I have the mounting system perfected by holding the skis on with a bungee cord.

The bungee cord is just hooked on a J hook and in less than a minute they go on or off.