Frozen Fish House

[Foggy]

My house floor is frozen down. Heard about shooting into the perimeter - from the inside - near the skids - to break it free from the ice. I like the idea, but sounds dangerous. Anyone done this. Advice?

Other novel ideas?

[harvey lee]

Years ago I did it with a 30.06. Only my skids were frozen in almost solid. The shot really shattered the ice but I then had to use a chiseled to break it free. So yes it helped a lot. I wa scared as he'll doing it as I was afraid the bullet would ricochet.

[Big Dave2]

That seems awful dangerous. How about a weed burner and a long, heavy bar?

[Ice Shack Baby]

Not a good idea. Start off with opening your hole covers. Turn your heat on high inside. Pour rock salt on the outside and inside of the skids. Drink a few of your favorite beverages and then start breaking away your house. It would be beneficial to find someone that has a railroad jack to get the skids off the ice. Only takes one time to make the mistake of letting your skids freeze into the ice.

[aanderud]

what about a chainsaw? They cut ice pretty dang fast. From the outside, at an angle going under the skids. I don't know, between that and some high heat from the inside to melt that inside edge, it might work.

[leech~~]

I had seen a guy use a gun once, but after all the holes in the ice he had to just chain saw it off anyway. I wouldn't chose the gun thing, but it was interesting to watch.

[B-man715]

Salt, salt, salt...........

If you use guns make sure to put it on Youtube LOL

[JakeJ_Mn]

Salt, chainsaw and highlift jack. Open the holes - turn the heat on high. Get the jack under the skid(drill a few partial holes for the jack if you can't get it under anywhere) for pressure. Chainsaw only as deep as the skid is stuck at an angle. Salt as much as you can around the skid. Wait a little apply pressure to the jack. Take your time. A heavy pointed bar or chiesel can help with the pressure also.

DON'T use a rifle.

[Tom7227]

There has to be a better way than putting a lot of salt in a lake!

[Grum]

I'd stick with the heat, chainsaw, jack & chisel, then give it a push or pull. But avoid the salt as that may come with a fine. If you do decide to shoot the ice make sure you use non-toxic shot, no sense getting a ticket for that while in the back of the ambulance either.

[Jim Almquist]

There has to be a better way than putting a lot of salt in a lake!

My thought exactly!!!

There is enough salt and oil from our vehicles getting on to the ice let alone adding it on purpose.

[Foggy]

Thanks for the tips. I'll post the results later in the week.

[centralmnguy]

I would not recommend shooting the floor...I know a guy that tried that once and it took him at least 6 shots and he had to replace his floor in the end anyways. I also don't think pooring salt all around is a good idea either. Get a couple buddies with some chissels and a chainsaw and start on one end until you can get under it...then use a tow strap and 4x4 and pull the rest out. Heating floor good will help prior. Once you get it going should pop right out. The worst that can happen is you have to replace floor but you more than likely would have to if you shot it out!

[hawkeye43]

You are suppose to shoot around the house on the OUTSIDE of the house. If you shoot straight down it will break the ice about 8" to 10" down. I watched a resort owner do that it. It does make a lot of noise.

[Pleasant]

earlier this winter my 5x8 froze down, I opened all the covers and turn the heat on high over night, took chain saw and cut, like said earlier, at an angle under the skids, screwed some jacking blocks on a couple of the corners, put some pressure on them with a hydraulic jack and it popped right up. It is a pia, but with a little work and patience you can get them loose with out damage

[Bureaucrat]

Been there. Limb ax will bust away a ton of ice and fast. I'd chop around the outside and get a pry bar and a block and lever it out. If that doesn't work, I'd try nudging it with a truck at the corner.

[fsnrod]

You could try a jack hammer around the outside the small electric one,

[solbes]

Agree on not adding salt. Although it is diluted way down by the lake water, once it enters it will never leave.

[motley man]

Run 2 propane heaters inside with fan blowing down at holes, and get it really warm, while you fish outside and chip away around house. Do not use a rifle and shoot around as I know someone that was shot doing that [ ricochet ]. Chainsaw along edge sounds good also. It took us all day once. Always block your house up.

[Foggy]

After doing several searches on the internet…..it was appearing that this was safer than I thought….then your post ^. I didn't really think ricochet to be too big of an issue IF YOU PICK THE RIGHT ANGLE……but I am sorta a chicken. It's too cold to do this today…..but I have been considering to shoot around the perimeter. Figured my 357 rifle would be about right to chisel some ice.

I wish there was better info on this "trick"……so, I'm gonna "stand-down" on shooting the fish house perimeter ice until I know for certain. I plan to keep my eyes and fingers and toes a while longer.

[motley man]

Just beware of where that bullet is going! Homes around lake or vehicle's or anyone outside in that area.

[Northlander]

NO GUNS, NO SALT! Big bars, lots of inside heat and a chain saw and jack. Dont kill anyone or polute the lake because you didnt block your house up enough.

[mwal]

I had a friend that used a .357 along the skids of his fishhouse. It did work ok but not well enough to ever try again. He did not get a ricochet but thinking back he said it was very stupid. He also left his heater on full blast and ran a generator to power fans he laid over the holes to blow air under the house. He over blocked his house ever since as he never wanted to go through that again. I would use heater fans chisel and pry bar and a floor jack under the skid. After reading this I went out and blocked my spear shack up a couple inches it was a good reminder.

Mwal

[Foggy]

I've reloaded and shot guns all my life. I have a steel plate range at my land (good flat, AR500 steel)…..and regularly shoot there. We are adamant about safety and have not had any issues. I do not shoot much jacketed ammo, I shoot mostly lead pistol cartridges and rimfire….and keep a safe distance (and we wear protective gear). I figured using a lead bullet in 357 would allow all the energy to go to the ice and I would not have the jacket to deal with.

Hard to know about the naysayers (or go-for-it guys) on a HSOforum…..

I really believe you can shoot ice - if done correctly. Still…..too many unknowns and not enough info or experiences to do this.

Heat, bars, chisel, chain saw, it is. Still….it's an interesting topic.

I wish Myth Busters would stop by and film an event like this.

[Chad Holst]

I have never frozen a house down, helped get a frozen house out, or watched a house get "unfrozen", so this may be a terrible idea:

If the above methods do not work, which would be easier, and probably safer.... COuldnt you just cut the entire house out:

Attach 2 2x8 to the house, right at the ice level. To stop the house from sinking.

Take a chainsaw and cut a hole 2-3 feet long and about 1 foot wider than your house, in front of the house. These will be the skids to pull the house out of the hole you are about to make.

Hook a chain to the house and a truck. This will be used to keep tention on the house, as you cut, and be ready to drive forward when the house hole is cut.

Cut an angle into the ice, all the way to the water on the leading edge, so the ice easielly slides up the 2x8 runners.

Cut all the way to the water, all the way arounf the house.

Pull the housesicle onto the ice, and drag or trailer it off.

Let ice melt

Learn to block your house next time.

You may want to mark the big swimming pool you just made, so that while your on shore celebrating your victory some poor sap on a fishing trip doesn't try to feed the fish by hand.

I suppose it would look something like this:

(my paint skills are scary good hu?)

Again, i have not ever seen or heard of this, but i would imagine it should work. Basically the same way they pull vehicles off the bottom, without the part where you first sink the item about to be retreived.