Another Ice Castle/fish house question

[fishing tech]

I know there are post about some of these questions, but with the site kicking me out every other click it seems I am just going to re ask.

Do try and get your shack right on the ice or block it up. I will take mine home every weekend.

Do you still bank your house, use hole sleeves or both?

Do I have to worry about the shack freezing to the ice?

What length of hole sleeve is ideal?

Do you drill the holes with the shack down? Do you use the slush from the holes to seal up the hole sleeves?

Do you do some scouting before you set the house or do just pick a spot that looks good based on contours and set up?

Thanks for the help.

[B-man715]

If heated, you don't need to block it.

I always use hole sleeves and only bank the outside of the shack if it's cold and windy out (and if I plan to stay there for a half day or more).

For sleeve length, lower your shack on a flat surface and measure what you need, or add the floor thickness with your frame thickness. Then cut to length. A metal snips works well.

I drill with the shack down and use a slush bucket as needed, unless the ice is extremely thick. The problem with drilling with the shack up is that your holes never line up perfectly. You will also have to drill the holes slightly towards the front of the shack to line up best (in most shacks anyways).

As for scouting, I have four TALL sleeves (cut to height) that reach the ice with the shack up. Usually I only use one or two unless I have company.

Hope this helps

[Boar]

offdah,

I set right on the ice.

both sleeves and bank with snow

no, not for the weekend, Im always monitoring for flooding.

I have 9 inch sleeves and have yet to cut them down, i willbut havent yet.

i drill with house half way down and let some of the slsuh stay for a seal

I pick a spot pending reports, and try to get on a contour or inside turn of contour line.

[Fowlmouth]

I like to set mine on 2x4s

[fishing tech]

Thanks guys, There should be no issue with the house freezing to the ice if there is no flooding right?

Anyone use 5 gallon buckets for hole sleeves or should I just buy sleeves that fit the catch covers?

[B-man715]

Buckets sort of work, but you will be much happier with the right sleeves

They are a little spendy but I have yet to break one. They also stack nicely, taking up little room when not in use.

[Fowlmouth]

The glow sleeves are really nice.

[Boar]

buy them on line there cheaper.ive seen them as cheap as 21.99 at fleet, but also on line at 18.99

[fishing tech]

Thanks guys, Do you drill your holes with the sleeves in place? Do you use anything outside the door to step on to try and keep from dragging in extra snow?

[Boar]

yup somekinda snow remover woorks a plalet to kick on or scrape a boort works. sleeves are removable of course, i do.

[B-man715]

Thanks guys, Do you drill your holes with the sleeves in place? Do you use anything outside the door to step on to try and keep from dragging in extra snow?

Drill before putting the sleeves in, or the shavings will just pile up in the shack.

Here is a pic of my "snow on boot removal tool"......... Patent Pending of course

[fishing tech]

Nice, thanks.

[fishing tech]

I am getting a 8x16 LOW with the arctic package. Will the 2 30lb propane tanks last a 3 night stay on URL? I know outside temp and wind will have an effect on this. Just wondering if an extra tank should be brought along or not.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I easily get 3 days out of 1 30# tank when it is really cold. You'll easily be fine.

[fishing tech]

Thanks

[walleye 4 me]

I am looking to build a fish house and have a bunch of 20# tanks but no 30#'s. Do I need to upgrade? Would rather not but have heard the larger tanks hold better pressure for when it is really cold or something like that???

[Boar]

Depends in yur heater size. 20,000 20lb tanks are ok. Anything larger will need 30 lb tanks.

[invadersmn]

I know there are post about some of these questions, but with the site kicking me out every other click it seems I am just going to re ask.

Do try and get your shack right on the ice or block it up. I will take mine home every weekend.

Do you still bank your house, use hole sleeves or both?

Do I have to worry about the shack freezing to the ice?

What length of hole sleeve is ideal?

Do you drill the holes with the shack down? Do you use the slush from the holes to seal up the hole sleeves?

Do you do some scouting before you set the house or do just pick a spot that looks good based on contours and set up?

Thanks for the help.

I am in no way a vet, as my first trip in our Ice Castle was last week, however here is what we did, and it worked well.

- Put the shack right on the Ice. I have Hydraulics and was told no need to block for the weekend trips, unless we have flooding on the ice. They said I should be able to pop this thing out of 1-3 inches of ice. As long as the ice is not adhered to the floor.

- We used both. It was Cold on URL when we were up there, and still had issues with holes freezing up. We are purchasing wheel skirts to help, as our only holes with issues were the ones by the wheels. The other 3 were good, so we hope these skirts will make the difference. So we will skirt, bank, and sleeve.

- We drilled with the house 1/2 down, left majority of the shavings on the ice to help with the seal around the sleeves. I set my house down on the ice, measured the distance from the top of my floor to the ice, I then cut my sleeves about 1 inch less as I plan to always use the slush to seal the last inch or so between the sleeve and the lake.

- We went out with some friends that already picked the spot But I plan on doing the research before hitting the lake, pick a few spots, then when we get to the lake I will pick the finial spot based on traffic on the lake.

[dj2quick35]

I am in no way a vet, as my first trip in our Ice Castle was last week, however here is what we did, and it worked well.

- Put the shack right on the Ice. I have Hydraulics and was told no need to block for the weekend trips, unless we have flooding on the ice. They said I should be able to pop this thing out of 1-3 inches of ice. As long as the ice is not adhered to the floor.

- We used both. It was Cold on URL when we were up there, and still had issues with holes freezing up. We are purchasing wheel skirts to help, as our only holes with issues were the ones by the wheels. The other 3 were good, so we hope these skirts will make the difference. So we will skirt, bank, and sleeve.

- We drilled with the house 1/2 down, left majority of the shavings on the ice to help with the seal around the sleeves. I set my house down on the ice, measured the distance from the top of my floor to the ice, I then cut my sleeves about 1 inch less as I plan to always use the slush to seal the last inch or so between the sleeve and the lake.

- We went out with some friends that already picked the spot But I plan on doing the research before hitting the lake, pick a few spots, then when we get to the lake I will pick the finial spot based on traffic on the lake.

[Drama King]

I have had my IC for just over a year, and I am not saying that my way is right or wrong, but it has worked great for me!

I bought 4x4 blocks to put below each corner of my house. I went with 4x4 blocks because without cutting the hole sleeves down, they are exactly 4 inches above the floor with the house all the way down. When I set my house on the 4x4's the hole sleeves are flush and insulate the house very well!

I drill my holes before I set my house down, leave the slush around the holes, and set my house down afterwards. I then put my hole sleeves in and then clean out the holes. I have had no issues with holes freezing over with this method (Even with no snow to bank the house). I have used way less propane as well. I like the idea of being just off the ice with blocks personally, but thats just me.

I try to get a good idea of depths before I set my house down, because I hate moving my permanent. Try to find some decent structure and a good spot for a few tip-ups outside, and get the cocktails ready

Happy Fishing!

JL

[fishing tech]

Does anyone pre fish when they get to the lake? I mean like URL. When I fish there with my portable I pick a spot based on my lake chip, drill holes and fish each one for maybe 5 minutes. If I catch a walleye right away I set up there. If I don't catch anything in 5 in or less I move on. This has made for great fishing all day long. 20ft up there can be the difference between 100 fish a day and 30.

[mmartin]

I have had my IC for just over a year, and I am not saying that my way is right or wrong, but it has worked great for me!

I bought 4x4 blocks to put below each corner of my house. I went with 4x4 blocks because without cutting the hole sleeves down, they are exactly 4 inches above the floor with the house all the way down. When I set my house on the 4x4's the hole sleeves are flush and insulate the house very well!

I drill my holes before I set my house down, leave the slush around the holes, and set my house down afterwards. I then put my hole sleeves in and then clean out the holes. I have had no issues with holes freezing over with this method (Even with no snow to bank the house). I have used way less propane as well. I like the idea of being just off the ice with blocks personally, but thats just me.

I try to get a good idea of depths before I set my house down, because I hate moving my permanent. Try to find some decent structure and a good spot for a few tip-ups outside, and get the cocktails ready

Happy Fishing!

JL

Who drinks when they are out fishing anyways??

[Redlineracer12]

Do try and get your shack right on the ice or block it up. I will take mine home every weekend.

Do you still bank your house, use hole sleeves or both?

Do I have to worry about the shack freezing to the ice?

What length of hole sleeve is ideal?

Do you drill the holes with the shack down? Do you use the slush from the holes to seal up the hole sleeves?

Do you do some scouting before you set the house or do just pick a spot that looks good based on contours and set up?

I set my house right on the ice. As long as there isn't water on top and the house is heated it will pop right out everytime.

I bank the house, have never needed hole sleeves because I don't stay in one spot for more than one night generally.

I drill with the house at least halfway up and clean the holes with the auger spinning. As mentioned you have to favor the front of the openings in order for the holes to be centered when dropping the house. Easy with an 8" hole, still doable with a 10". Set the house right on the slush rings.

I don't usually scout with the wheelhouse, but there is no reason you couldn't.