Fish House Secrets - 2006 - Chapter 1

[Cottco]

Every year I ask the same question - how do you keep fish house holes from freezing shut - and every year I do a search to find my old thread only to find that I can't find it - how's that for logic!

So I ask you - what's the secret to keeping holes open?

[GatorBait]

The only way I know how to do it isn't feasible to post here so I'd be interested to hear some other options. I don't have much of a problem in my portable cause it's heated, but for tip-ups I've switched over to frabil therm's as they keep the hole open. I jerry-rigged some hole covers for my beaver dams also, similar to what they sell on their site.

[Snake River King]

I heard one time of somebody dumping antifreeze in the hole cause that float to the top, but YOU SHOULD NEVER DO THAT I chews royal butt when talk to that person, you should never ever pour chemicals in the lake

[GatorBait]

Yeah, that's the same thing I've heard of, it used to big back in the day, but people have gotten smarter. I'd rather take the extra 2 secs to scoop the ice out or make laps on the tip-ups every 20mins. Honestly never heard or seen anyother way to do it.

[Hazzard]

[Note from Admin] Please read forum policy before posting again.

[Cottco]

That hole heater would be practical for a day, but it says that by circulation and heat, it makes the lower part of the hole bigger - that might be a bad thing if left "on" overnight.

[Cottco]

GatorBait - you've responded to several of my posts - nice to meet you. I remember a fella named Wiskers responding to previous years post about using black plastic tile pipe, but the details have faded with my memory loss. Would be nice if he and some of the other guides would weigh in on this one. Tight Lines - GatorBait!

[lookin4fish]

i read about a new product call the hotring. you put it in the hole and hook it to a battery to keep it open. i have not seen them just read about them. i bet they will have them at the ice show.

[GatorBait]

That would be called the Krog Hot Ring. Google it, you will find it. Looks nifty.

[Cottco]

No offense, but heat is not the answer to this question. A friction method in keeping the hole open will work, but it may also increase hole size while decreasing ice stability near or under the house.

The answer lies in a method by which a waterless void is created between the top of the ice and the bottom of the ice - kind of like trapping a bug in a jar - HMMMMMM - the old ticker is think'n now!

What if............I have the solution......a collapsable bellow plate - on the same order as an expansion plug - imagine the physics of an umbrella - I amaze myself. Okay people - there's an answer in all of that jabber.

YOUR THOUGHTS????

[jiggin 4 fun]

This is what i use for tip-ups

I make my own "spitters" out of an old coffee

can.

1. Get a empty coffee can and drill a hole near the bottom

and one about an inch from the top

2. Get some 1/4 inch copper and leave about 4-5 inches

straight then wrap around a soup can 4-5 times being careful

not to kink it then cut it off 7-8 inches beyond the last

"coil"

3. Now put your coiled copper in the coffee can fitting the straight pieces through the holes in the can having the longer piece on top

4. Solder the copper to the can and bend down the longer piece of copper on top to a slight angle

5. I also bend up a handle on the side to pick it up when hot

6. To make this work drill a hole next to your tip-up hole

about 2-3 inches deep and chip a channel from hole to hole

7. Throw in some charcoal and this contraption works like a coffee pot by spitting hot water into the hole but not enough to weakin the ice but it doesn't freeze over either

[Boar]

Awsome use of inginuety, I'm pretty sure I understandhow its made, The copper tubing that fits around the soup can is heating water by the charcoal in it an as water heats up it rises through the coil of copper an forceing it into the other hole, the larger coffee can is basicly just support system right? I'd like to see a picture of it. Cool Idea, Thanks boar

[jiggin 4 fun]

Boar you got it

the coffee can just serves as a place to put the

charcoal and keep it dry

very inexpensive to at least give it a try

I've never left the soup can in the larger can

but this might work and you'd use less charcoal

[cold one sd]

You can also put charcoal in a can and drill another hole a couple inches deep a few inches from the one you are fishing in. Chip a trench in the ice between the holes and the water will flow between the holes and keep them open.

[Walterwontfalter]

In the permanent house we've just always kept a small pot of water on top of the furnace. (We've always used converted camper trailers for perms, with small propane space heaters) The water never gets hot enough to boil but is warmer than the lake water. Whenever there is a skim of ice on the hole we pour a little of the water from the pot in the hole, careful not to melt the line and then dip it in the last hole to refil and place it back on the heater.

[chris63]

A legend in your own mind?c63

[Cottco]

Quote:

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A legend in your own mind?c63

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C63....Hmmmm.......where do I know that handle? Keep in mind, I am not the only legend. By the way, how's the ice on your side of the lake?

[Cottco]

Appreciate the responses thus far. Keeping the holes open while in the house hasn't been an issue - being away from the house overnight or several days in a row is when I run onto problems. Heating the water and/or circulating it concerns me from a safety standpoint - especially for long durations. If a bubbler were used, would it work regardless of air temp? I guess that's what the word experiment means - so I will try a few things and let you know.

[luckey]

Back in the old days I saw a guy put a round metal cylinder (one end closed and no ridges) down his hole when he left for the day. He pushed it below the fish house floor and blocked it in place with a couple boards. The next time he went fishing, he dropped a couple pieces of paper in the cylinder and lit them. Whoosh out comes the cylinder and he was fishing in no time.

[Surface Tension]

Quote:

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Every year I ask the same question - how do you keep fish house holes from freezing shut - and every year I do a search to find my old thread only to find that I can't find it - how's that for logic!

So I ask you - what's the secret to keeping holes open?

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I did a quick search, is this the tread you were looking for? Here

[HarryG]

I found a good way to keep the holes open. I posted it, but it was deleted. Send me and email and I will send you a link.

[email protected]

[Bruce Mosher]

I have a great way of keeping the holes open. But I'm still working on the production of it and the marketing. Hopefully It will be out for you next season. It worked great for me last winter. Bruce Mosher