Anchoring the Shack

[Ace]

Hey all, just curious how everyone out there anchors their portables? I need some way to keep my Shappell from taking me across the lake...I have seen the screw in type, not too sure if they are intended to be strapped to the shack somehow, screwed inside by your fishing hole, or put right through the floor? How do you tie on the ones that spread out in the hole? Thanks!

[RK]

Hiya -

I just put a couple of small eye bolts (with BIG fender washers) through the back of my tub. Then put small carbiner-type clips the ropes connected to the anchors. Just clip 'em on when you need 'em. Took a 50-cent thrill ride across Lake of the Woods in a Clam once. Never again

cheers,

Rob Kimm

[lunker651]

After chasing my clam once on the ice, I bought a set of screw in type anchor last year. I screw it through the floor and it's been working great.

[metrojoe]

Good reminder, especially this time of year. I'll have to pick up a set of the anchors before this weekend. I've never personally used them, but I have seen them in action and they work well.

[Ace]

Any adverse effects you have experienced or see from drilling through the floor? I guess I don't really see an alternative that would be quite as solid...

[LMITOUT]

drill a hole in the ice behind the sled, put a stick which is longer that the diameter of the hole on the end of a rope (in a 'T' configuration) and put the stick down the hole.

[Hoffer]

I just take the auger and drill 2 holes side by side on the windward side of the fishouse - drill them only 1 inch apart. I then have a tow rope or other rope attached to the portable. I take my ice scoop and fish the rope down one hole and then up through the other. I then tie a granny knot and the fish house isnt going anwywhere. I thought about stakes etc...but I just know I will eventually loose them - and I always have a section of rope attached to the house and an auger with me....so i always have my own "anchor".

[LMITOUT]

Yep, that's a good idea too. I never cared for the screw-in anchors myself.

[Hoffer]

It works well - and "dont cost nothin"

Lunker - if you are out there - nice avatar picture - you should post a bigger picture of that in the Photo section.

[LODFFB]

How does anyone anchor their Clam? I have a 6800 and I open it up and leave the tarp DOWN on a windy day & load all my stuff in it and then put it up.

[harvey lee]

I use two pieces of broom handle with a rope tied at center. I drill a hole through the middle of the wood piece and run it through and then tie in a knot. I also have two eyelets attached to the back of my tub. I drill two holes behind my tub,drop down a S.O.S. into each hole and the put the wood handle down the hole and tie the other end of the rope to the eyelets. The wood handles I cut three inches wider than the size auger I am using.

I can hold the tub and also have some structure down at the same time. Only issue with this method is you do get your hands a little wet. Once the snow is on the lake then this is not needed.

[Scott M]

Well,

I bought HT tackle screw in handle type anchors. The blasted things came without directions, but for a couple bucks I bit. Well, I still haven't figured out how to use them a year later. You drive a hole in the floor and then screw through the ice? I monkeyed with it on the ice and but couldn't get it to cut down into the ice. Are these things worthless? Am I doing it wrong?

[walleyeiceguy]

All Great ideas. thanks for the imput. I haven't had the trouble of chasing my portable yet but I am sure it is comming. I will use some of the ideas you all have listed.

Thanks again.

[Grant]

I'd like to thank you all for the ideas as well- first year on hardwater for me, and this is a subject that I had ahem, "overlooked"... and I think you just saved me from an interesting chase.....

[Duffman]

If I know I'm going to probably need to screw some ice anchors in the ice, I'll bring along my portable hand drill and pop some pilot holes. Takes all the hassle of trying to get those things started in the ice, then I just carabiner the eyelets on my sled to the anchor, no holes in the sled. When it's cold and windy out, the quicker the better, I can get four anchors in the ice by drill in the same time I can do one by hand.

[RK]

Quote:

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and I think you just saved me from an interesting chase.....

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Hehe - if you want to see 'the chase' check out the Ice Follies video on the Fishing the WildSide home page... Good advertisement for ice cleats too. Pretty funny stuff and painfully accurate

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[rooney5150]

Quote:

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Well,

I bought HT tackle screw in handle type anchors. The blasted things came without directions, but for a couple bucks I bit. Well, I still haven't figured out how to use them a year later. You drive a hole in the floor and then screw through the ice? I monkeyed with it on the ice and but couldn't get it to cut down into the ice. Are these things worthless? Am I doing it wrong?

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You've got the right idea, just need to put a little more muscle behind it...

I have a Clam 6800 and use one of the "T-anchors" in each corner of the house: Just drill a hole in each corner and thread them straight down into the ice. Wrists do get a little soar after screwing in the 3rd-4th one though.

Could always bring long lag-bolts with washers and the Dewalt along, but that's just extra hardware to carry.