Building a Spear House!!

[bassNspear]

This is a artical from MN Darkhouse Assc

Figure "A"

Cut floor plywood either 4x6 or 4x7 and frame 2x2's around outside edges. This will be the bottom and sit on the ice. Next determine side of hole you want and cut it out, saving this piece for your lid to cover hole when not spearing. Make sure you leave an inch or so from back end of "A" se you can hinge the lid

Figure "B"

Finish framing in the bottom with 2x2's and around the hole, leaving 1/2 inch support for your hole lid when you are not spearing.

Figure "E"

This is same size as back wall. Support it with the 1x2's just like in figure "D" and notch out for poles. Then cut your door size as desired, frame and hinge on. Frame your door from the inside so when the shuts, it is flush with outside and resting against 1x2 which should provide lip for door.

Use a 48 inch piano hinge to connect both front and back walls to floor.

The galvanized pipes, 2 of them should be same length as house.

Putting on the canvas can be tricky. Lift up both ends of your house, put your 2 pipes in their slots and tie a noose rope around the house to keep it in place as you put up canvas.

Note: When putting on you canvas, fold it in half lengthwise and mark center with pen or chalk. Mark the exact tip middle for both front and back walls so you can match up with center of canvas. Make sure you have purchased length of canvas long enough to overlap each end several inches. Start stapling from center to either side a foot or two and got to other end doing likewise. Stretch good, doing a few staples front and back, so you get it nice and straight. Stop stapling a foot or so form the bottom so you can fold it down. Put on he 1x2 as shown in figure "C" from front to back and tack down form the inside of the house. This will snug up the canvas.

You can make skirts for each corner bottom and glue them on the outside to keep cold and light out.

It a good idea to measure and see how much canvas you need, but 17 or 18 feet should be enough. Any leftover should be saved for small hole you may make in the canvas later. Just glue a patch on.

For hanging decoys, get an extra piece of the conduit 3 feet long. Get a pair of 72 inch leather boot laces, using one to slide all the way through the pipe and tie each end to the pipes supporting the ends. I use key rings that I have slid form one side to the other. You can also slide front or back on the support pipes. This gives you a lot of ways to move your decoys. You should also get some black electrical tape and wind around your pip to keep glare off.

I also put some cheap carpeting on he floor for warmth and noise reduction.

Also on your spear hole lid, lift it up and put an eye screw underneath in the right-hand corner nearest you. Lift the line and rest it against the back wall. Put another eye screw in the wall, attach a piece of cord to it and tie to lid to keep it from falling shut. When done spearing, untie it leaving cord or leather shoestring attached to eye screw on back wall. You should also have one on top of lid so you lift it up when you get into your house.

When you are ready to leave, you pull out the long pipes on each side, lay diagonally across floor and let back wall come down first, then front side, tuck canvas in and you're ready to leave.

[Central Bassman]

So when are you making me one??

[bassNspear]

ya right

[Pikeslayer]

Do like I did,find an old timer who has one in his yard and ask him about it,maybe he will sell it to you if he likes your attitude.Most fishermen take pride in there shacks and wont sell them to just anybody.The man I bought mine from still has a key and knows where its at!He just dosnt have to do all the work(block it up,bank it with snow,keep the hole open)just go there and enjoy!!

[Wolfpaak]

Hello!!!!

I haven't been on here for about a year now and like what ya have done to the place!!!!

Seperated the spearing off on its own is sweet!

So, I built one of the houses in the plans last year, and the only thing I would suggest is to use black fish house tarp! I tried the brown Wally World plastic tarp and IT DON'T WORK!

Will be checkin in more often!

Later,

Kenny

[Dabignorski]

hey i was just wondering on where i could buy some nice thick black canvas to build one of these at and what would be a price for that piece of canvas??

[Wolfpaak]

Norski,

I think there is a place in [Note from admin: Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.] Can't remember excactly the price they gave me but it was + or - $100.00. didn't go with it as the shipping was a little high at the time and I thought I would try the cheap way first. And was told that mice LOVE the tarp material!

Good Luck!

Later,

Kenny

[Dabignorski]

wow canvas is that hefty of a price...i was hoping it was a little cheaper than that

[bassNspear]

Quote:

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Hello!!!!

I haven't been on here for about a year now and like what ya have done to the place!!!!

Seperated the spearing off on its own is sweet!

---

It was a smart idea. Also, welcome back. I hope you stick around and enjoy the site again. Need anything, shoot me a email.

[Wolfpaak]

Bass,

Thanks for the welcome,

I have WAY too many hobbies and it seems like there are now web sites for them all!!!!

So I check them out before and during the seaon they are in.

SORRY bout putting thr name of the Company in the above post. I forgot! will do better in the future.

That was my response excactlty! that is whay I went with the plastic. $100.00 was with the shipping, $20.00 or so for that. might just go ahead and do it cuz I like the portability of the house!

Later,

Kenny

[bassNspear]

I understand. I just have to follow my rules ya know.

Im glad that your back on the site, and i hope you stick around through the spearing season.