Idea for keeping holes open

[Bothun]

Has anyone tried putting the shake up hand warmers into a ziploc with just enough air to float the bag?

Seems like it might work.

[Marmot]

I haven't thought of that before. I doubt the hand warmer could generate enough heat. It is worth a try.

I am trying to concoct a system to keep the holes open in my permanent house. It is a top secret project as it might be something I could market.

[looneyducer]

Those hand warmers require oxygen. Putting them in a ziplock will make them not work.

[CNCMike]

My uncle uses a deal that is meant for keeping bird baths open. It is designed to sit in a bird bath, you plug it in and it keeps the water from freezing. He sets it in the hole, plugs it in and never has holes ice up. They make them for dog bowls as well so you can get them in various sizes.

[slipperybob]

yes,

you have to give it some air every now and then.

[Deitz Dittrich]

If its a bright enough day, a black ping pong ball does work some...

If its too cold for the black ping pong trick I bring my portable.

[Sutty]

Hmm might be too much extra weight.

Great Idea!

[NyQuiLlama]

I haven't tried it, it might work. I agree that you'd have to give the bag some air from time to time. It all seems a bit tedious.

I use roofing tar paper cut in 12-inch squares to cover holes. For tip-ups you just put a slit to the middle of the square. They keep the holes open on most days.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I've use tin foil balls on sunny days. I spose it works the same way Deitz's ping pong balls work. Reflection of sunlight.

[Chode2235]

I sometimes use a small tea candle next to my hole. You can also create with a coffee can some coiled copper pipe a water heater that will spit hot water into your hole.

I have seen both methods outlined in one of the Hunting and Fishing Library books.

[looneyducer]

The best method I've ever seen requires drilling a very shallow hole (an inch would do it) next to your hole and chipping a small channel between the two. You then place a metal coffee can full of burning charcoal in the shallow hole. The hot water from the shallow hole runs into your ice hole and keeps it ice-free.

It's not exactly effective for hole-hopping though.

[slipperybob]

That just reminded me of somebody putting the heater really close to the hole...next thing we knew, somebody was barbecuing a minnow!

[irishwalleye]

I've usually found that diamonds work the best. Along with random deliveries of a dozen roses.

But then again, you guys are probably talking about ice fishing.

Sorry -- when I saw the subject thread, my mind went straight to the gutter.

[Scott K]

I thought the same thing, but I didnt want to post it

[BKB]

Good stuff right there irish!!!!

[Northlander]

A minnow bubbler set in the hole keeps it open quite a while.

Another one is to take 6-8 ieces of matchlight charcoal and light them up in a small coffee can and make a small hole next to your fishing hole. Put the coffee can/charcoal in the hole and let it burn. Amazing how long that works.

I have also seen guys get fans to move air in the perm and that helps too.

[minnbowhunter]

An oldtimer showed me what he called a "spitter" that worked well for tip up holes. take a coffee can and punch a hole in the bottom edge. get some small diameter copper tube and coil it up so it fits inside the can. 1 end of the tube comes out the hole and tips down into the water, the other end comes out the top of the can and points at the hole. fill the can with charcoal and light it. the coil will heat up and pull the water out of the lake and spit it back into the hole. works kinda like a coffee pot.

[Todd_J]

i've wanted to make something like this but heated by my mr. heater. I have plans to make a closed loop system out of copper tubing, a check valve, and a coil pf tubig running a few laps around a 8 inch ice hole. It is more of a 'proof of concept' project more so than anything else. The last thing i need is another doo-dad to haul out on the ice and take up space in my ice hole. But if it was really effective, might change my mind....

[minnbowhunter]

I hear ya about hauling more stuff out with. I might be a little careful with a closed system, the pressure built up in the line could be dangerous.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

well you dont have to be the head cashier at the walmart to figure this one out guys! just keep catching fish!

[looneyducer]

Walmart has a head cashier?

[Orlip]

Quote:

---

An oldtimer showed me what he called a "spitter" that worked well

---

My mind must be in the gutter also, got this far and right away thought of Irishwalleye's post.

[huntnfish]

I saw a water circulator on the strikemaster site that looked like it might work. I didn't look too close at it but it looked like it just kept the water moving in the hole to keep it from freezing. It might be something to look at if you are having problems in your permanent but I don't think it would be very mobile.

[Kodiak]

i know it is wrong and this post comes up every year but someone always says antifreeze....it is good that someone really hasnt suggested it yet!

[slipperybob]

Quote:

---

i know it is wrong and this post comes up every year but someone always says antifreeze....it is good that someone really hasnt suggested it yet!

---

What a great Idea! I'll just pop open the truck radiator!