Ice hole ballons - keep hole open.

[bigbite7]

Does anyone know where to purchase the rubber ballons that you put in your hole and blow it up to keep the hole open? I've heard of them but can't find anyplace that would sell them.

[Shack]

The last place I had seen them was Maleens Bait and Tackle in Onamia. They even had the style you tie a bait king bucket to the bottom of one and keep your bait alive during the week when you are not up at shack. They where like a buoy marker, but you blew them up with mouth or air pump. It was at least 4 years ago now. I was there the other day looking around and did not see them. I think they discontinued them for some reason.

They where made out of heavy rubber/felt, like a very nice air mattress. They worked slick. Is this what you where talking about?

Good luck!

[stpauliguy]

Hey big, I knew a couple guys that had these a few years ago, they have not chose to continue to use them. I can find out if they still have them. But, they were very unhappy with them. If I can rememeber correctly, the water would freeze under the balloons around the hole and make the ice real sharp. I guess they cut a ton of lines on the sharp ice. (Couldnt redrill the holes cause sharp edges were formed under ice) Maybe why stopped selling them? But ill see if they still have em.

[slipperybob]

Most people think that ice forms only on the surface. Which in most cases is true as the air is colder than the water temperature. However when it's really cold, ice forms in the water itself and doesn't have to really on the surface exposure. The water crystals start to crystalize and will probably start forming a slush from below the surface. Ice is lighter than water so, it will generally rise to the surface. My eight inch hole became four inches in about four hours.