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Any ways to keep holes open?

sonoranhope

By sonoranhope
in Ice Fishing

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sonoranhope Apprentice

sonoranhope

Posted
Posted

I was wondering the best way to keep our holes "fairly" open in permanent ice houses? Seems every time I come out I need to slightly chip away a thin layer of ice from my holes, and now the 8" hole is slowly becoming smaller and smaller. What are some ideas, besides using a chipper? Air Bladders? Tin funnels? What works for you all?

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Grant Proficient

Grant

Posted
Posted

only have a portable myself, but I've heard of some guys tethering a decoy sucker just below the water surface... the swimming will keep the hole open.... unless its freaky cold. this may count as an unattended line however? someone else would have to run with that one.

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tunrevir Veteran

tunrevir

Posted
Posted

Years ago, the old timers would use a piece of stove pipe capped off on the end and push it down the hole. To reopen the hole they would light newspaper and drop it in the pipe and in a few seconds the hole was open and ready to fish. The ashes were contained in the pipe. Sure sounds alot more complicated then just opening the holes again with an auger.

Tunrevir~

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L_Cappo Proficient

L_Cappo

Posted
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if you do not leave your heat on the holes will freeze.if you leave and come back the next day your your holes should ok still( depending on the weather) and how good your house is banked.the holes will freeze from the sides 1st.but over time you will have to drill out those holes.

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eyebjim Mentor

eyebjim

Posted
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I had this problem up on mille lacs last year. There was no snow to bank with and with 30 mph winds it was really hard to keep your holes open. I make up a forced air recirculation system that took heat from the top of the fish house and thru a 2 inch tube forced it to the floor set it up so the tube is held into the hole and pointing at the water. It actually will grow the size of a hole a little when it is very cold out. I used a faster fan than needed so I wouldn't have to bank. It worked very good and had no frozen hole the rest of the winter. I did have a couple 8 inch hole grow to about 10 or 12. I can provide photos but I have to get to the house to take them so it may be a day or so. Basically I made a box out of 1/4 inch plywood that was about 6 in by 6 inch by 4 inch high. I cut a hole in the top for a square 5x5 fan to mount (you may want to go with a 4x4 fan). I then used a hole saw to drill four 2 inch holes in the bottom. I then went to menards and got two 20 foot 2 inch drainage tube (looks like vacuum cleaner hose) for $4 dollars each and fit the end peices that come with them into the holes in the box and mounted the tubes to them. I then routed the tubes around the house to go to each hole and used conduit clamps to mount it to the walls. I used a hanger and shaped it to hold the tube at the hole facing the water. In all it cost about 20 or $25 to make and works wonders. I have hole sleeves. I am not sure how well it would work if you did not have hole sleeves I think it would work good but not as good.

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Northlander Grand Master

Northlander

Posted
Posted

Try a minnow bubbler in the hole. Or a can small coffee can full of charcoal with just a couple small holes in the side of the can next to the hole. It will melt some ice and keep warm water dripping into your hole. If it dont work put it closer.

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eyebjim Mentor

eyebjim

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St master sell the same type thing that is called the heat pump. I bought one and it works really too good for inside the perm. It is better for tip ups. I woke up after a night with it in my hole and the hole was about 4 feet in diameter. It was a bit scary.

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tisosy11 Veteran

tisosy11

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Posted

If you are fishing outside in the elements you can use a dark painted ping pong ball. This works when its not rediculous cold out.

Also I saw a guy use a hand made wood box with plexiglass on it so he could see his bobber. The top had a hole for his line and then he had a candle in there to warm the area. Seemed to work great.

Inside of a portable you would have to bank your house in really well and that should help. Drill a couple extra holes and use the ice shavings if there isn't any snow...

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ib_jigged Community Regular

ib_jigged

Posted
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Buy her diamonds! Oh, wrong subject. If you are in the house, small computer fans mounted high pointing down will move some of the warmer air back down towards the floor. I have seen some that have some lights that are mounted just above the holes that also heat up little.

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ZOOM Enthusiast

ZOOM

Posted
Posted

 Originally Posted By: ib_jigged
Buy her diamonds!

LOL!!!!! \:D I have heard of some people useing a icecream pail stuck down in the hole or a bucket the same size as the hole. I don't know if that works or not but I have heard of it. I just chip mine out until the hole gets to small than re drill. good luck!!!

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MNcanepole Explorer

MNcanepole

Posted
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About 20 years ago I was at the Park Rapids fishing contest. It was 30 plus below zero that day,actual tempature. A guy next to me had a 2 pound metal coffee can with a role of TP that he had pre-soaked with a bottle of HEET. He drilled a 2nd hole partically into the first one just to where the water came into the 2nd hole. He then set the can in the 2nd hole and lit the TP. After a few minutes it started circulating the water between the two holes, it kept the hole opened and he also used it to warm up his hands. I beleive it lasted the whole time. I've never tryed it because I'm usually inside fishing but I thought it worked pretty nice for outside fishing.After you put the bottle of HEET in the can with the TP keep the plastic lid on the can till your ready to use it.

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Tom7227 Grand Master

Tom7227

Posted
Posted

Go to Northern Tool and get one of those jobberdos that you use to burn brush and stuff. Torch with about a 3 foot extension on it. The entire house will warm up fast, you can heat up a hole in about 2 seconds, and then still be able to kill all the ants marching across you deck in the summer.

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sonoranhope Apprentice

sonoranhope

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Thanks for the replies and the great ideas. unfortunately I am not one to EVER leave ANYTHING of value in my shack, nor do I lock the thing. My idea is, if its locked there is something of value in it, thus they will likely get the door busted to see what someone is hiding. I did a google search and found these really cool things I may try to make myself....

Picture1.jpg

Kinda like the "old-timer" ways...

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