New ice house question

[Fishin Fun]

Purchased a new Ice Castle fish house this year. I really like it because it sits directly on the ice and I don't have to worry about banking the sides of the house with snow. The issue I'm having is that after a couple of days of fishing in the same spot when I have to drill out the holes, I seem to pull a lot water up with the ice auger because the holes are not completely frozen shut. The sides of the hole are frozen in making the hole narrower, but the center is not frozen. Therefore when I'm drilling the holes, a lot of water comes into the house and floods the floor. Do you guys put a 4x4 piece of wood under the house to keep it higher off the ice? I thought about that, but then my holes will freeze when I'm fishing. Unless I buy those tubes to put in the holes. Just looking for some ideas. Thanks!

[adamr]

lift the house up when you drill.

[ice_it_06]

Never had that problem myself.

Drill slower and don't pull out fast with auger rotating.

I keep a "Mora" hand auger in house for re opening needs.

Quick, easy and no power auger needed.

[mediocrates67]

i usually keep the house on landscaping timbers so it doesn't freeze down and because of your problem with water.

also it helps to keep the holes open as much as you can or keep the heat on. then if they get frozen up it's not terribly thick and you can use an ice spear.

[ICE_TEAM_DREAMER]

Fishin, congrats on your new purchase. I would love to have a wheel house. Anyway, even though you can set it directly on the ice, if you leave it out unattended for even a short time, you run the risk of having the wind swirl the water around in the open holes and next thing you know your house looks like a giant bobber. I always set my house on a couple 2x4 and always bank it. Always. That in itself should help keep your holes open alot longer. Just my 2 cents

[SomethingFishy*]

I set my wheel house on 12" lengths of 4x4 as it helps prevent any flooding and works perfect for the shorter hole sleeves from fishhousesupply. It also makes it easier as you don't have to break the house free. We just bank snow around the house once it's dropped. The 4x4's are easy to pop out when your ready to go with your chisel, typically only takes acouple wacks.

[JeffS]

Definitely prop your house up with something. We use 1 ft. long 4x4 scraps on our wheelhouse. This is to help keep water out of the house when we re-drill the holes and to keep the house from freezing to the ice. I have seen a plastic tub that fits over the openings for the holes. It's hollow in the middle so when you drill out your holes any water that comes up with the auger gets caught in the tub. Unless you see one, it's kind of hard to describe.

[Fishin Fun]

Picked up some 4x4 pieces to put under the house today. I think that will cure my problems. Thanks guys!