Ice Fishing House

Add some luxury to the hard water

An ice fishing house is something that can make a good day on the hard water, great! It can be the difference between a short day and a long day on the ice. Set it up, drill some holes start a fire, and your day is set. There is nothing like being in an ice fishing house on a cold day with the fire burning in the hot stove.

Good fishing action in the comfort of an ice fishing shack is an enjoyable experience. There are some things to consider however before buying or building one.

An ice fishing house needs to reflect the way it is going to be used. How many folks will be fishing in it? Do you want a permanent location over the winter or is your strategy to be able to pack up and move it between locations? How heavy is it? How will you transport it?

A beautiful thing about an ice fishing shelter is they don’t have to be pretty. Chances are the queen won’t be dropping by to catch a crappie! Often an ice fishing shelter can be built with plywood ready for the scrap pile. A few hinges here and there with a good tarp or canvas, and you have an ice fishing house ready for action.

Now, not to suggest that you need to raid your neighbors yard for some plywood. There is some excellent ice fishing house packages available online or at your local lumber yard. Some ice fishing shelters come pre-built and others are simply blueprints for you to follow. Take your time, and make sure you consider all the elements before you build or buy.

If you are looking at portability, there are a number of options for an ice fishing house that can be made out of light materials such as hard plastic. Wood or aluminum, while sturdy, may not be the best base for your ice fishing house if you are looking for portability. Many portable ice fishing shelters can be purchased for under $300.

Good portable ice fishing houses fold up into their own case. They typically are made with a heavy canvas on a wooden frame. Often a chimney is an option to really heat things up in there. Options typically range from 4x6 to 8x8 depending on your needs. You most likely will need a truck or minivan to transport it, whatever the size.

On the higher end, ice fishing houses are now coming on wheels. Trailers turned into ice fishing shacks allow the ice angler to pack up and move quickly if need be. No more sitting in one place waiting for the fish to come to you. Portability is a key many anglers are getting creative with.

You don’t necessarily need a wood burning stove to keep heated, especially in a smaller ice fishing shelter. Often a propane run heater is enough to keep the cold out. Although not as warm as a wood burning stove, these heaters certainly take the bite out of the cold!

There is a wide variety of ice fishing shelters available today. Depending on your requirements, they come in a number of shapes and sizes. When it comes to homemade ice fishing houses, the only thing holding you back is your imagination. Some have sleeping lofts and kitchens, and if that’s not enough, picture windows and siding are common to see.

If you are dragging your ice fishing house onto the lake you want to make sure that there is a good base of ice to do so. Walking on ice requires 4 inches, so driving a truck and supporting an ice house takes considerably more. The general rule of thumb is 10 to 12 inches of good clear ice to drive your truck onto the ice. Snowmobiles and ATV’s require about six inches of good clear ice. Be careful out there; make sure you check your local ice conditions before you go out. Ice fishing safety is something not to be taken for granted.

Do your homework. Think about the conditions you will be fishing. An ice fishing shack is a luxury on a cold day, and one that can improve the ice fishing experience greatly. Shop around and get the one that is right for you! Those fish won’t know what hit them!

Good luck out there!