Ice Stopper Antifreeze Solution

[kpd145]

My apologies, I probably should have posted what an ice stopper is for those unfamiliar.  It's kind of a slip bobber thing that you fill with an antifreeze solution then you run your line through to keep your line from freezing in the hole.

Here's a pic and a link to the product.



https://extacklestore.com/winter/Ice%20Stopper.htm

Years ago guys would use oil in the bobber. Some cooking oil. Some used baby oil.

[SirCranksalot]

A.) Cigar tubes are for cigars... and B.) My hole covers are truck tire inner tube pieces for all the reasons you mentioned. Plus they take up zero space and are my favorite price. Flexible solar collectors! 

So..........sometimes a cigar tube is just a cigar tube!?

Do you use the rubber as well as the plywood?

[esox_xtm]

So..........sometimes a cigar tube is just a cigar tube!?

Do you use the rubber as well as the plywood?

YesSir! And these days, just rubber for now but I'm thinkin' about it.

[Light liner]

Im with you on shaking the bait.
When its real cold i use cut pieces from a foam camping bed mat you get from army navy stores. I also think it makes a difference in shallow water on bluebird days keeping the light out.
But the coal paint can idea sounds interesting, especially at night when walleye fishing.
Im going to try that.

[SirCranksalot]

I tried the can trick a couple of years ago but the charcoal burned out within 2-3 hrs, so partial success I suppose.

[Jkoht]

In regards to the charcoal in a can, yes you have to add more charcoal to it if you want more than 3 hours of heat. I use this for tournaments where I can't have a shelter and must sit out on the ice. If you're not careful and put your line over the can you might melt it, but I've never done it.

[Seamonkey84]

Another thing I’ve seen some people do (in videos) is use those battery powered air pumps. They drop the air tube with air stone into the hole to keep the water moving. There’ll be some icing, but it won’t freeze shut, for as long as the batteries hold out lol. Other benefit (according to the guy explaining it) is sometimes the added noise can attract fish, or the slight movement created by the flowing air and water moves the line enough to impart some action on dead/artificial baits. I imagine it wouldn’t take much to get some of those little soft plastics to keep wiggling.

[ActiveTrapChecker]

This... big x2!

I'm out every half hour, 40 minutes checking bait liveliness, ice up, shaken 'em up Boss! And yes, I believe more flags after shaking than if I didn't.

Plus I gotta have something to do besides talk smart, sip tequila and smoke cigars. 

Yes, yes. Be active, check those traps!

[SirCranksalot]

The Ice Stopper stuff is a propylene glycol solution. PG is non-toxic and common uses are as a food additive to retain moisture and cigar humidification (how would I know a thing like that  ). For 10 - 12 bucks you can get a whole quart and mix your own.

As far as putting anything in the water, the Ice Stopper contains probably 99.99% of the solution within the bobber. The bobber might freeze in the hole but you can effectively jig through the bobber because the PG won't freeze.

So where do you buy this stuff? What's it called in the stores?  I might give it a shot. I love messin' about trying to see what works best.

[esox_xtm]

I've bought it at a drugstore but it was almost twice as much as I could find it for on Amazon. I keep a bottle around for the cigar humidor. PG is also a component in vaping liquids. Buying for specialized applications raises the price significantly.

It just occurred to me that glycerin/glycerol is also a non-toxic additive with antifreeze properties.

Best price liter/quart: https://smile.amazon.com/Propylene-Glycol-Kosher-Grade-2-Pack/dp/B074CNBCGB/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1544367772&sr=8-9&keywords=propylene+glycol+quart

Best price gallon: https://smile.amazon.com/Propylene-Glycol-Food-Grade-Gallon/dp/B00GI2CIQS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1544367686&sr=8-4&keywords=propylene+glycol

Interesting reading on antifreeze and main components:

General: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifreeze
Glycols: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycerol

[RStock521]

Esox, thank you for the research and informative links!  Ordering some on Amazon

[stinkyfingers]

Years ago guys would use oil in the bobber. Some cooking oil. Some used baby oil.

I'm not sure where you'd get used baby oil. Do you scrape it off them at the end of the day?

I didn't know I needed an Ice Stopper, but all those other hole cover tricks I've used in the past were of so-so effectiveness. A new arrow in the quiver.

kpd…  Can't take my eyes off your avatar.

[perch chacer]

Fish are very sensitive to different scents so I would not recommend any chemical non-toxic or not on my line or in my hole.  Why do you think they make so many different power baits or scented plastics.  Just my opinion.

[esox_xtm]

Here's a page with some links to ppt and video from the mfg:

http://www.cansportrecreation.com/Stopper.html

Links are toward the bottom of the page.

[wirenut45]

can,t find it(sorry) but remember seeing a contraption using a coffee can, some copper tubing ,n, i think charcoal to keep hole open. any one with better computer skills able to find that thread? wire

[stinkyfingers]

So what happens to the antifreeze solution at the end of the day? Does it just stay in the bobber until the next time you go out? Probably not since we're looking for the best deal

buying it by the gallon. So where does it go? Down the hole? Down the toilet? Said to be non-toxic but to whom? Does it degrade? Evaporate?  I've bought a pair and will use them

but just don't want to be irresponsible if I can avoid it.

[hardwater diehard]

can,t find it(sorry) but remember seeing a contraption using a coffee can, some copper tubing ,n, i think charcoal to keep hole open. any one with better computer skills able to find that thread? wire

[esox_xtm]

So what happens to the antifreeze solution at the end of the day? Does it just stay in the bobber until the next time you go out? Probably not since we're looking for the best deal

buying it by the gallon. So where does it go? Down the hole? Down the toilet? Said to be non-toxic but to whom? Does it degrade? Evaporate?  I've bought a pair and will use them

but just don't want to be irresponsible if I can avoid it.

There's a little rubber bead/stopper that pretty much keeps the stuff from running out the bottom when you reel up. End of the day? I'd probably let it run back into a container for reuse unless the bead really holds it in. No reason you can't recover unused solution. It does not evaporate well, outlasting any water that was mixed with it which also makes it a great wetting agent.

Non-toxic - FDA says so, it's in some of your food. What we know right now it's pretty innocuous stuff: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/propylene-glycol You'd have to be incredibly abusive to be irresponsible. The LD gram/pound for rats is over 6 times higher than salt but about 2/3 that for sugar.

"The toxicity of propylene glycol is very low. It has not been found to cause cancer, damage genes or interfere with fertility or reproduction. Moreover, there are no reported deaths on record"

I want to say that the Ice Stopper solution is 70/30, PG/water but I could be wrong. Sure it's a chemical but you could choose worse.