IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => General Tips => Topic started by: byronsbait.com on Nov 07, 2003, 01:23 PM
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This method was mentioned below by "buckbuster" and was shown to me by a holman lake regular last year, it works great.
Take a cheap minnow bucket areator, the kind that runs on double A batteries. Run the tube to a areator stone, that is then placed in the hole. You can use a T connector to run several stones off of one pump. This way you can use one pump to keep several holes open, limited by how much tubeing you want laying around the ice.
Like I said, this was not my invention, but it sure works great and I thought I'd pass it along.
[email protected]
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hey, good idea.I will have to try it IF we ever get any ice.
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The best way to keep holes open that I have found is to fish every day!! ;D ;D ;D
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I have found that if you take a pice of paper(match covers work great} and split it half way and put it on your line -it will wigle in the wind and keep the hole open.This is for tip up use.
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You better get a good aereator because the cheap ones from the major discount stores can barely pump air into a minnow bucket, let alone a series of ice holes...
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I don't know about that. I have 2 different ones I bought this year and they both work! I always thought the same thing becuase i never had one worth a hill o beans. Some of the new ones are great!
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After owning several aquariums in my lifetime, I've found that you really have to look for a good stone. You don't need fine bubbles for this so your best bet would be to get a small stone that is really porous (sp?). You can test them out by blowing through them. You don't want one that plugs your ears when you try to blow through it.
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I like having to go around and actually clean my holes with a spoon. It forces me to also check my bait. Quite often after hours of no action on a tip up I check to find an empty hook. Who knows how long the little bugger got away?
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Try the natural way use fish oil, cod liver oil or your favorite scents that are oil based. Keeps the hole from freezing and scents the area as well with no harmful effects to the water. ;D
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this was mentioned on a previous post but...get a ping pong ball and paint it black....and throw it in your hole...it will be heated by the sund and will float around and keep the hole ice free....again this was in a previous post just thought i would mention it to you guys
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oil in the hole will work, but you will get that cr_p on your line and onto your reel and everything else.. not for me..grumpymoe
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I'm with Andrew Drumond on this one. For jigging I'd rather keep the holes open with my scoop. I have tried fish oils, smelly jelly, etc and all that happens is that the cold water makes it stick to the line and then it ends up a goopy mess on my reel. Then especially with one and two pound test the line "fuses" into a blob. For my tipups, I have used old black frisbees with a notch cutout and that seems to work well. (Except for the time the wind caught them sitting on my sled on the way out. I've never seen anything accelerate so quickly!)
FTD
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Keep pullin fish out of them and they won't freeze!! LOL
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any other ideas such as the black frisbee or the black pingpong ball? seems like a couple good ideas to me.. I stuck a piece of bark in the hole and it seemed to do the trick for a while.. ???
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Have heard of W-D 40 as both a way to keep the hole open (unless very cold or under wind blown snow conditions) and as a fish attractant. Always forget to take any with me, so my experience is limited. Plus there is the "greasy reel" and "is it good for the environment" questions. Anyone have any good or bad experience with it?.
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i woul bet the fish would smell the wd 40 this wont help your tip up hole this is for keeping your hole open overnights when you fish a hardshack and dont want to drill inside your fishhole and then you have to shovel it all out...check these airbags out www.airbags.com
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Andrew Dumond,
I have the same thing happen when I'm fishing tip ups. Sometimes when I check I notice there is no bait there. Could the lake trout have possibly sucked off the bait without tripping the flag? They do hit extremely light here.
Anyway, have any of you tried those battery operated hole warmers? They are like little disks that keep the hole warm so it doesn't refreeze. I think I need these for my wind tip ups.
Tyler
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:-\
Ya gotta pee anyway; Peein' in the hole helps keep it from freezin' over.
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I keep a old coffee can full of water on the wood stove and pour a little in the holes when they start to freeze over not to much or you could melt you line
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Last time I looked hot water melts ice
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I had a buddy spray his minnow (frozen shiner) with WD-40 and he was catching fish with it. They were biting so good that day it was impossible to tell if it helped, but at least it didn't hurt. As for keeping ice off the hole I'm not sure. I've used windshield washer antifreeze with some luck but it doesn't float so bringing fish up the hole dilutes it. Don't think its bad for the environment but I don't use it anymore.
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yes, that certainly is very bad for the environment - DON'T PUT THAT IN THE LAKE!!!
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I scoop the blown snow and ice rim off regularly by hand, and often find that the little jiggle of moving the line aside to get the ice out will trigger a strike, particularly when you're dead-sticking.
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hot water freezes faster than cold water!
LOL ??? ???
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Windburn is correct, At hoome I had a hot water line that ran right next to a cold water line the darn hot water line would always freeze first so one day playing cards, drinking beers and tellin tall tales. I told the gang about this, they thought I was full of crap, so we did some experimenting on the lake one bored day, nobody believed me until I proved my point. Strange but true.
-Scott
hot water freezes faster than cold water!
LOL ??? ???
it's a fact, the moloculs are moving around faster that it freezes faster, ever see people throw a cup of hot water in the air when it's freezing out and it freezes before it hits the ground.... this is why. Ask Bill Nye the science guy!....LOL
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Yes it is a fact that hotwater freezes first . It's always my hotwater line that freezes in the winter up here and always long before the cold one does . Weird I know , but it's true and of course Bill Nye the Science Guy says the same because I told him so . LOL ;D
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lmao TRAPPERDIRK THE SCIENCE ...lets see what rhymes with Dirk... :whistle:
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lmao TRAPPERDIRK THE SCIENCE ...lets see what rhymes with Dirk... :whistle:
LMAO, Could it be..........! That's too funny.
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I am requesting an explanation from the shanty answer guy, Cider! Has anyone heard from Cider lately?
Scott, could you make something lime the Bat signal to get Cider's attention at times like this?
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I did a little checking and found that windshield washer antifreeze is in fact environmentally friendly. Shell.ca says that it is made from two types of alcohol and water. The alcohol is quickly biodegradeable. You have to be careful not to get washer fluid with added cleaners.
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We muzzled that ol dog Cider Otis and were not allowing him out of his kennel . LMAO . ;D Just take my word for it cause I'm Trapperdirk *** the Science Guy in his absence . ROTFLMAO ;D
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In the abscence of "Cider The Science Guy" I'll give it a whirl.
It's a fact that under certain circumstances, hot water will cool and freeze faster than cold.
Today it's known as the Mpemba Effect, named for a Tanzanian high school student who re-introduced the problem to the scientific community in the 60's. To date is still not completely understood.
As I recall the first references to this phenomonon were by Aristotle. Theories have rolled around for centuries and yet no one can present absolute proof.
How might I know about such seemingly useless facts? ??? I've managed many large buildings in my working life and have run across the problem before. Intuition told me it was impossible, still it happens. I researched it and it stuck in my brain.
Hard to believe I still have brain cells to devote to remembering stuff like this when most times I can't tell you what day it is or my phone number. :-\
RG
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Methane GAS works best for me. ;) :o ;) Second choice is a few drops of denatured alcohol every so often cause it will BIODEGRADE easily. You have to do it every so often cause it will dilute and evaporate. Somebody posted something about spraying wd-40 on a minnow and you are not supposed to do that. :%$#!: That is oil based and BAD for the enviornment.
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Careful with Gman's suggestion. I suspect methane gas is responsible for the condition of the shanty in his avitar. :D ::)
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Simple. Pour a quart of 10W30 in the hole & light it. The oil will float, and will burn for hours. And since it all burns off, it is environmentally friendly.
Now, we just need to come up with high-temp fishing line, & keep those fiberglass poles back a bit. . . ;D
Paul
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i woul bet the fish would smell the wd 40 this wont help your tip up hole this is for keeping your hole open overnights when you fish a hardshack and dont want to drill inside your fishhole and then you have to shovel it all out...check these airbags out www.airbags.com
Dead link? All I get is a news page.... do you have any more info on those? Thanks
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Anyway, have any of you tried those battery operated hole warmers? They are like little disks that keep the hole warm so it doesn't refreeze. I think I need these for my wind tip ups.
Tyler
Do you have any more info on those? Thanks!
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Auger a hole next to your fishing hole but only go about 3 inches deep. Take a coffee can and get some charcoal in it and get the fire going so that you get good coals. Place the coffee can in the 3" deep hole and then use your chisel to take out some of the ice between your fishing hole and the coffee can. You want the water to fill up around the coffee can from the fishing hole. The heat from the can will keep the top of your hole warm and open.
We use this for fishing tournaments where you can't haul out a ton of stuff. It will keep the hole open the entire time you keep the coals going. I used it last year in a few tournaments where the temp was below 0 for the entire day.
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Actually, the answer is no. Hot water does not freeze faster than cold water. Then again, the answer is yes. Hot water does freeze faster than cold water in various experimental conditions. What the hell do you mean?? You're confusing me doggy!!
Remember one rule of thermodynamics: HEAT travels towards COLD. If you wrap your hand around an ice cube, your hand will begin to hurt from the cold. That is not because the cold from the ice cube is traveling into your hand. COLD does not travel towards HEAT. The heat in your hand is being adsorbed by the ice cube which causes the ice to melt as its temperature increases. This also results in a temperature drop in your hand which triggers nerves to send electrical/chemical impulses to your brain to tell you: "HEY DUMMY, DROP THE ICE OR YOUR HAND WILL FALL OFF!"
It is a simple phenomenon to test. Or is it??
Use cold tap water, hot tap water, and boiling water from your tea kettle. Fill ice cube trays (volume is held constant) with all three and stick them in the freezer. Time the event to see which forms ice first. The answer: cold tap water will always freeze first.
HOWEVER, if you take extremely hot water and compare it to room temperature or cold water or even hot tap water. The EXTREMELY hot water will freeze first. WHY? Simple. Water vapor! EXTREMELY hot water will evaporate at a very fast rate. Thus, the volume of the water is decreasing rapidly. Much more so than that of the room temperature water. Therefore, small volumes of water freeze faster than large volumes of water. Ponds freeze before lakes. Make sense?
There is another factor involved: convection (and density). Molecules in motion. Excited molecules move faster. Heat excites molecules. This also has an affect on temperature loss (freezing). Very complex physics now. We are talking about melting points of solids and freezing points of liquids, sublimation of solids, super cooling, conduction, dissolved gasses, and energy requirements for these physical changes of state (matter). Won't get into it here. A lot of it is speculative at best and quite contrary (counter-intuitive) to what seems to be normal logic.
Part of the problem in explaining this phenomenon is in the experimental design. You have to take into account all possible contributing factors. Container size and shape that your water samples will be placed in, timing of the experiment, impurities in the water samples, initial temperatures, size and shape of the freezer, air currents within the freezer, surrounding environments for each sample, etc.
So, the problem is in recreating the ideal conditions for hot water to freeze faster than cold water. Many labs have tried diffent experiments with differential results becuase the variables involved in this phenonmenon are many and not understood very well.
There is an excellent article in Scientific American (September 1977) that discusses the disparities between freezing rates and temperature of water. Check it out if you are really interested...
My head hurts ???
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me too
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another tip for keeping your holes open in a schack is if you take a crazy carpet and roll it up and stick it in the hole and this will also help to stop cold air from coming up through the hole in the floor of your shack.
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I had a buddy spray his minnow (frozen shiner) with WD-40 and he was catching fish with it. They were biting so good that day it was impossible to tell if it helped, but at least it didn't hurt. As for keeping ice off the hole I'm not sure. I've used windshield washer antifreeze with some luck but it doesn't float so bringing fish up the hole dilutes it. Don't think its bad for the environment but I don't use it anymore.
I know on a fishing show a long time ago the guys sprayed their lures with WD-40 because they said it kills the scent of your hands on the bait. They were catching fish but who knows how valid it is that the WD-40 helped in that.
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Here's another version drill your hole ,if water in hole is down a ways because snow ,ice , whatever,drill a hole up wind is best, next to it just touching ,or if water is not to far down say 1" the can will melt down pretty quick . Use 3Lb. coffee can about 1/3 full of charcoal and light .it's best to start the cans away f/ hole if you are fishing in hole . do this on tailgate or on ice . We use or make up something to help hold the can upright when it starts to float and this helps prevent the can from drifting into your hole . A piece of wire or steel rod that you can throw ice on to center can outside your hole and anchor.Takes some time to get used to. Placing the can up wind helps keep your line out of harms way. But even -20 your hole will be open and smoooooooooooooking. Add a few briquettes now and then to keep it going,helps to dump ashes know and then. sounds like a hassle but it works great.Looks like I'll be doing it this weekend, talking highs around 0 to 5 lows to -9 . Any good ideas to keep me from freezing my tail to my pail would be helpful.
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thought of this today,try putting a handwarmer inside a popbttle with a little water"to get it to sink a bit"and place it in the hole?anyone think it will work?are the hand warmers hot enough?as far as keeping holes from freezing over night in the shack,i make vinyl hole plugs filled with foam.shove them in the hole and they displace the water.work great!!!
stump
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I cut the bottom off of a black 5 gal.pail and make my tip ups.Up here in saskatchewan it gets really cold.then i take hand warmer packs and attatch one underneath the pail.with the sun and pack combined this seems to work even in -20.hope this helps.also along with a flag,i have a personal alarm rigged to the flag.when i get a strike the flag pulls the pin on the alarm and then the whole lake knows your on.you can quite the alarm down by putting tape over the sound hole.you can buy the alarm for 4.00 at radio shack.runs forever on one single battery.see ya all
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Hot water / cold water thing - final answer:
Hot water does freeze faster as long as the ambient temperature (in this case outside temperature) remains the same. It is because water (or anything for that matter) will continue to cool at the same rate until it reaches the ambient temperature.
Water won't get below 32 degrees unless it is moving or pressurized. As it can get hotter than 212 degrees under pressure also.
:thumbsup:
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thought of this today,try putting a handwarmer inside a popbttle with a little water"to get it to sink a bit"and place it in the hole?anyone think it will work?are the hand warmers hot enough?as far as keeping holes from freezing over night in the shack,i make vinyl hole plugs filled with foam.shove them in the hole and they displace the water.work great!!!
stump
Those things need oxygen to work. I found this out after puting then in a plastiv baggy and the stoped working after 15 mins or so.
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the can and charcoal is going to get my vote good idea can use the presoak to i bet :tipup:
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thought of this today,try putting a handwarmer inside a popbttle with a little water"to get it to sink a bit"and place it in the hole?anyone think it will work?are the hand warmers hot enough?as far as keeping holes from freezing over night in the shack,i make vinyl hole plugs filled with foam.shove them in the hole and they displace the water.work great!!!
stump
hand/foot warmers rise their temperatures by the reaction of some metal oxide in presence of oxygen... so foot warmers are designed to be used inside a boot/shoe where the air circulation is limited as compared to a glove/pocket, in fact they get damn hot if you keep the foothingie open in the air, so try them in your "invention" if the handwarmer is not enough,
now, I don't know what happens when the handwarmer gets really soaked inside the bottle.... you may want try replacing the water by a small amount of gravel?
JP
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sand would work,and a hole in the lid to let in fresh air as well since the cap will stay above water level.
stump
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Copied from another site:
1) For those that like to rough it out in the open come hard water, here is an old trick I'd like to share with you. Take a one pound coffee can and drill a ¼ inch hole ½ inch from the bottom of the can. Take 8 feet of ¼ inch copper tubing and stick about 8 inches out of the hole in the can and wrap the tubing around and around the inside of the can with the last foot or so sticking out the top, aiming down. Throw a couple of handfuls of self-starting charcoal in the can and light it. Set the can next to your hole, with the lower end of the tube in the water. The heat from the charcoal will suck up the water, heat it and spit it back into the water from the top tube, keeping your hole ice-free no matter how cold it gets and the charcoal will burn for hours. You can fashion a handle from a coat hanger or whatever.
Just a safety note, please don't try this type of thing in a portable or any type of fish house. The fumes WILL kill you.
Paul
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Another copied idea, from Augernaut:
Ok, I'll give away my best idea ever... :-) Go to an auto parts store, buy a pack of the interlocking foam floor garage mats. They are about 1/2" thick closed cell foam, usually 24"x24". They have little ears on them that lock the mats together. They usually come in a pack of 4 for about $9 or so. Now, cut each mat in quarters, so you end up with 4 - 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 (approx) square for each mat. That's 16 per package. A utility knife works great. Now, drill a 1/2" hole in the center of each mat piece, and cut a slit from the hole to one outside edge. You know have made 16 tipup hole covers that work awesome, for $9 Sell some to your buddies, and yours become free! (who needs 16 anyways?) They are fantastic, the holes stay totally ice free and the foam never freezes in like carpet does. Carpet gets wet, soggy, gross. And I'm sorry, but I'm not going to pay $7-9 for one hole cover. These are the ticket, try 'em you'll like 'em!!
These are also good to keep your feet off the ice, & are light.
Paul
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Take a coffee can and cut both ends out. Pait it flat black.By placing it over the hole it will keep the wind and snow out of your hole and the black will help keep the hole open. Not much good at 40 below but ok for most days.
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kinda like the frisbee, coffee can lid, garage mat ideas.. we use black 3-tab shingles.. heck there's always somebody with leftover shingles eh? gett'em for free! cut them at the 1/3 gap marks and trim as needed. cut them round or leave them square. cut a slot from center out to edge to fit around your tipup.. works darn good when the suns out... they tend to melt down into the ice they get so warm..
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gairz,
That one's excellent! Probably works best with dark colored shingles? Do you need more than the slot already in the shingle?
Paul
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we cut the shingles at the 1/3 points (at the gaps) so what we end up with is a 12"x12" square shingle with no gaps. se we cut one 1/2 inch wide to fit over our tipups. we use black shingles if we can find them. cheap and effective.
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The shingle idea sounds great i'll have to try it when i find some shingles. right now though I am just using some left over carpet cut into 12" to 14" squares hole in middle and cut to outside for my Tip-ups
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That shingel idea sounds great . The only thing I cant figure out is the concern for dark ones? All the one's I've ever put on were black on the under side.
Jim
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Another variant is use a deep glass jar,..glue a teather to it,..(keeps it on the side of the hole) a bit of sand in the bottom to sink it down so the top of the jar is an inch or two from the surface of the water. The screw on top has a few holes on it,..I found I had to put a 1/4 piece of tubing in the cap to near the BOTTOM of the jar just above the sand level,..I think it makes it draw O2 and it doesn't drown in its own carbon dioxide. a few small holes in the top...I also put some aluminum foil on the underside of the lid to bounce some of the radiant energy down to the sand,..make sure you poke some holes in foil to line up more or less with the vent holes on the top of the lid. A plumbers candle or the ones at outdoors stores (for mini lanterns) I think work best. A side effect at night it lights up the hole nd gives you some reference to where they are (tip ups) It MIGHT even be an attractor?,..I dunno,..I don't think a warden work make issue of it in states that say you can't use lights as an attractant,..esp if you show how you are just keeping the holes ice free. Light is not that bright and if you are allowed to set a lantern on the ice to see around your area it generally makes a lot of glow on the ice (check it out with a Cam)
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BTW if its very deep cold and windy it might be better to use a tin can with self starting charcol and sink it the same way with sand or some rocks about the same aforementioned depth,..same teather,..a little chain with a wooden handle helps cause it can get very hot and could easily melt your line,.The chain handle can remove it for a"fish happening",.Charcoal doesn't need a lot of O2 to burn (low O2 slows it down a bit and thats something that may be desireable depending on how cold it is,..at the Christmas shops they once had cheap metal cans with snap on lids,..again.drills holes and put aluminum reflectors,.BTW Re: the candle jar method,..I have put a layer on one side of the jar also ..to reflect the energy back toward the open part of the hole,..I think it helped when it was very cold,. like the lights/candle thing at night,....the charcoal might be easier.
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get some rubber roofing cut it 12 inch cut hole in center slit it out to the end. black keepthe hole warm & open :tipup: :tipup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clap: :woot:
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You can also use old record albums. Cut a notch in the album with tin snips and you're in business. If you're really ambitious, you can trim the size of the record to fit inside a pail.
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Dan,
That's excellent. I have all these old Beatles albums, & didn't know what I was going to do with them since the turntable died. Now I know!
Use Beatles to catch Crappies. Never figured. . . ;D
Paul
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Will these covers really protect in VERY cold temps? I'm guessing that you really need to seal them at the edges,..I thiink others said here before about black frizebees. I think at least one co makes a closed cell rubber cover that is flexible and has a slit and space cut out for a tipup but I never have tried it.
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last year I was having a new roof put on my house .. the roofer gave me a piece of commercial rubber roofing for the roof of my shack ... I took the leftover piece of rubber and put a five gallon pail lid on top of it and cut circles big enough to cover a 10 inch hole .. I then cut a hole in the center of the rubber and cut a straight line to the edge of the rubber ..the hole cover then goes around the shaft of the tip up and covers the hole . also the weight of the trap keeps the cover from blowing away .. this significantly reduces the amount of ice that forms on the hole .. good luck
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I'd have to agree that sand would be better than water i also think the footwarmers would be a better idea then the hand warmers(if in fact they are two differant types of heat) but instead of putting holes in the bottle why not just leave the cap off as long as it stays above the ice it would serve as better ventilation
mar t
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Re: Keeping holes open, great idea
« Reply #68 on: Jan 18, 2005, 08:15 AM » Reply with quote
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last year I was having a new roof put on my house .. the roofer gave me a piece of commercial rubber roofing for the roof of my shack ... I took the leftover piece of rubber and put a five gallon pail lid on top of it and cut circles big enough to cover a 10 inch hole .. I then cut a hole in the center of the rubber and cut a straight line to the edge of the rubber ..the hole cover then goes around the shaft of the tip up and covers the hole . also the weight of the trap keeps the cover from blowing away .. this significantly reduces the amount of ice that forms on the hole .. good luck yes that is what i use to keep my hole open work real good :tipup: :tipup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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:tipup: anti-freeze...... just kidding!
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Try ice fishing in March. ;D
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DOES ANYONE KNOW IF ANYONE HAS INVENTED SOMETHING TO ATTACHED TO A GAS AUGERS MUFFLER WITH SOME FLEX TUBING TO RUN OUT A DOOR OR WINDOW TO REMOVE SMOKE WHILE CUTTING HOLES INSIDE THE FISH HOUSE.
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2 things that i haven't seen listed are 5 gal bucket lids and the containers that plants come in. the bigger black ones there fairly thin but have seen people use them. i have used the bucket lid and it works great drill a hole in the center and a slit to get the rod through and your set and as a bonus you can put the lid on your bucket to hold all your good in. :tipup:
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DOES ANYONE KNOW IF ANYONE HAS INVENTED SOMETHING TO ATTACHED TO A GAS AUGERS MUFFLER WITH SOME FLEX TUBING TO RUN OUT A DOOR OR WINDOW TO REMOVE SMOKE WHILE CUTTING HOLES INSIDE THE FISH HOUSE.
I'd look for the hose that goes to a clothes dryer find the smallest size along with the ring clamp adapt it as need just my2cents
mar t
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DOES ANYONE KNOW IF ANYONE HAS INVENTED SOMETHING TO ATTACHED TO A GAS AUGERS MUFFLER WITH SOME FLEX TUBING TO RUN OUT A DOOR OR WINDOW TO REMOVE SMOKE WHILE CUTTING HOLES INSIDE THE FISH HOUSE.
I'd look for the hose that goes to a clothes dryer find the smallest size along with the ring clamp adapt it as need just my2cents
mar t
Good idea. Someone sure is thinking today!!!
-Reelcharacter
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plumbers use rubber inflated stoppers they have a tire pumb fill and a chain. it looks something like a ballc**k in your toilet. they use them on the cast iron pipes so they could be rather large(enough it fit 8"-10").
this is whats great about sites like this. in reading other idea's your (well mine) brain gets to working (or smoking) here's a site that has just what i'm talking about there's one call (((Big Mouth Flow Thru Plugs))) - Available from 8"-10" (200mm-250mm) through 12"-15" (300mm-380mm) here's a link to the page
http://www.trenchbox.com/pages/products_pe_muniplugs.html
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i just bought some of the hole cover they have in sportsmans guide. they are about 3 bucks a piece but they work great they are black foam of some sort they have a slot cut in them and a hole in the center. they haven't froze up yet even at 18 below....by the end of the day the holes were just slushy, not frozen.
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Yes these are good products!!
*ww.sportsmansguide.com
product #
WX1-59919
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Has anyone tried using Plain old balloons to plug their holes when not using their shanty for a week or so. Just wondering if this would work. I think it would work. Blow the balloon up stuff in hole. When you return just pop the balloon ready to go.
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I have used the grey colored round closed cell foam pads sold by HT with the slot cut in them. They do keep the hole from freezing but I find that they often freeze and get stuck on the ice and tear. Last year I bought several 5 gallon bucket lids from Home Depot, spray painted them black and cut the slot into them to the center. They work great and cover the biggest hole you can drill. They also stack nice for storage. They also don't tear apart when you peel them from the ice.
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wondering if anyone ever tried using those cheap role up sleds. the kind that is just a flat piece of memory plastic that roles up. u can get them anywherefor $1.99 (wal-mart, k-mart, shopko,) i used this last year in my perm. shanty when i wasn't going to be there for a few days. i would just role it up backwards and stick it in the hole, and when i came back and it was full of ice i just gave it a few whacks with the needle bar and pull the sled out and i had a nice clean, like just drilled hole. just scoop out the ice chunks. ;)
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This thread has some good advice for tipup hole covers and permanent shanty
hole plugs but there is no magic product that you can put in your hole to keep
it from freezing. Don't put alcohol, antifreeze, wd40, pee, oil, or anything in there.
It polutes the water, gunks up the hole, lines, and reels. And worst of all gets on your fish and into your families foodchain. Half these guys are kidding anyways.
In a permanent shanty turn up the heat. In a flip style we are on the move and
freezups aren't too severe. On windy days leave the slush and just dip the center
of the hole. On the ice place buckets and gear to divert the wind. The heated can
idea works but I've never stayed put long enough to give it a try. Pulling fish up
through a hole knocks the ice loose. No fish... move.
Ted
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Some of the suggestions about alcohol and antifreeze were the types that are biodegradeable and wont effect the environment Reelbigfish. As far as the other stuff and your concerns for the environment, let me ask you a question. Do you own a gas auger? If your worried about the pollutants getting into your food chain then I hope not. How about a boat? Do you fish open water with an outboard motor? How about when you are out on the ice? Do you pee in a bottle or walk all the way back to shore? Do you drive an ATV or snowmobile on the ice? I am all for keeping my environment clean Reelbigfish but when you consider the pollution that gets poured into the water from a single outboard engine or from a leaky gas auger, your concern for a squirt of WD40 is a little redundant wouldnt you say?
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Ice Troll,
Sure I own a power auger but it doesn't leak gas. Of course I'm concerned about
the environment and try to do my part to keep it clean. I don't mean to come off
sounding like a know it all but I just feel that some bad advice was given to some of
our more novice members. There is no need to drag along a bottle of antifreeze,
alcohol, or any petroleum distillate as it just doesn't work.
Ted
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I am a novice, but for sure have enough sense not to put anti freeze, gas, or such down the hole. Ice fishing novice has nothing to do with that. I hope anyway . I found a really old ice fishing book,50s, and it says to use "spirits." wonder what they meant by that? :o
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I am a novice, but for sure have enough sense not to put anti freeze, gas, or such down the hole. Ice fishing novice has nothing to do with that. I hope anyway . I found a really old ice fishing book,50s, and it says to use "spirits." wonder what they meant by that? :o
Swede: I'm thinking they meant "mineral spirits"
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I would hope that most of these novice fisher persons would have enough common sense to discern the good from the bad ReelBigFish without any help. Also, if your gas auger doesnt leak a little bit of gas now and then, its the only one on the planet that doesnt. Your concern for the environment is noble and I share your concern but dont get carried away. Every time you simply walk on the ice, you are carrying pollutants that can get into the water system so lets not sweat the small stuff.
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I like my polar therm extremes 8)
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made some from a old rubber pu truck bed mat :tipup:
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has anyone tried the big mouth plugs ?
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wondering if anyone ever tried using those cheap role up sleds. the kind that is just a flat piece of memory plastic that roles up. u can get them anywherefor $1.99 (wal-mart, k-mart, shopko,) i used this last year in my perm. shanty when i wasn't going to be there for a few days. i would just role it up backwards and stick it in the hole, and when i came back and it was full of ice i just gave it a few whacks with the needle bar and pull the sled out and i had a nice clean, like just drilled hole. just scoop out the ice chunks. ;)
I think that this is the best idea yet , esp. as stated for hardside shantys ...I think that I'll use this idea whenever I get my new shanty out onto the ice .
What I did last year in my portable (left out on the ice for 2 months) was as follows : I poured fine sawdust(from my table-saw) into doubled up plastic bags and pushed them into the holes ...next morning (after a cold night ) the holes would be open ... sometimes after a real cold night ,with just a bit of chisel work was good to go .
Some times the outer bag would tear , sticking to ice on removal ...so extra bags were always handy to have along .
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Let a charcoal briquette float in the hole,If the sun is out it will warm the top layer of water enough to keep it from freezing,just dip it out when you leave and throw it in your bucket,lasts forever and non polluting
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why dont you get a real good set of gloves and a jiffy chisel scoop and walk over to your hole and clean it out that way. :) ;)
those plastic sleds work pretty good but the best thing ive found is a five gallon bucket split down the middle and the bottom cut out of it placed down the hole in the shack keeps the draft out real nice :)
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I've been using the bottomless plastic pail method now for about 4 years( I use a pail of about 2 gallons(Muffin Mix pail 6.2 kilograms Robin's Donuts)). Just cut out the bottom shove it through the floor hole ...it does keep out the wind and snow. I keep a tin can of water on the wood stove and pour a bit of water down each hole whenever they start to scim over with ice .Left overnight (without the sawdust bag) the holes will freeze solid.
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Windburn is correct, At home I had a hot water line that ran right next to a cold water line the darn hot water line would always freeze first so one day playing cards, drinking beers and telling tall tales. I told the gang about this, they thought I was full of crap, so we did some experimenting on the lake one bored day, nobody believed me until I proved my point. Strange but true.
-Scott
LOL ??? ???
it's a fact, the molecules are moving around faster that it freezes faster, ever see people throw a cup of hot water in the air when it's freezing out and it freezes before it hits the ground.... this is why. Ask Bill Nye the science guy!....LOL
Up here its so cold the water disappears before it hits the ground. You could probably be standing underneath it and not even feel a drop @ -30 or colder Boiling water goes POOOF in the air into a big steam cloud.
Now about this keeping your hole from freezing and the wind out if you have a shack, has anyone mentioned sonnet tubes or concrete tubes from the hardware store, cheap, easy, biodegradable
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One thing we do is paint one side of our tip-ups flat black and point that towards the sun, even on hazy days. It won't necessarily keep the hole from freezing, but often prevents the ice from freezing the tip-up in solidly. Also makes them much easier to see against a fresh snow. -Jim
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Don't put alcohol, antifreeze, wd40, pee, oil, or anything in there.
I'm also opposed to antifreeze, gas, cooking oil, WD40,etc being purposefully poured into the lake (even in small amounts)
But if you're out there and ya gotta pee? C'mon man.
You can pee on the ice or in the water (summer or winter) and no one would ever need to be concerned about it.
Now leaky septic systems is another story. But those problems have very little to do with pee (some problems from poop and even more problems with soap from dishwasher, shower, laundry. Not to mention whatever else goes down the drain like BLEACH for example).
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Guys, there is a new product out there. I'm not related what soever to the company. I just own one and love it. The new thing is called the Holee Molee and it runs off of D batteries. Trust me here in ND the temps have been plenty cold and this thing works wonders. Check out there website http://www.houndheater.com/purchase.htm. Here is another website with some reviews of the Holee Molee. http://www.fishingbuddy.com/forums/topic.php?fid=166&tid=20269&rid= and http://www.fishingbuddy.com/forums/topic.php?fid=166&tid=20269&rid=
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great idea
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So, I started this thread on Nov 7th, 2003 ;D ;D ;D Do I make it in the top 10 longest running thread.
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good ideas gonna try the carcoal in the can and the handwarmers this weekend :)
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Frabill thermal tipups are isulated and completely cover the hole. you can pack snow around them to seal out the wind, and you can stack five in a pail with no tangles. they are also blaze orange so they are easy to see. they work for me.
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After months of Intense Reading ;D I gotta say i agree with FossCo.
Keep your holes "tended"....check your bait.......youll find you catch MORE fish!
Reasoning...youre moving your bait up and down in the water column...perhaps attracting...but more importantly..NO Bait...No FISH!
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I have what is called "happy feet". If fish dont bite in 15 mins, I move. I am always checking my lines and putting on fresh bait. Every time I change bait, where does the old bait go? Down the hole of course! Walk around to the holes,scoop the hole clean and always wiggle the lines. I go insane just sitting there waiting for the fish to find me. I actively search them out.
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This was the topic of conversation between me and a guy i once knew. I was amazed when he said, "all ya need to do is pour some antifreeze into each hole, it works great!!" I've never tried it, and never will (because of environmental reasons of course) but I'm sure it would work great.
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In WI. If you take it out, you take it home!! ANYTHING!! In the water, and in or on ice,leftover after you fish, 1. Neglect. 2. Littering. 3. Point Source Pollution!! They, all have fines! I, AGREE!! With the law. :)
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The best way to keep open holes in your hard side is to use 2 liter soda bottles. Fill the bottles up enough so that they are floating upright. To get them out, open up the top and pull out. Works like a charm and non polluting. :)
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In WI. If you take it out, you take it home!! ANYTHING!! In the water, and in or on ice,leftover after you fish, 1. Neglect. 2. Littering. 3. Point Source Pollution!! They, all have fines! I, AGREE!! With the law. :)
Proove that yellow snow is mine
:P :P
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D.N.A.!!
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Good point
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I don't believe urine contains DNA, does it? ??? :wacko: :unsure:
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Im sure it will. Look how they can just run a qu-tip on your cheek and find it on there.
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The subject; Keeping holes open, great idea! ;D Sorry, that I brought other subject's, into the post! D.N.A. and point source pollution. They belong in a different post. :-[
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Is the idea to keep holes open while fishing, or in between trips? I know guys who do different things to accomplish each one.
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What i find that works great to keep holes open in a shack over night are simple balloons. Just blow them up and stuff into the hole. has worked great in -35c wheather for at least 18 hours.
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Well we've done it now! Here in Michigan we can't get them to freeze back up! We have those holes opened from one shore to the other on every lake in the state. Seems we always have to go to the extremes here. Look what we did with the Detroit Lions!!!
:sick:
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This is how I keep holes open works to 30 below , coldest I,ve dared to get out I'm sure it would work in colder temps, holes even get bigger, ice free day and night. only way to go. All you have to worry about is cold stiff reels, line freezing in eyes and on to spool and hands, minnows freezing before you can get em in the water, but holes are smoking 8)
(http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/115630.jpg) (http://"http://www.myfishingpictures.com/?p=115630&c=531&z=1")
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Hmmm, I wonder if the Boidegradable RV anti freeze would be ok? I would never do it because I would be worried about my bait becoming contaminated,hMMM,might be an attractant ::)
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I remember some biodegradeable anti-freeze I once had said Jack Daniels on the lable. I couldn't see dumping it down an Ice fishing hole though ...
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i like the aerator idea, what is a good quality one too try, cheap ones never lat me more than a couple of trips.
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DOES ANYONE KNOW IF ANYONE HAS INVENTED SOMETHING TO ATTACHED TO A GAS AUGERS MUFFLER WITH SOME FLEX TUBING TO RUN OUT A DOOR OR WINDOW TO REMOVE SMOKE WHILE CUTTING HOLES INSIDE THE FISH HOUSE.
Yes, they already have that, saw it on ice team.com or maybe on e-bay. Made for driiling ice holes out in permanant shanties. Look under stuff for spearing shacks, Mike
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my son likes to walk around cleaning them all the time :) :tipup:
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i use blac plastic gold mining pans. i cut about a 1 inch grove from the center all the way out for the line to go in. then you just slip the cover over the hole and the sun keeps the hole nice and warm. when you have a fish on just move it off the hole. it works great.
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When i started ice fishing as a kid I wouldnt sit still long enough to have a chance at a fish so my dad gave me the job of keeping the holes cleaned out. I still like to clean them out reminds me of the past I guess.
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i just keep skimming the holes.
as it gets colder, i'll chamfer the edges of the hole with a little hatchet, to increase the diameter.
when it's so cold i can no longer keep up with the holes freezing over, i pack up and go to the bar.
i just heard of the can of charcoal. i'll try that next year.
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i just keep skimming the holes.
as it gets colder, i'll chamfer the edges of the hole with a little hatchet, to increase the diameter.
when it's so cold i can no longer keep up with the holes freezing over, i pack up and go to the bar.
i just heard of the can of charcoal. i'll try that next year.
:afro: :afro:Good Idea! :afro: :afro:
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Allot of great idea's!! :) I,m still leaning towards "CHIP n DIP". :-\
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One of the oldest tricks up here to keep the hole from freezing over is actually cover your hole and line with about 2 feet of snow. This is used for lines set out over night for burbot. The snow insulates the hole from the cold air and the water does not freeze. You simply shovel off the snow and check your line. Not sure if this is still legal or not, but it works.
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most people carry heaters correct? why not carry a small soup pan, boil the water on your heater and dump it in the hole (without your line in it). can take the lake water out of the lake, warm it up, and put it right back in.....no environmental issues.....and only 1 small peice of equipment to take with. I take that a a small 1 sandwich frying pan (nothing better than a warm sandwich if its bitter cold)...weight is about 3 lbs for both.
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Maybe pouring some veggie oil in the hole? Might keep ice crystals from sticking together and freezing the hole tight. ???
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i push snow in my holes its a mess but it works on tip ups only mo
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most people carry heaters correct? why not carry a small soup pan, boil the water on your heater and dump it in the hole (without your line in it). can take the lake water out of the lake, warm it up, and put it right back in.....no environmental issues.....and only 1 small peice of equipment to take with. I take that a a small 1 sandwich frying pan (nothing better than a warm sandwich if its bitter cold)...weight is about 3 lbs for both.
only one problem it may sound crazy, but warm water will actually freeze faster than cold. ever have a pip freeze in your house?? odds are it was the warm one and not the cold. just something to think about
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only one problem it may sound crazy, but warm water will actually freeze faster than cold. ever have a pip freeze in your house?? odds are it was the warm one and not the cold. just something to think about
It' called the Mpemba effect and conditions have to be perfect for it to happen, part of the reason a warm water pipe will freeze before a cold water pipe is the warm water pipe starts to condensate and the condensation ices up around the pipe freezing it at a faster rate than the cold water pipe..
I would have to say the hot water thing won't do any good on the ice long term, look at it this way what chance does a hot pot of water have against a giant lake of an ice cube.. But for removing a tip up without having to chisel the ice it might be a good idea.
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I have been using my homemade hole covers for about 10-12 years. They are 12"X12" with a slot the size of my Polar shaft cut to the center. I used a piece of flexible plastic to cover the slot. If i have Snow on the lake I Cover the covers and my polars with snow up to the mechanics. At 20 below I usually only have a skim of Ice in the morning, although the diameter shrinks a little. :tipup:
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The Hole Plug .... this will work for hard sides , Make a square from 2x4 each side being roughly 18" and 4 inches high , put a bottom on it made of cardboard , fill the mold to the top with expanding foam < Great Stuff from Walmart works > let it set up good and hard , when it's fully dry cut a hole in it the size you need for you're auger and toss what you cut out , now line the hole with a cheap plastic bag so it forms to the sides of the hole and the bottom is nice and flat , fill the plastic bag with the expanding foam and put a piece of wire with a hook on each end in the foam for a handle and let it set up , once it dries solid pull it out of the mold and remove the bag it should slip rite out of the mold . Now you have a Hole Plug that will last years . just stuff it in you're hole before you leave for the day and voila you're hole is insulated with a 4 inch thick piece of foam fitted to you're hole . You can put a small plastic bag over it just in case it tries to freeze in and it will slide rite out of the hole .
Save the mold you could make hundreds more with it !!
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I have used a asphalt shingle with a slot cut in it , They seem to work well too, just enough weight they dont blow away with every little gust of wind .
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I use a small sheet rock saw. Poke a hole in the ice and saw a circle around the trap lift the trap up and knockoff the ice. No skimming needed either.
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I do not know if I have already have post this but here goes my rear truck floor mats have slots and holes cut in them just use thick ones for those ten inch holes.JMO.
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I was out the other day and it was 9 deg out and blowing 30mph. I was sitting on the ice in front of the hole blocking the wind from moving the spring bobber around. I had a little portable heater sitting between my legs to keep my hands warm. As it rested on it's side next to the hole I noticed it kept the hole from instantly freezing over and kept the spring bobber clear of ice. Probably easier to just put a shack over the hole.
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my holes cover over very seldomly because there is usually much action. if not much action happens with a tip-up, i try to keep them on the move till i get the rite spot.
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this was mentioned on a previous post but...get a ping pong ball and paint it black....and throw it in your hole...it will be heated by the sund and will float around and keep the hole ice free....again this was in a previous post just thought i would mention it to you guys
bring a few extra ping pong balls so you can play beer pong on the ice
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on the left. made from a truck inner tube. a piece of coat hanger keeps it from falling in. on the right, tip-up/fish carrier.
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj218/pooley_photos/014_14-2.jpg)
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i know of a few lads up my way take a foam bucket and cut the bottom out and push it in the hole,they say it works ok,only thing is i think they use a 10" auger.
Hawg Hunter
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great idea
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great ideas guys ill have to look into some of these.Thanks
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I've always used these for tipups. http://www.peterson-outdoors.com/TipupIceHoleCovers.htm
If you want to get a little crazier, cover the hole with something and then put snow over it. Snow will slow the heat loss from the water.
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I saw a nifty rig for keeping the holes open in a Reeds catalogue.
It was by strikemaster and it was called the heat pump. It runs on a 12volt power source and is suppose to keep the hole open with warm moving water. Depending how you set it, it also enlarges the bottom of the ice hole for easier landing of fish.
I don't have one myself, but, it did sound interesting. :)
Do any of you have it?
WW
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http://www.peterson-outdoors.com/TipupIceHoleCovers.htm (http://www.peterson-outdoors.com/TipupIceHoleCovers.htm)
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I saw a nifty rig for keeping the holes open in a Reeds catalogue.
It was by strikemaster and it was called the heat pump. It runs on a 12volt power source and is suppose to keep the hole open with warm moving water. Depending how you set it, it also enlarges the bottom of the ice hole for easier landing of fish.
I don't have one myself, but, it did sound interesting. :)
Do any of you have it?
WW
Got on this summer, cant wait to try it.
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I've never done this but I don't see why it wouldn't work......buy cheap foam plates, spray paint them black, cut the necessary holes and slots for the lines and you're set. The tip-up will hold them in place, they're cheap, light, waterproof easy to stack and did I mention cheap?
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I've never done this but I don't see why it wouldn't work......buy cheap foam plates, spray paint them black, cut the necessary holes and slots for the lines and you're set. The tip-up will hold them in place, they're cheap, light, waterproof easy to stack and did I mention cheap?
Good idea and the price is right. IMO Only problem I see is due to the lightness you might end up losing them on a windy day.
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I like the hole plug idea for inside the shack. Great idea. As far as painting foam plates, good concept if the paint doesn't dissolve the foam. Very sensitive to petrol products. Lots of good ideas though. ;D
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For tip-ups, I always use the thermal tip-ups. I forget who makes them, but they're orange with about 3/4" of styrofoam insulation in them. They just barely fit into a 5 gallon bucket for transportation. It has to be a VERY cold day to freeze the holes over with one of those. My jig holes are almost always inside the shanty with the heater, so they don't freeze either.
Dave
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The black frizbe does work, I use the black lid off foldger coffe cans(the plastic cans). They are realy cheep if you drink coffee...
All I do is cut a 2" hole in the middle and let my line threw the hole and place the lid on the hole no freezeup.... If its windy I put snow and ice in a pile on the up wind side. Also my son Dillon who is 9 says if it fits threw the hole dad we take it home for poorman shrimp ha ha ha.... ;D ;D ;D :icefish:
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I use old rubber floor mats cheep plentiful and they work.
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I just bought a 5' section of black rubber floor matting for around 12 bucks, should make enough covers for 10 tipups I figure.
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Yes these are good products!!
*ww.sportsmansguide.com
product #
WX1-59919
just wondering if you left out a number for the Product? i wasn't able to bring anything up with this # and the other two products were $4.97 each and didn't match the product # you listed. thanks
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i think the best way is to use styrofoam buy it a joanns fabics in a block and cut it 2in bigger than your hole and stick it in there
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How about checking your holes every once in a while and cleaning them out when checking them?
I am so sick of listening to people talking about putting chemicals in the water. I know most guys just say it to get a rise out of us, but I'm sure there are guys out there that don't care about too much and actually do it.
To you guys that really do put that stuff in the water,,, How about you drink it and see how you feel after a big swig!!
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pikeking
would you drink the water out of your ice fishing hole without any chemicals poured into it?
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pikeking
would you drink the water out of your ice fishing hole without any chemicals poured into it?
in the lakes i usually fish? i would.
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im with pike king....sort of..im all about checking holes alot...i often get bit after skimming the hole and giving that minnow a lift. I think that sometimes fish are hanging out and that minnow plays a little possum.....but there are some of those windy cold days that all you would be doing would be walking and skimming with no time for jigging....so i like the black rubber mat idea. just make sure whatever goes onto the ice, comes back in with you. I remember we used to build some wind blocks out of 6inch square hardboard 'hinged' together with a piece of rubber. Put on the up wind side of the hole, this helpped with the snow blowing the hole shut.....
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Bump, to make that mofish guy happy.............
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for leaving the holes open a few days i use the battery operated vibrating discs for duck hunting.... i already have them for hunting and they make the water move so no freezing!
just drop one in each hoe and lock the house come back three days later and make sure the batteries are still goin
EK
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table or fine grained salt works pretty well,just take some and sprinkle it in and around the hole, no pollution,fairly cheap, also, in shallow water, it kind of tastes or smells like blood to fish, and I guess it can sometimes turn inactive fish active,kind of like how sharks go "on the hunt' when they smell or taste real blood and will follow the blood trail to it's dinner.
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for leaving the holes open a few days i use the battery operated vibrating discs for duck hunting.... i already have them for hunting and they make the water move so no freezing!
just drop one in each hoe and lock the house come back three days later and make sure the batteries are still goin
EK
Im not a duck hunter. What are these discs you speak of?
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Im not a duck hunter. What are these discs you speak of?
Stump,
These discs are about the size of a Tuna Fish can but a tad thicker. The top unscrews so that you can add batteries. They float and when activated are suppose to send out small wakes to simulate Duck activity upon the water. :tipup:
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Any idea who makes them?
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Any idea who makes them?
Hmmmm, I have two, one is black the other grey. Think they are manufactured by different companies... but I am not sure who they are Stump... sorry bout that. You might wanna send Maineduckblaster a PM, he may know....
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Found them at cabelas,Thanks!!! Look like they might be the ticket!! How many hrs do you get out of a set of batteries?
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I know on a fishing show a long time ago the guys sprayed their lures with WD-40 because they said it kills the scent of your hands on the bait. They were catching fish but who knows how valid it is that the WD-40 helped in that.
I caught the biggest steelhead of my life with wd-40 on the yarn ball. broke my ugly stick and everything. I'll bring some nest time i'm on the ice.
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I caught the biggest steelhead of my life with wd-40 on the yarn ball. broke my ugly stick and everything. I'll bring some nest time i'm on the ice.
Its not the same formula anymore, used to have fish oil, now its just a toxic mixture.
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Hay works great for keeping a hole from freezing solid for a long time, it isnt water soluble so it doesnt sink, and is fairly ecofriendly, also its cheap or free. Ive seen alot of holes around here that seem to be a hay/sawdust mix as well. . nice not to drill everytime if you tend to hit the same spots.
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Wow! seven years and still going strong. I recently heard of a guy using a coffee can burner with sand and waste oil. Then using it like the charcoal burner. Anyone ever hear of this? I don't think using used oil is too eco-friendly; however the concept could be used with clean burning fuels.
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gander mountain sells a battery operated disc for ice fishing that creates a small wake in the hole.. not sure how long it lasts though, would imagine quite a while
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i was in gander today and they had fan like things that are suppose to keep your hole open. it was $9.99 and used 4 AA batteries.
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I wonder what would happen if....... (how many bad things have occured after these words were uttered) LOL Im just mulling over an idea here.
What if, you took a 16oz soda bottle and filled it a quarter of the way up with table salt, and maybe a pebble or 3 for weight, then poked some real small holes in the bottle in a few places and left it floating in the jig hole overnight? (Maybe tie a string to the bottle so it doesnt sink too)
Would the extra saltiness oozing out of the bottle pin holes be enough to keep the water in the hole from completely freezing?
Or am I just too damn tired to think straight...
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to what temp will those vibrating disks keep it open to?
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Many times I'll just have a pot of hot water on the cooker then periodically grab a cup of hot water & throw it in the hole. More quiet than the aereators.
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Metal coffee can, toiletpaper roll, bottle of isopropyl alcohol. Soak the toilet paper, light it up. Burns the alcohol only, not the paper. Works great as a hut heater as well with no fumes. Burns for hours and hours.
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I heard that vegetable oil works but never tried it!
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Metal coffee can, toiletpaper roll, bottle of isopropyl alcohol. Soak the toilet paper, light it up. Burns the alcohol only, not the paper. Works great as a hut heater as well with no fumes. Burns for hours and hours.
Genius! Keep the lid and replace after the thing cools. That thing would be easy to use and would keep the holes open when placed near the hole with the warmed water. Does it stay lit in windy weather?
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Genius! Keep the lid and replace after the thing cools. That thing would be easy to use and would keep the holes open when placed near the hole with the warmed water. Does it stay lit in windy weather?
I haven't tried it outside of the hut in the wind, but inside it is fantastic and weighs almost nothing! Just remember to do the first burn of a coffee can outside. The burning paint the first time will kill a man! :o
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The best way to keep your hole open is to catch lots of fish ;)
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The best way to keep your hole open is to catch lots of fish ;)
HA! I'm an Ice Shanty 'Rookie" I'm just not that good yet. I need supplemental help keeping my holes open. ;D
Darn Smiley guy doesn't have issues keeping his hole open :icefish: I'm just waiting for his bucket to fill up, he's gotta be close to his limit!
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Last year i experimented with a water spitter i saw in a book, was a waste of time for me. Tried mineral oil what a mess, just easier to use your scoop every so often. Although the minnow aerator that started this thead sounds very good.
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I did a test with my new fra-bill thermal tip ups with the small tackle box's, I put an activated hand warmer in it and left it over night with no one checking it. Now the temperature only got around 0 that night but there was less 1/4" of ice below the tip up! When I say no one was checking it I was on the ice with it all night sucked there were no flags on it but it allowed the test to go on for 12 hours!
Mack
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Tuna oil! you get a snack...the holes stay open....also attracts pike!
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interesting idea love it
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Genius! Keep the lid and replace after the thing cools. That thing would be easy to use and would keep the holes open when placed near the hole with the warmed water. Does it stay lit in windy weather?
...Ok not so 'genious'...at least not outside. The whipping flames find the fishing line way too much. I lost three good jigs one afternoon and was really po'd.
Easy way to keep the holes open...ice skimmer.
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skimmer...... simple solution
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Put me in the skimmer/chisel group. If your holes are freezing up it means:
A. You aren't catching enough fish, so you need to move
B. You are not bait checking your traps often enough
C. It's too damn cold to be outside, so fish in the shanty
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Docs got a point. I mean, its understandable in super cold weather and blowing snow. Winning a bet with the buddies insists you never have to clean your holes if you play it right..
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For overnight I put some snow in a bucket, blow up a balloon, shove the balloon in the hole and put the bucket over that. Works great.
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Alright, I know this thread started about 11 years ago, lol, but I have been searching all over the place for these little "battery powered wake makers about the size of a tuna can" that were discussed a few years ago in this thread, that you use for duck hunting, but can put into a hole below a tip-up to keep it from freezing up on really cold days. Does anybody know where you can buy these, and please post a direct link to it so I can buy a few myself?
Also, anybody else come out with any similar products, or any new things in the last few years since this thread was last visited?
Thanks!!
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So, I started this thread on Nov 7th, 2003 ;D ;D ;D Do I make it in the top 10 longest running thread.
ummm ITS STILL GOING.... lol
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Alright, I know this thread started about 11 years ago, lol, but I have been searching all over the place for these little "battery powered wake makers about the size of a tuna can" that were discussed a few years ago in this thread, that you use for duck hunting, but can put into a hole below a tip-up to keep it from freezing up on really cold days. Does anybody know where you can buy these, and please post a direct link to it so I can buy a few myself?
Quiver Magnets.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Lucky-Duck-H-O-Quiver-Magnet/707059.uts
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Propylene glycol 4 bucks a gallon....... :tipup: >:D >:D
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Propylene glycol 4 bucks a gallon....... :tipup: >:D >:D
Not :callcops:
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Ok windshield washer fluid
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Wow, I saw one of my old posts as a guest back in 2004. I was registered, but the site went through an update and everyone had to create a new account. Anyways, instead of windshield washer fluid, I heard of using booze, probably at least 80 proof and not sure how much. Another trick I read a long time ago, but never tested myself.
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Ice fishing really isn't worth dumping good booze down a hole other than a mouth!
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Ice fishing really isn't worth dumping good booze down a hole other than a mouth!
Try rubbing alcohol. Unless you drink that, too. :blink:
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as much of the alcohol is in gas......
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Propylene glycol 4 bucks a gallon....... :tipup: >:D >:D
Where are finding it for that price? I have other uses......
Funny stuff from a hazmat guy ;)
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That stuff is food grade. So safe for the env....
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@Mainehazmat: I just figured you were having some fun. Wound up looking at the Maine forum a few times and up in that neck of the woods seems most would stand you up in front of a firing squad for putting anything in the ice hole....... Believe me, I'm about the last one to step in that.
I'm familiar with PG. Started using it in my cigar humi. Now I have additional uses (no vaping for me :P ) and I really am curious..... $4 a gallon? I want some of that! Care to name the source?
Thanks!
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Walmart!
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i woul bet the fish would smell the wd 40 this wont help your tip up hole this is for keeping your hole open overnights when you fish a hardshack and dont want to drill inside your fishhole and then you have to shovel it all out...check these airbags out www.airbags.com
My grandfather used to use WD-40 for a fish attractant. Sprayed it on his lures, and caught tons of fish (as I recall)
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My grandfather used to use WD-40 for a fish attractant. Sprayed it on his lures, and caught tons of fish (as I recall)
Get ready.....
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PzfAZGkOR64/UB7p2EL_KRI/AAAAAAAACLU/Nf3_Qw4EjzU/s320/man-throwing-shoe-at-george-bush.gif)
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good idea
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Oh geeeez, here we goooo!
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Woah up fellas before the fur starts fyling. I do not use WD, nor do i reccomend it. Im just sayin he used to do it. He is long past away, so the loons are a little less greasy now lol.
He was an old vt woodchuck and i dont agree with some his methods, but someone said wd might detur fish from the hole.
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Just had to nip that in the bud!
Guys, DONT use WD-40 on your lures... Just cuz an old timer did it and it worked, doesn't make it right.
::)
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Because PB Blaster works so much better
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C'MON, PLAY NICE IN THE SANDBOX... :nono:
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Because PB Blaster works so much better
I love you man!
(https://s19.postimg.cc/t578d4cf7/Devil_Stir_Pot_zps55546c47.gif) (https://postimages.org/)
:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:
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I know it is extremely common practice to use WD-40 while Salt water fishing up in Alaska. Have never seen it used in freshwater though....
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Just seen this in a catalog. Should work pretty good and it only runs in the water. Not sure how it works in the cold. http://www.rapala.com/rapala/rapala.com-gifts/under-25/floating-aerator/RFLAERTR.html?cgid=rapala-gifts-under25
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That stuff is food grade. So safe for the env....
no its not, it can have a biochemical oxygen demand of 100,000 mg/l.
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I;m surprised with a number of good ideas that have been posted from way back, there are still some guys wanting to put chemicals of some type in the water. "Food grade" doesn't mean safe for the environment. Look back,..there are some good alternatives. I've done the self starting charcoal things myself in a small sand weighted tethered can,..which has worked very well for me ) BTW I use a PIECE of those fireplace logs in the can's bottom to help ignite the charcoal,... Also have used a plumbers candle in a sand weighted jar,..both work pretty good if you do them correctly (holes in top,..some aluminum foil on underside of lid to reflect radiant heat downward,..a small tube from the lid to the bottom of the glass (sucks fresh air to keep flame on,..)
Again it works for me,..there may be better ones for your situation. I also have invested in frabils that cover the whole hole,..hasn't frozen over yet but I haven't been out in deep cold,..(high teens but breezy)
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not good at posting pics, but google search "quiver magnet". made for duck decoys, runs on AA batteries wobbles around hole, keeps hole open and as a bonus bounces off your line to give it some action. Works like a charm even at very low temps. Maybe someone else can post the pic.
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A skimmer has been working for me for many years ;) ;D
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Black styrofoam cut into small pieces works fairly well---works even better if you heat it a bit to shrink it and reduce its insulation properties.