Author Topic: Whats the best way stop freeze over for a tip up? (Read 10253 times)

Second City Fisherman · « **on:** Sep 20, 2012, 08:34 PM »

I run Jack Traps and am heading up to NW Angle in Jan. We go for walleye of course but during the mid day slow period tip ups for pike are cool. I do not want to buy a box tip up. What is a good way to keep the hole open in below zero conditions? Is the foam hole cover is the only solution? Or maybe a home made box for tip up? Any ideas are most welcome.

Trooper Bri · « **Reply #1 on:** Sep 20, 2012, 08:47 PM »

There's also one with a coffee can, copper line coil, and a toilet paper roll soaked in lighter fluid or tiki torch oil that pumps warm water in the hole. My fav.

I'm a minimalist and chose the walk and chip method. Easy enough considering where I am.

jvanness · « **Reply #2 on:** Sep 20, 2012, 08:48 PM »

i find that a if you take a 4x8 sheet of ply wood (very cheap and thin stuff) take a roto zip or something similar and take a piece of 6" string, nail it in the center of a hole, then pull string tight while cutting in a circle (making it a 12" cover) then cutting out a 1 1/2- 2" hole in the center with a hole saw bit then a slot so the cover can slip through the tip up then painting it black works well. only problem is, is that it doesn't let sun light penetrate. So what i was thinking of doing was gettting a sheet of plexy glass, and doing the same process, this way when the sun hits it it creates a green house effect also allowing sunlight to penetrate.

Second City Fisherman · « **Reply #3 on:** Sep 20, 2012, 08:49 PM »

Good looking out. Thanks man. I wouldnt want to pee all over my jack traps. Maybe i will invite the boy from the NE . haha. No really, I guess foam or diesel fuel will be the best bet.

jvanness · « **Reply #4 on:** Sep 20, 2012, 08:56 PM »

and the plexy glass/ ply wood, doesn't add a hole lot of weight maybe 2-5 pounds, and it doens't take up a lot of space in the sled, stack em up in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket, or can just lay them in the sled.

Skipper · « **Reply #5 on:** Sep 20, 2012, 09:19 PM »

A chunk of carpet or a mud flap, preferably dark in color.... make a hole in the middle and a cut out to the edge. The best ones are made of heavy black rubber like semi truck mud flap, hay bailer belting, or truck bed mat. They tend to lay flat, rarely stick to the ice, and don't blow around in the wind.

Like this... Only you can make them yourself out of junk and save $6.99

http://www.fleetfarm.com/mff/detail/mills-fleet-farm-ice-hole-insulator-purple/0000000006344

fishnfool · « **Reply #6 on:** Sep 21, 2012, 06:17 AM »

When we fished the Angle there wasn't much of a mid day slow down. Caught eye's and sauger all day long. The only slow times were dawn and dusk due to the stained water.

Love to fish The NW Angle.

mealworm · « **Reply #7 on:** Sep 21, 2012, 06:28 AM »

antifreeze

jk i like to kick loose powdery snow over my holes if i need to insulate them,been doing this for years with no problem

rdhammah · « **Reply #8 on:** Sep 21, 2012, 07:02 AM »

Quote from: fishnfool on Sep 21, 2012, 06:17 AM

When we fished the Angle there wasn't much of a mid day slow down. Caught eye's and sauger all day long. The only slow times were dawn and dusk due to the stained water.

Love to fish The NW Angle.

........and this is relavent, how?

rdhammah · « **Reply #9 on:** Sep 21, 2012, 07:07 AM »

the foam covers bring up the controversy of does allowing light in through the hole help attract fish or not?
i like the plexiglass idea

esox_xtm · « **Reply #10 on:** Sep 21, 2012, 07:34 AM »

I've cut hole covers from tire inner tubes I pick up on the road or rubber roofing material. Nope, they keep the hole dark but they're light, stow in practically no space, don't freeze down, act as a solar collector and are my favorite price. It' amazing how a thin cover can keep a hole open or only lightly iced in even some very extreme weather.

/m

capedeer/fish · « **Reply #11 on:** Sep 21, 2012, 07:59 AM »

If its sunny u can float a black ping pong ball in the hole. Sun heats ball...ball heats hole!

adkRoy · « **Reply #12 on:** Sep 21, 2012, 08:13 AM »

you can by the waterproof foam covers for like $4.00 at baitshops and box stores

Second City Fisherman · « **Reply #13 on:** Sep 21, 2012, 10:03 AM »

Thanks for the great ideas. I will try a few of them for sure.

Wyofarmer · « **Reply #14 on:** Sep 21, 2012, 12:48 PM »

Plywood painted flat black. It works like a charm. I like the black pingpong ball idea though too.

jacksmelt71 · « **Reply #15 on:** Sep 21, 2012, 12:53 PM »

ive had good luck w/ the foam covers on real windy ,cold days. they dont freeze down if you give it 30sec. after cleaning before you put it on. freezes around the hole. i then put a little snow around edges to seal and on top of the cover so it doesnt move.

JiggerMan · « **Reply #16 on:** Sep 22, 2012, 10:22 PM »

what about vegetable oil. take a small container with you and dump a few cap fulls in to the hole it might be enough to cover the hole and prevent feezing.

another option i use to keep my jigging holes ice free is to have a portable areator and put the bubbler in the hole and it seems to work fairly well.

rdhammah · « **Reply #17 on:** Oct 02, 2012, 09:06 PM »

Quote from: fishnfool on Sep 21, 2012, 06:17 AM

When we fished the Angle there wasn't much of a mid day slow down. Caught eye's and sauger all day long. The only slow times were dawn and dusk due to the stained water.

Love to fish The NW Angle.

received your PM of 9/21. i was just saying that your post semed out of place and not relevant to this topic. possible posted on the wrong topic?

Kevin23 · « **Reply #18 on:** Oct 02, 2012, 09:22 PM »

Quote from: JiggerMan on Sep 22, 2012, 10:22 PM

what about vegetable oil. take a small container with you and dump a few cap fulls in to the hole it might be enough to cover the hole and prevent feezing.

another option i use to keep my jigging holes ice free is to have a portable areator and put the bubbler in the hole and it seems to work fairly well.

Warden might ask you what that oil film is on top the hole.

da man cave shack · « **Reply #19 on:** Oct 02, 2012, 09:23 PM »

Pee in the hole.

tinyfisher · « **Reply #20 on:** Oct 03, 2012, 05:47 PM »

Ever put cooking oil i the fridge? It will turn solid. Plus, any oil or whatever floating in the hole will get all over your trap, line, bait, gloves, etc and create a big mess. Powder snow does a surprisingly good job at keeping the hole from feezing. Hole covers work well also. Just keep checking those traps often, and keep a small chisel for chipping if needed.

Kevin23 · « **Reply #21 on:** Oct 03, 2012, 05:50 PM »

Just walk around every 15 minutes and take a leak on all your tip-ups.

fishnfool · « **Reply #22 on:** Oct 03, 2012, 05:54 PM »

Old timer told me he takes a cattail and breaks it open, then puts the fuzz from the cattail in the hole to keep it from freezing. Never tried it but I could see how it might work.

yoslick · « **Reply #23 on:** Oct 03, 2012, 06:58 PM »

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=215120.0

Tomhusker · « **Reply #24 on:** Oct 03, 2012, 07:04 PM »

I have some old foam yoga mats that I cab use to make hole covers. Never thought of them before now.

Toxic fisher · « **Reply #25 on:** Oct 04, 2012, 05:48 AM »

Seen a couple guys dropping a brick of charcoal in each hole seemed to work but be carefull not to drop on ice will eat right threw 7 inches of ice quickly!!! Good luck

pirkaus · « **Reply #26 on:** Oct 04, 2012, 08:22 PM »

How about walking around and cleaning the holes when needed
Or when you catch fish like I do the hole never has a chance to freeze

Pirk

SpoonieLuv · « **Reply #27 on:** Oct 19, 2012, 10:53 PM »

Make the switch to Frabil round thermal tip-ups, saves time and they fit in a 5 gallon bucket. The black ones come with line, depth marker, and light that flashes when the flag go up. I hate it when we have to break out the ice on my buddies old school traps after 5 minutes.

Chris338378 · « **Reply #28 on:** Oct 19, 2012, 11:39 PM »

Get some two inch ridged foam insulation, cut it an inch or two bigger than your hole, and make a cut out in the top for the top of your tip up so it will slide over the top of your tip up. Cheap and easy.

fishing_yooper · « **Reply #29 on:** Oct 20, 2012, 08:59 PM »

In this years in-fishing ice fishing 2013 guide they got a little article about ice quiver floats. Says something about used by duck hunters to give there decoys a little life. There going to float around and vibrate to keep your hole clean. I worry that they will set the tip up off as there quivering around.

News:

Author Topic: Whats the best way stop freeze over for a tip up? (Read 10253 times)

Trooper Bri