Darkhouse / Spearing Shanty Plans

[mmb]

I'm looking for plans/ideas for a new spearing shack.  Currently I have a surplus heavy canvas tent that works, but I'm looking for something a little fancier to introduce a friend to spearing. 

Anyone have any ideas or plans to seed this new forum?

[Whatpole]

I have one like this. http://www.canvascraftinc.com/northlander.html It is the 6x8. It can fit 2 - 3 people pretty well. I bought the basic kit and put my own floor on. I can lift it in and out of my pick up by myself.

I have a 3x2 spear hole in it.

[Higgins]

I have one like this. http://www.canvascraftinc.com/northlander.html It is the 6x8. It can fit 2 - 3 people pretty well. I bought the basic kit and put my own floor on. I can lift it in and out of my pick up by myself.

I have a 3x2 spear hole in it.

I built mine out of 2 by 2, Masonite, and Plywood and its heavy as HE!! but tuff as nails. I dont know what your rules are where you live but I put mine out for 2 months and leave it there and if it  weighed lite enough to put it in the truck by myself it would just blow away, maybe even if I hade it ancored down. So are you thinking of putting out a permanent or a take down shanty .

[Whatpole]

I built mine out of 2 by 2, Masonite, and Plywood and its heavy as HE!! but tuff as nails. I dont know what your rules are where you live but I put mine out for 2 months and leave it there and if it  weighed lite enough to put it in the truck by myself it would just blow away, maybe even if I hade it ancored down. So are you thinking of putting out a permanent or a take down shanty .

I like mine portable. I like to fish several areas that have spearable fish (Pike, Walleye, & Ling) in them. Where I live, we don't have any decent ponds/lakes within 80 miles ,and that is still one in each direction. Mine has stood up to some tough winds, and did good. I use the ice anchors that screw into the ice, and use ratcheting tie down straps on the bottom of the 2 corners in to the wind.

[spearchucker]

I built a house similar to this design, except for mine is a lot sturdier than this particular one. I I use three polestp hold the front and rear up and one is centered over the hole. I have two old reels hose clamped to the pole; one for a fake decoy and one for the live. I will post some pictures some time.

http://mndarkhouse.org/Tutorials.htm

[Whatpole]

I like mine portable. I like to fish several areas that have spearable fish (Pike, Walleye, & Ling) in them. Where I live, we don't have any decent ponds/lakes within 80 miles ,and that is still one in each direction. Mine has stood up to some tough winds, and did good. I use the ice anchors that screw into the ice, and use ratcheting tie down straps on the bottom of the 2 corners in to the wind.

My portable.

[Higgins]

My portable.
(Image removed from quote.)

Man that is weired to see ice that thick and NO snow cause here in Michigan we have the opposite. We have allot of snow and little ice in most places with allot of green hills but that's just a Michigander talking. Man I would love to have that much ice cause as it is I'm still itching to get out spearing cause I only have 2 3/4" rite now and that doesnt feel safe enough.

[Eugene V. Lenarz]

My brother (Minnesota) is looking for plans and for darkening materials to build a darkhouse.  The plastic and canvas that he's found don't darken enough.  I'll forward the notes that I took on your comments but would appreciate advice or suggestions regarding darkening material (and any further plans).  Thank you all.

[spearchucker]

My brother (Minnesota) is looking for plans and for darkening materials to build a darkhouse.  The plastic and canvas that he's found don't darken enough.  I'll forward the notes that I took on your comments but would appreciate advice or suggestions regarding darkening material (and any further plans).  Thank you all.

If he's anywhere near Long Prairie he can go out to the Amish community and get canvas cut and sewed for his house. That is where I get mine and it is nice stuff. They will even sew on reflectors or install it on the house if you would like. It's the same black canvas that they use on their horse drawn buggies. He could also check out Canvas Craft in Rogers. The dark green canvas from old military tents is very thick and block the light as well. The darker the better , but it doesn't have to be black as night inside to work.