Keeping holes open, great idea

[Medson25]

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.

[THEGAFFER]

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.

[SPARKYICE]

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.

[RLWagner]

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:Good Idea!

[brujharr]

Allot of great idea's!!     I,m still leaning towards "CHIP n DIP".   

[icy mike]

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.

[Hollywood703]

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.

[crappie_attitude]

Maybe pouring some veggie oil in the hole?  Might keep ice crystals from sticking together and freezing the hole tight. 

[1MOFISH]

i push snow in my holes its a mess but it works on tip ups only  mo

[jayswimmer09]

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

[deadsmelthead]

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.

[IcenEyes]

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.   

[1TIGGER]

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 !!

[1TIGGER]

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 .

[Fatcat]

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.

[walleye tattoo]

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.

[zadvorney]

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.

[miket.]

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.

[godofwar]

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

[pooley]

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.

[hawg hunter]

 
 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

[cnyiceboy]

great idea

[7 plus larry]

great ideas guys ill have to look into some of these.Thanks

[Tainterslayer]

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.

[Water Wolf]

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

[pooley]

http://www.peterson-outdoors.com/TipupIceHoleCovers.htm

[stumper]

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.

[DennyB]

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? 

[flyman1002]

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.

[fiddlehead322]

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.