DIY Hole insulation / thermal cover

[nixstyx]

I haven't ran into the problem so far this year, but last year I had several days of below-zero temps and had trouble with holes freezing. Usually it's not too much of a problem, but when it's -20 and it freezes an inch or more in a couple hours, it gets to be a problem!


I'm curious if anyone has found a good material to use as a DIY thermal cover? The only hole covers I've seen for sale run $7 or $8 each... too much if you ask me. And I'm not interested in buying all new thermal tip ups either. 


Ideally, it would be something durable and possibly even flexible (this rules out rigid styrofoam that always seems to fall apart on me). I was thinking maybe something like the foam used in cheap sleeping pads might work (like this: http://www.amazon.com/Foam-Sleeping-Pad-W-ties/dp/B004IM4Z66/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1422637849&sr=8-4&keywords=foam+sleeping+pad). You could get quite a few covers out of something this size, but I'm worried it may not be thick enough to prevent freeze ups in really cold temps.

[nixstyx]

Or maybe even something like this, with a reflective layer: http://www.amazon.com/Camping-Exercise-Sleeping-Mattress-Cushion-Green/dp/B00P1K4Q6S/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0JJ2QPZ1RJ5KVGZ65MK2


Does anyone has any experience with these, or have any other ideas?

[Kevin23]

Hard rubber outdoor mats are what my buddies use. Im going to make some for myself soon as well. Just make sure they are solid black. Black rubber absorbs heat.

[BIGCREW]

The black rubber works and can be found fairly cheap, at -20 they will only slow the freezing down but they do work on average temp days, a spud bar or a scooper with the chisel end on it are a must on those real cold days to keep the holes nice and no rough ice for line to get caught on, heres how I cut mine decide what size you want them to be then get a piece of 2x2 drill a 1/4 inch hole  an inch or so in from the end then take a 3 inch drywall screw and screw it to a piece of plywood or what ever your going to cut it onthe measure from the center of the screw out to what evever diameter you want and cut it off then I took a blade from a carpet knife and screwed it to the end of the board at an angle to cut the rubber a few finishing nails work well to hold the rubber In place while your cutting it, and leave the drywall screw loose it will work much better

[thomasthepikehunter]

Anything dark in color will work. That reflective stuff will not be a good choice. The best thing is a black work out mat, as its the same stuff store bought hole covers are made from. A free alternative is old door mats, mud flaps, or any other rubber.

[Idahogator]

Hm, black is difficult to see at night.     

Do tell, how heat from the sun on black insulation will penetrate, um, what's it called, INSULATION !

Defined : A material used to reduce heat transfer.

Hm, maybe a glass cover to allow the sun's heat to warm the water and keep cool air out ?       

[Icemole]

 I was fortunate several years back when a large machine came in wrapped in 3/8" black foam. My original plan was for the bottom of the boat. I still had some left and cut 15x15" sqs with a slot for the tip-up tube - work good. I still have freezing issue's if it's cold enough but not a quickly as my buddy with no covers(I did make him some too). Also if it's windy I have to put some shaved ice on them for wieght.

 I have also seen guys use 5gal bucket lids that they paint black and use the spray foam underneath.

[esox_xtm]

Anything dark in color will work. That reflective stuff will not be a good choice. The best thing is a black work out mat, as its the same stuff store bought hole covers are made from. A free alternative is old door mats, mud flaps, or any other rubber.

That's the system! We need to collect solar energy, not reflect it. Think collection, not insulation!

My simple solution for years has been a square of black truck tire inner tube, frequently found laying on our nations highways for free. Insulative properties are only necessary to block wind and snow, not to keep cold out. On sunny days, water can pool on the black cover and stay unfrozen down into the 20s while transferring that heat energy to the area below the cover. Any insulation would prohibit that.

Alternatives have already been mentioned. Others are rubber roofing material and rubber belting. Doesn't have to be thick or "insulative", just black. I like the thinner rubber, doesn't weigh anything, fits into a bucket with basically zero space, hooks don't get snagged, doesn't freeze to the snow/ice and best of all..... it really works.

Yup, on overcast or dark days it doesn't work as well, but it's not substantially worse than other more insulating alternatives.

Just my experiences.... UMMV.

[pieman1998]

i use rubber roofing  for my hole covers work great

[deerhunterkyle]

I have heard from a couple people that pouring vegetable o!on top works. Wouldn't that just turn into a solid cake at cold temps or is there truth to this?

[Firetrap]

Horse trailer mat. I sawzawled and used a big drill bit for the middle, a 1/2 thick sheet of it I got for $35. Made 15 inch squares for my 10 inch ice holes. They are black, rubber and have grooves (for washing out trailer) on the bottom side which keep them from freezing down. Down side is they are heavy. Up side is they work and they are heavy. They don't blow away in the wind and if theres no snow to insulate around, they still work.

[nixstyx]

Interesting ideas, but I'm sort of in the same camp as Idahogator... black is a nice idea, but realistically how much could it help? When we're talking about very cold temps you're looking for insulation, not solar heat. The reason hole covers work isn't from the sun heating them up, it's because the water is more than 32 degrees. The sun isn't doing anything to help you through a half inch of insulation. It might heat up the outside of the cover slightly, but that energy isn't moving through the insulation. If you use something black that doesn't insulate, yes it will collect solar heat and help prevent freezing when temps are in the low 30s or high 20s, but any colder, and as was mentioned, it will only help slow freezing slightly.


The thinking behind the reflective coating isn't to reflect the sun or the cold outside... you point it down to to reflect the radiant heat of the water back down. Come on guys, it's basic science!   


Maybe I need to set up an experiment with a black rubber mat versus foam insulation to prove my point.

[nixstyx]

I have heard from a couple people that pouring vegetable o!on top works. Wouldn't that just turn into a solid cake at cold temps or is there truth to this?

I've heard this too, but it doesn't really work well. Yes, it will prevent skimming over in moderate temps, but doesn't help in extreme cold. The reason is, oil prevents the surface from freezing because it floats and it's not water... but, it doesn't really provide any insulation. So in cold temps it doesn't take long for the water beneath it start freezing. Then, you end up with a messy, semi-solidified cake of oil covering a layer of ice.

[JMZ]

I use the vapor barrier insulation that is used for laminant floowing. I put some anti-freezing liquid I bought from automaticfisherman.com I cut the cover 1 foot square and cut a small slit in one side half way across for the line. It works great.

[icebucketjohn]

HERE'S PICS OF MY HOME-MADE TIP UP CADDY & HOLE COVERS.  THE HOLE COVERS CAN BE STORED IN THE BOTTOM OF A 5 GALLON BUCKET ALSO. CADDY IS MADE USING 4" PVC PIPE WHILE THE HOLE COVERS ARE MADE WITH 3/16 SCRAPE "BELT" RUBBER.

[fishinnut]

This puzzlemat works great for hole covers and for flooring. Price is right too.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym-6-Piece-Puzzle-Mat/21672523

[Spaceman]

Lowes sells this stuff for weight benches to sit on. I believe it might be the puzzle mats from the above post. But they work excellent for hole covers.  I got 16 from one 20 dollar mat.  That's way cheaper than 7 bucks a piece online. Pretty much same stuff. I've been using them for years.  Works like a champ. Even in 0 degree weather they have held up for me. Only thing I could say is to keep them flat and weighted down over the summer or they will tend to warp a little.

[shawdawg]

Another vote here for the horse stall mat.  I had my tipups out for 12 hours overnight last week without being checked( no flags all night) in 0 to -5 and I had 1/8-1/4 of ice is all in my holes.  They are heavy which I like.  No wind issues and  they don't freeze down to the ice to bad.  I just use my skimmer to pry them loose after a long soak. 

[2MuchStuff]

Here's another vote for easy and cheap  eva foam puzzle mat.
less than $4.00 per piece light weight cut it or not .
I use it for kneelers and in the flip house.
cut to round, slot for your tip up.
you get four per sheet  that's a buck apiece.

[Crayfish2]

I use the puzzle mat, as well.  The stuff I got was from Costco and was already cut into 1' squares.  I just cut a slot and a hole in the middle and they are ready to go.  Also use a few in front of the heater in the pop-up to keep the ice from getting too much water on it.  They are very light weight, which is great for hauling but you have to hang onto them if it's windy.

I have found, though, that the holes will still ice over pretty quickly if there is no snow on the ice and it's really cold out.  It was -3F when we started fishing a couple of weeks ago and never got above 12F all day.  There was no snow to speak of on the ice.  The covered holes froze over just about as quickly as the open holes.  I think some snow cover will help since I'll be able to seal out the cold better and the covers will keep blowing snow out.