Should I put anything under my shack?

[muskyfan51]

I have never had a shack before so im not really sure if I should put something under my shack or if it will be fine with out, my only concern is if I pick it up and put something under it the cold air will come up through the holes. feedback is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[Whopper Stopper]

If there is any amount of snow the water will come up and flood your house causing it to freeze in. I always put a couple of 2x4 under each corner and then bank the house with snow. Keep an eye on the water and keep adding as needed. Nothing worse than a house that's  froze in.

             WS

[StingingLips]

mine is 8 inches off the ice right now, not sure if that how it looks after the storm or not though

[buddah]

A few dead smallies.

[outdoorsman7617]

A few dead smallies.

you beat  me to it

[COLD-AS-ICE]

you beat  me to it

Don't forget a propane bottle and water bottle

[bait trap]

It'll make it a whole lot easier to get out if it's sitting up on blocks and once a week check the blocks as they melt into the ice and you'll have reblock it up..  Otherwise it'll melt into the ice also its a good idea to move it every once in a while bc it'll actually melt the ice under and around it. Causing a big weak spot or worse yet a hole.  I know from experience, I left my 8x9 perm out on my hone lake all season in the same spot and it had melted a hole under it. I found the hole when u moved it, it was as big as the shack.   

[whitefishlover]

Put it up on blocks, whatever scrap wood you have around.  Bank the shack with snow if there is any and if a draft through ice holes in the shack is an issue, either have covers for the holes not in use or cut the bottom out of 5 gallon pails and fit those through your holes.  But for sure get it off the ice unless you enjoy chisseling or losing skis.

[Scrub]

Find some cheapo plastic buckets- like at the dollar store- same size as your jigging holes. Cut the bottoms out of the buckets and press down in to keep the cold out while yer in the shack. If you cut squares in the floor, rather than circles, cut some luan to fit those and then cut round holes in the luan squares to fit the size of your augured holes in the ice. If the buckets don't quite fit so they squeeze in- slice from top to bottom and overlap sides.

[Sinnian]

Do all of us trollers a favor and use cinder blocks instead of wood -> they're only like a $1.50, so for $6 you have a little structure under your shack next year 

[MadDad]

have you ever seen those houses on blocking,5 or 6 feet off the ground, that are being readyed to move down the road? thats what your shack should kind of be like..

[woodchip]

Your fish holes.Line them with a cut off 5 gal plastic pail .fit them in tight with one ridge under the floor one ridge on top of the floor. save the part from below the bottom ridge cut out the bottom . when fishing place the sleeve in the hole to prevent drafts. when moving put top of pail on tight.  When leaving shack for a length of time don't let the runners freeze in  its  a hard chore to chisel out all runners if you can reach them.

[muskyfan51]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!  im gonna have to come up with something to make the five gallon pail thing work because the holes are rectangles

[kourtjestr]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!  im gonna have to come up with something to make the five gallon pail thing work because the holes are rectangles

Just hope they're the right size for the square kitty litter buckets.... 

[MadSledder]

Really no ones said it yet? Best thing to have under your shack? ICE!!   
I had to, but yes blocking, and don't forget to tie that puppy down and a few on here can attest to recently...

[billditrite]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!  im gonna have to come up with something to make the five gallon pail thing work because the holes are rectangles

easy just take a 2x2 pice of plywood and cut the hole to fit the bucket and let it lay on the floor over your most likely smaller square hole.

[gunrunner]

You DEFINATELY want some blocks under that.I prefer 4x4 ones.Four anchors in the ice will keep the worry down also on those windy storm blown nights....Just MHO....

[StingingLips]

You DEFINATELY want some blocks under that.I prefer 4x4 ones.Four anchors in the ice will keep the worry down also on those windy storm blown nights....Just MHO....

X2, I put 2 4x4's under mine on each corner to get it lifted 8 inches before nemo came. anchored all four corners too to help me sleep at night.

[muskyfan51]

how did you hook your shack down?

[StingingLips]

how did you hook your shack down?

I took some oak logs that are about 6 inches in diameter, cut them to 24 inches, drilled a hole at the corner of each shack, then take some rope and tie it to each log and push the log in the hole under the ice and turn it so the rope is in the middle of the log and the log won't get pulled out. then tie I tie the ropes to the eye bolts that are in each corner. I tie the wind facing wall first and push my shack as much as I can so the ropes are as tight as possible, then I tie the opposite wall as tight as possible. she won't go anywhere.

[mainedukblaster]

to prevent corner blocks sinking in, place a wide plank on the ice, then blocks on each end then put shack on that..  this will distribute the weight and it wont melt/sink in the ice.  If you look closely under my shack you can see what I mean, also drip boards (the angled 2x6) this allows water splashing off the roof, it splatters and freezes so it doesn't just melt the ice and make big holes///

[gunrunner]

I took some oak logs that are about 6 inches in diameter, cut them to 24 inches, drilled a hole at the corner of each shack, then take some rope and tie it to each log and push the log in the hole under the ice and turn it so the rope is in the middle of the log and the log won't get pulled out. then tie I tie the ropes to the eye bolts that are in each corner. I tie the wind facing wall first and push my shack as much as I can so the ropes are as tight as possible, then I tie the opposite wall as tight as possible. she won't go anywhere.

X2....And try to keep your holes in  the ice for your anchors small as possible.That way they have a better chance of freezing in faster in case we get warm weather.10 inch auger holes for anchors CAN become a problem if we get a warm blast before the holes freeze back up...If you KNOW the weather is going to stay cold 10 inch holes are not a problem.

[Dags Bait Maine]

to prevent corner blocks sinking in, place a wide plank on the ice, then blocks on each end then put shack on that..  this will distribute the weight and it wont melt/sink in the ice.  If you look closely under my shack you can see what I mean, also drip boards (the angled 2x6) this allows water splashing off the roof, it splatters and freezes so it doesn't just melt the ice and make big holes///

(Image removed from quote.)

Nice setup and as Jeff says you got the cinder block, when that freezes in and you can't get them out you can leave it and spring time it becomes struture so them little babies can hide and grow to be monsters.... ...

Marcel

[StingingLips]

X2....And try to keep your holes in  the ice for your anchors small as possible.That way they have a better chance of freezing in faster in case we get warm weather.10 inch auger holes for anchors CAN become a problem if we get a warm blast before the holes freeze back up...If you KNOW the weather is going to stay cold 10 inch holes are not a problem.

thats good advice also, we have been using 8 inch holes for them. and try not to put them where the water is going to drip off your shack into them.

[Nor Easter]

to prevent corner blocks sinking in, place a wide plank on the ice, then blocks on each end then put shack on that..  this will distribute the weight and it wont melt/sink in the ice.  If you look closely under my shack you can see what I mean, also drip boards (the angled 2x6) this allows water splashing off the roof, it splatters and freezes so it doesn't just melt the ice and make big holes///

(Image removed from quote.)

Nice setup and as Jeff says you got the cinder block, when that freezes in and you can't get them out you can leave it and spring time it becomes struture so them little babies can hide and grow to be monsters.... ...

Marcel

If the purpose is to prevent trollers from running into the floaters, the planks would still float and only the blocks would sink. If over ledge, yes it would make structure but if over muck which is probably up to 50% of all lake bottoms in Maine, the blocks would most likely just disappear. I lost an outboard off the transom of a boat in 35' of water that I had in the 80's and hired a diver (who was in our party that day) to try and retrieve it (paid for his tank refills). We did a grid search of the area (Great Pd Belgrade) for awhile but it was of his opinion that the bottom was SO soft that the motor probably just sank into the muck out of sight. He said he tried reaching into it at one point and he could reach right up to his shoulder and still barely feel any resistance whatsoever.

[gunrunner]

Nice setup and as Jeff says you got the cinder block, when that freezes in and you can't get them out you can leave it and spring time it becomes struture so them little babies can hide and grow to be monsters.... ...

Marcel


If the purpose is to prevent trollers from running into the floaters, the planks would still float and only the blocks would sink. If over ledge, yes it would make structure but if over muck which is probably up to 50% of all lake bottoms in Maine, the blocks would most likely just disappear. I lost an outboard off the transom of a boat in 35' of water that I had in the 80's and hired a diver (who was in our party that day) to try and retrieve it (paid for his tank refills). We did a grid search of the area (Great Pd Belgrade) for awhile but it was of his opinion that the bottom was SO soft that the motor probably just sank into the muck out of sight. He said he tried reaching into it at one point and he could reach right up to his shoulder and still barely feel any resistance whatsoever.

x2....My thoughts exactly!!Just ddd not want to say it!!