Portable Ice House Modifications on a budget...
I want to be more mobile on the ice this year, even when not using my snowmachine. I think I'll catch more fish if I try several spots in a day versus setting up and waiting for the fish. My answer is to stay really lightweight and better use my old flip style shelter. Above is a photo of what I came up with this fall.
The house is an old, very small Sportmax flip shack. It is extremely lightweight (about 20lbs). It is tiny and wouldn't hold up to to much banging around behind a snowmachine. I got it for $39.99 when Sportmax went out of business 10 years ago.
Modifications:
1. Snowflap extension. The front snowflap was too short. I attached some old fish house material (a friend’s house disintegrated) and attached it to the front flap to extend it. This helps keep the wind out (this house has no zipper door, so I can't bank it with snow). Cost: Negligible.
2. Reflective insulation. I installed an insulation layer (made from reflective insulation pockets in which my daughter’s medicine was mailed to us) on the ceiling of the house to help hold in some more heat. Just like Reflectix, but I got it for no $. Cost: Negligible
3. Pipe foam. I put some pipe foam on the bars of the house where my legs rest. Resting my knees on the metal (this house is a real coffin) made them cold. Cost: Negligible (had it left over from another project).
4. Canoe Chair. I took a canoe chair I had and strapped it to a cooler to make a chair. Cost: Negligible (I already use the chair in the canoe).
5. Cooler. The cooler is my storage locker. It holds nearly everything I'll need, including my flasher (the Showdown Troller is small enough to fit and is about the cheapest flasher you can buy new). I attached high-use items to the front. Cost: $20 for the cooler.
6. Rod Protectors. I took long plastic fluorescent light bulb protectors and modified them to slip over my rods. Used double faced velcro to hold them in place. Cost: $6
7. Metal washers. I attached a bunch of heavy washers to the bottom of the snow flap all around the house...helps hold them down to the ice in a wind. Cost: $3
8. Rod Holder. Took a U bolt and attached to the back of the sled, to the side. It will hold a rod when I am fishing with it. Cost: $3
9. Took an old Berkley rod rack I had in my garage and attached the bottom half to the sled. They will hold the rods as I move from spot to spot. Cost: $10
10. Foam Foot Pad. Took an old foam sleeping pad, cut it to size, and wrapped it in burlap (to make it anti-slip). Keeps feet off the ice and warmer. Cost: Negligible.
11. Drink holder. I installed a flip-down can holder, made of metal, it should hold up to the cold. Cost: $10.
House and Modification Costs...$92.
Too keep it light and pullable...I use the Nils 6" hand auger (I've pulled a 39" laker and a 41" pike out of a 6" hole before...not at the same time...the auger has a different design that really makes it easier to get through thick ice. I invested in the Showdown troller flasher/fishfinder this fall. Its size allows it to be stored in the cooler and it is the cheapest flasher I found. No idea how it will work, however. I mostly fish out of the way lakes for trout, so I suspect it will be fine.
Okay then, bring on the ice! Looking at the forecast, we should be hitting the ice by Thanksgiving.
