This fishing tip involves keeping your favourite ice fishing hut’s holes free of freeze ups, and thanks to Chris Palmgren of Northern Cottage Services for this tip. We already knew about the bucket idea but the insulation warmed us. Read on.

One of the worst problems facing us ice fishing enthusiasts is drilling through the ice. Up here in the Northern Ontario Outdoors, we usually drill through 2 – 3 feet of ice all season long. I am not kidding. We have bottomed out most augers, powered and hand, wearing down even the best of men. When we set up an ice hut it is not uncommon for us to return to our hut after a day or two to find the holes completely/solidly frozen requiring our augers, not just a spud like some of you lucky ice anglers.

Here is what you do. It is a two step process. First, get a liner for your holes, the depth/length according to regular ice conditions. A simple five gallon pail will do, or even a two and a half gallon pail for you fishemen with thinner ice conditions. Slice it down it’s length/depth so it can be rolled if necessary to fit your holes. You might have to remove material, from the length/depth of the bucket, you have to trim to fit. This liner is already going to go a long way to help keeping your holes from completely freezing over.

To really keep your holes literally “frost free” all winter long in your huts, take some home insulation, just a small piece ( a few feet long by 6 to 12 inches wide), enough to roll up, tightly, and then tied, to the size of one of your ice fishing holes, then wrap it up in a plastic bag, secure it and “stuff your hole”. This will help prevent freeze ups, constant re-drilling, etc.

Kraig Edwards
President
FishingNorthernOntario.com

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