Friday, March 7, 2014

Enjoy Winter Fishing With An Ice Fishing Fish House

By Leticia Jensen


Ice fishing used to be a sport for the rugged individualist. A few hearty souls, mostly male, sitting on buckets or in a small wooden shanty, dressed in coats and gloves, braving the cold. Times have changed. Now anglers can buy or rent an ice fishing fish house complete with heat, carpeting, kitchen appliances, and furniture.

Battery operated generators support TV's, ovens and microwaves, refrigerators, bathrooms, heated showers, stereo systems, satellite dishes, and fireplaces. When not being used as a fishing shelter, they can be placed in the woods for a hunting cabin. There are many choices of design with many options to choose from including vaulted ceilings and bay windows.

All shelters are built with several fishing holes cut into the floor. Traditional shelters are loaded onto ski-like runners and pulled onto the ice. Anglers must choose their spot carefully because they're difficult to move. Newer styles are transported on wheels. Hydraulic lifts place larger homes on the ice. Follow local regulations to be sure you're placing your shelter on thick enough ice to support the weight. Larger homes can weigh more than 6000 pounds.

Keep bait and the day's catch fresh with built-in aquariums. Check lake-mapping maps from your smart phone when deciding on a location. Underwater cameras and sonar fish-finders alert anglers to fish movements. While waiting for fish to travel your way, anglers can relax in their heated shelter, sitting on a comfortable couch, enjoying hot meals and watching TV.

Lake side resorts rent ice fishing houses. Rent for a few hours, overnight, for the weekend, for the week. Rent a basic unit, heated but minus the TV and refrigerator. Or rent a deluxe home with all the amenities and sleeping quarters for 10 or 12. Resorts keep a close watch on ice conditions. They plow roadways. Renters can drive to the door of their temporary abode. Many also offer a shuttle service so renters can leave their car on shore.

From December to March, anglers rent or place their own houses on the ice, creating miniature cities at popular lakes in the wintry north. Last year a city of 5000 plus houses covered Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota. Resorts position satellite toilet facilities on the ice for anglers without a private bathroom.

Before placing a shelter, check local guides and abide by local regulations. Ice forming over a swift current looks sturdier than it is. Offshore winds can lead to ice break up, leaving anglers stranded on ice floes. Thin patches of ice develop quickly as weather warms. If you own a fish house, it's wise to have insurance. Environmental regulations require a speedy recovery of homes and vehicles that fall through the ice. Recovery often requires the assistance of diving teams. A helicopter may be necessary to raise a large home from underwater.

For a day trip, rent a basic model with heat, carpeting, and a comfy couch. If your new to the sport, a local guide can show you how it's done. Return to home or a local motel for the night. For overnight stays, high end homes contain beds, appliances, private bathroom and heated shower. Many lakeside resorts also provide hauling assistance for anglers wanting to get their own custom built house onto the ice.




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