Thursday, February 27, 2014

Enjoy Winter Fishing With An Ice Fishing Fish House

By Leticia Jensen


Ice fishing used to be a getaway for only the hardiest souls willing to sit on a bucket or huddle in a lean-to, while perched over a fishing hole. With an ice fishing fish house, no need to leave your favorite spot to get rest and food. Anglers can rent or buy their own custom designed shelter. Modern shelters are carpeted and heated with comfy furniture and kitchen appliances.

Battery powered generators operate microwaves and ovens, refrigerators, and heated showers. Attach a satellite dish for TV reception. Deluxe homes can include fireplaces, bay windows, even vaulted ceilings. Many ice fishing houses are designed for use as hunting cabins for the remainder of the year.

Traditional shanty style homes are dragged onto the ice using ski-like runners. Pick your spot and that's the place for the remainder of the winter. New deluxe homes are on wheels and can be moved. Larger homes are placed with an hydraulic lift. Openings for angling are in the floor. Check local guides to be sure the ice is solid enough to hold the weight. Large, deluxe ice houses can weigh over 6000 pounds.

Catching fish in the modern world uses high tech gear to find fish including sonar fish-finders, lake-mapping maps for smart phones, and underwater cameras. Rods that rattle when a fish is on the line let fishermen watch the game or enjoy a game of poker while while waiting for a bite. Bait minnows might be in a built-in aquarium, with another tank to hold the day's catch.

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.

Areas with swift currents can have thinner ice surrounded by thick ice. A visual look can be deceptive. Offshore winds can break up ice leaving fishermen stranded on ice floes. A warming spell can cause weakness in the ice. Conditions can change quickly. Many cars, trucks, SUV's, snowmobiles, and fish houses fall through the ice every year. If you're setting your own house on the ice, consider insurance. Environmental laws require a speedy recovery that may require divers and a helicopter for hauling the lost house out of the water.

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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