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 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.
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.
It's not a primitive sport anymore. Anglers pick their fishing holes based on information gleaned from lake-mapping apps for smart phones, sonar fish finders, and underwater cameras. While the fish are away, anglers can enjoy TV, snacks, a game of poker with their buddies. Built-in aquariums keep fresh bait at hand, and keep the catch of the day fresh until it's frying time.
Lake side resorts at popular lakes rent ice fishing houses. They monitor ice conditions for safety. They keep the roads plowed and mark plowed roads. Renters can drive to their rental unit. Many also offer shuttle service. Rent for half days, overnights, weekends, or the week. Rent a basic model with a bunk for 2 or a large house that sleeps 10 or even 12.
Popular lakes sprout miniature cities during the ice fishing season from December through March. In 2013, anglers occupied over 5,000 shelters on Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota. Resorts place satellite toilet facilities for use by anglers with basic shelters not including 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.
Some resorts offer hauling assistance to anglers wanting to place their own home on the ice. Experienced fishermen teach newcomers how to bait and catch fish. Rental homes are usually carpeted, heated, and furnished, with 2-8 holes cut in the floor. Rent a basic unit then head home or to a local motel for the night. Or rent a deluxe shelter with beds, stove, refrigerator, shower, and TV for an overnight or longer stay.
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.
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.
It's not a primitive sport anymore. Anglers pick their fishing holes based on information gleaned from lake-mapping apps for smart phones, sonar fish finders, and underwater cameras. While the fish are away, anglers can enjoy TV, snacks, a game of poker with their buddies. Built-in aquariums keep fresh bait at hand, and keep the catch of the day fresh until it's frying time.
Lake side resorts at popular lakes rent ice fishing houses. They monitor ice conditions for safety. They keep the roads plowed and mark plowed roads. Renters can drive to their rental unit. Many also offer shuttle service. Rent for half days, overnights, weekends, or the week. Rent a basic model with a bunk for 2 or a large house that sleeps 10 or even 12.
Popular lakes sprout miniature cities during the ice fishing season from December through March. In 2013, anglers occupied over 5,000 shelters on Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota. Resorts place satellite toilet facilities for use by anglers with basic shelters not including 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.
Some resorts offer hauling assistance to anglers wanting to place their own home on the ice. Experienced fishermen teach newcomers how to bait and catch fish. Rental homes are usually carpeted, heated, and furnished, with 2-8 holes cut in the floor. Rent a basic unit then head home or to a local motel for the night. Or rent a deluxe shelter with beds, stove, refrigerator, shower, and TV for an overnight or longer stay.
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