The Ice Shack

The Ice Shack- A Few More Ideas

	Hi there! Well here we are again at the ice shack and in this article I will tell you about a few more things that make the ice fishing experience an interesting and rewarding event.
Once you have the hut all set up and you are ready to start fishing, you might want to consider to consider reducing the light level inside of the shack. If you darken the interior and the water is not too deep or dirty, you will be amazed at how well you can see the bottom. I tack up green garbage bags over the windows in the hut and if you don't tack the bottoms, you can still peak under the bags and see what is going on outside. A further idea is to drop some crushed egg shells into the hole and because they reflect any light (from outside the shack) that permeates the snow, ice and water. This further helps identify the bottom. Use the snow around and adjacent to you shack to bank it and by removing the snow cover, the exposed ice will maximize the amount of light from outside the shack that enters the water. It is really handy to be able to see exactly where you bait is in relation to the bottom and even more exciting to see a fish down there whack your bait.
The egg shells can also be used for chumming. They make an excellent attractant as they glitter and flitter on the way to the bottom. Uncooked rice or cooked barley are also very good for chumming. Both reflect light well. It also helps if you jig your bait. A small spoon with the hooks removed can be attached to the line about 8- 12 in. from the hook and this, when jigged, will often trigger a strike.
If you are fishing in deeper water and you can't see the bottom, a sonar (fish finder) might come in handy. This will help to identify the depth of the water and can also spot bait fish or any game fish that might be cruising by. There are all kinds of different units on the market but you need one that is reasonably portable. You can purchase a compact model with the battery enclosed. I use a flasher model that I use on my boat in the summer but in the winter it works well with a snowmachine battery as the source of power. This way the one unit does both tasks.
Now, here is a hint but you have to promise to pay close attention to the CAUTION. If you want to determine the water depth before you drill your holes, the transducer of the fish finder will read through the ice. Chop a hollow in the ice with your axe, put a liquid into the hollow and set the transducer into the liquid. Water can be used if the weather is mild enough. However, you can also use biodegradable windshield washer (-40 to -50) or biodegradable plumbing anti-freeze (-40 to-50).
CAUTION: NEVER, NEVER USE AUTOMOTIVE ANTI-FREEZE
This is highly toxic and poisonous and should never be put onto the ice and into the water.
	I usually like to drill extra holes in a variety of locations outside of the ice hut where I set up one line. I can move the line around to the various holes and this allows me to explore a larger area for that elusive prey.
The tip-up shown in the picture is a neat idea that I inherited from a friend. The rod part is a piece of dowel stuck into the end of a spring doorstop. This rig is very sensitive and will signal even the lightest of bites.
The final thing that I am going to add to this ice fishing segment is to ask you to be careful out there. I am not going to try to suggest to you how much ice makes conditions safe but please use common sense. More is definitely better than less. Too many serious accidents occur because over anxious people go out onto the ice before it is really safe. Be safe and not sorry and have a good day.