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.
All the comforts of home are available including heaters, microwaves, ovens, refrigerators, heated showers. Watch TV or listen to the radio. Some deluxe models include fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, and bay windows. Deluxe shelters often double as hunting cabins.
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.
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.
You don't have to buy your own house to enjoy an ice fishing adventure. Local resorts rent shelters from basic models with heat, carpeting, and comfy couches, to deluxe models with beds, showers, appliances and TV. They plow roads so anglers can drive right up to the door of their rented shelter. Many also offer shore to door shuttle service. Stay for a day, a couple days, or enjoy a weeks vacation camping out on the ice.
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.
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.
All the comforts of home are available including heaters, microwaves, ovens, refrigerators, heated showers. Watch TV or listen to the radio. Some deluxe models include fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, and bay windows. Deluxe shelters often double as hunting cabins.
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.
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.
You don't have to buy your own house to enjoy an ice fishing adventure. Local resorts rent shelters from basic models with heat, carpeting, and comfy couches, to deluxe models with beds, showers, appliances and TV. They plow roads so anglers can drive right up to the door of their rented shelter. Many also offer shore to door shuttle service. Stay for a day, a couple days, or enjoy a weeks vacation camping out on the ice.
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.
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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