How to build a Ice Fishing House in Minnesota

[PocketThunder]

So its that time of year where we get out on the ice and cut some holes to sit and freeze our nuts off in hopes of catching a fish.  Sometime along the road of life people decide to bring our homes out on the lake with us to stay warm.  This made ice fishing much more enjoyable.  I never got into fishing at all but now with the possibility of having my own little man castle to sit in and catch bottle bass, i'm all for it. 

This is an old garden shed in my back yard that i dont need anymore since i built a detached garage for my Charger.  So, since i'm on a budget (need money for my Charger) i'm gonna try and get this thing out on the ice for some fishing for the next two months for as cheap as possible.  I took the shed apart Christmas Eve and as you can see the floor joists were rotted away.

After a trip to Home Depot i picked up some 10' 2x10's for ski's, some 2x6's for new joists and a couple sheets of 3/4 OSB for the floor sheating.  The shed is 8x8 but i'm making it 7x8 so i can haul it on a trailer (that is 7' wide).

The other night my buddy stopped over and we notched out the framing members and built the floor structure.  Tonight i got the sheating nailed down and trimmed up and ready for insulation.  We will insulate the floor with a couple inches of foam to keep the floor insulated from the ice.  We will also insulate the walls and ceiling like you would normally do.

I'll post more pictures as the week goes on.  I should have this on the ice ready for catching Muskies in about a week and a half.  So far i'm into it for $95 in wood and a $100 ventless propane heater to keep us warm.

Paul

[PocketThunder]

Here is my Charger quietly awaiting spring time. 

Here is 13" of snow we had by the afternoon on Christmas Eve with another Foot to come over the next day.  Time to buy a snow blower.

My shop that i built last summer.  Pay no attention to the brand X car on the right.. 

[PocketThunder]

Here is the new floor structure ready for sheating.

Sheating on.

Tipped up againts the wall and ready for insulation.

[69bronzeT5]

We don't use a house when we go ice fishing at the lake by my mom's. We just take the snowmobiles out there, cut the hole in the ice. Set up the little woodstock and fish away Great idea though and good design for the house

[b5blue]

Being from Florida and unable to stand, much less fish on ice, this is something I am clueless about. Should there be a hole in the floor to fish through?  If not how much extra do the Hookers charge to "go offshore"? Down here it depends on how nice the boat is. 

[PocketThunder]

Being from Florida and unable to stand, much less fish on ice, this is something I am clueless about. Should there be a hole in the floor to fish through?  If not how much extra do the Hookers charge to "go offshore"? Down here it depends on how nice the boat is. 

I haven't cut the holes yet in the floor.  I'll get the rest of it built, then set up some chairs inside and get a general feel for where the best spot for the holes should be.  But, i like your idea better.   I should put up a pole right in the middle.          Wait, did i say pole?  I meant fishing pole, but you guys knew that right?   

[b5blue]

Well.....you need a "pole" and a "hole" we will leave it at that.  So when your done "fishing".....and the ice starts to melt...do you drag this home or next year build a new one on top of it? 

[PocketThunder]

Well.....you need a "pole" and a "hole" we will leave it at that.  So when your done "fishing".....and the ice starts to melt...do you drag this home or next year build a new one on top of it? 

All shacks have to be off the ice by March 1st.  I'll drag it onto a trailer and put it back in my yard to use as a shed for the rest of the year.  I suppose i could still "go fishing" when its in my back yard.  After all it will be heated.   

[dodgecharger-fan]

Some shacks I've seen have had the holes along the wall to make for more elbow room and easy access to the door.

Putting one big hole in the middle and sitting around it just makes for something to jump over if you have to get up. Besides that lends itself to everyone fishing in the same hole and that just leads to tangled lines.

Think about the auger size you have for cutting the holes - don't make your floor holes TOO much bigger than that.

Ya'd think I was an expert, but I've never done it before. I learned this stuff from talking to my brother - who does go out every year.

[ITSA426]

Minnesota is a great state with its own quirkiness.  Years ago a friend of mine simply enlarged the rust holes in the floor of his old Imperial and fished from the comfort of his car.  I don't remember if he bored the hole in the ice and drove over it or augured through from the back seat.  He got pulled out of it one time by an eager police officer who thought he was suffering from CO poisoning, sitting in the seat, motionless, concentrating on his rig, with the motor running for heat and the radio on.  Winters seem long here and we need to find something for entertainment. 

[GPULLER]

Putting one big hole in the middle and sitting around it just makes for something to jump over if you have to get up. Besides that lends itself to everyone fishing in the same hole and that just leads to tangled lines.

Yeah, dont want a bunch of guys sticking their poles in the same hole at one time.....

[b5blue]

Ba dump dump! (saw that coming)

[ITSA426]

Aren't snowmobiles just for trolling?

[NHCharger]

You see ice house's all over the place here in NH. For some reason my father and grandpa use to call the bob houses' A lot of these houses are so big that they panelize them. So it only takes two guys about an hour to put them together. Many are furnished with TV's, hot plates, sofa's, etc.
Of course many have the plack on the wall stating "A bad day fishing is still better than a good day with the wife"

[bull]

So do people normally auger the fishing holes out? The one time I went ice fishing I used a chainsaw to cut the hole. It worked pretty good except it sprayed water on my leg.

[PocketThunder]

So do people normally auger the fishing holes out? The one time I went ice fishing I used a chainsaw to cut the hole. It worked pretty good except it sprayed water on my leg.

I've never used a chain saw, we have only used an auger.

Today i got the floor insulated with 2" thick foam.  They were left over pieces from my buddies basement project.  And i scored some free windows off craigslist this morning.  I got 3 walls stood up today but it was about 6ºF out today so i only worked for 2 hours.  I cant wait to have this thing heated and nice and toasty warm inside.

Paul

[General_01]

You were outside working on that? I was only outside long enough to pick up some sheetrock at Menards and then bring it in the house. It was cold outside!! Brrrrr!!!!

The Fish house is looking good. I am working on fininshing off the basement. My father-in-law is helping me out. We wired in some outlets today. Tomorrow we sheetrock and frame up some walls and try to finish sheetrocking Sunday. Sorry to hijack your thread.

[bakerhillpins]

I've never used a chain saw, we have only used an auger.

Nice Hut!  Needs a box on the outside where you put the beer ball.   

Only used a chainsaw to cut through ice when we were doing cold water rescue training with the Fire dept.. Typically we did ours with a hand auger. It was shaped like a spoon with a sharp front on it and had a bend in it like a hand drill. Kept ya warm going through all that ice.

Nothing like these guys though....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x768VAsOQSw

[PocketThunder]

Got the front wall on yesterday and framed up some roof rafters.  Then i got cold and called it a day.  I wont get any work done on it today.  Its a balmy 4ºF out right now and we are having my sons birthday party this afternoon.  Next weekend though i should be able to have it lake ready..   

Paul

[b5blue]

  Almost there!

[Arthu®]

It looks nice and I always admire your skills (wish I had them). But I have one question though if you are not even that big on fishing is this really something that couldn't wait until spring? I mean than you an also fish and also be warm and if you like you could even take the house to the shore and fish from there. I think it would have saved you a lot of time outside in the cold making that thing. Personally not very big on fishing or winter so when I think of the horror of building that outside in 4F I personally would have used a few bad words and abandoned the project. But again I applaud you for your skills it actually looks pretty decent, can't wait for the pictures of it on the ice and the fish (I do love fish).

Arthur

[General_01]

Arthur, you don't go ice fishing to catch fish. You go ice fishing to get out of the house (and away from the wife and kids. SHHHHHHHH! Don't tell anyone!!!!!!)

[PocketThunder]

Arthur, you don't go ice fishing to catch fish. You go ice fishing to get out of the house (and away from the wife and kids. SHHHHHHHH! Don't tell anyone!!!!!!)

     

[General_01]

By the way, it looks good Paul. Keep it up. 

[Arthu®]

Arthur, you don't go ice fishing to catch fish. You go ice fishing to get out of the house (and away from the wife and kids. SHHHHHHHH! Don't tell anyone!!!!!!)

     

Ah that I can understand!