20% Off Ice Defense

In case anyone was thinking about buying an Ice Defense unit, they have a promo code for the Ducks Unlimited ice contest for 20% off running until the 15th.

Use Promo Code DU20 at the checkout at http://www.coldnationoutdoors.com

I wouldn’t be surprised to see major sales on these as I doubt they are a big hit.

shady5 wrote:

I wouldn’t be surprised to see major sales on these as I doubt they are a big hit.

Actually they have almost sold out at the all the retail stores they are in currently and they really work well.

They work.

Man there sure not cheap and I’ve never used one. What if a guy took a cheap 12v aerater and put the air tube down in the hole, you could getter bigger bubbles without using a air stone on the end of the air tube also. Anyone tried that?

Coletrain27 wrote:

Man there sure not cheap and I’ve never used one. What if a guy took a cheap 12v aerater and put the air tube down in the hole, you could getter bigger bubbles without using a air stone on the end of the air tube also. Anyone tried that?

It isn’t an aerator. There are no bubbles. This should help answer your question.

I see now!

Coletrain27 wrote:

Man there sure not cheap and I’ve never used one. What if a guy took a cheap 12v aerater and put the air tube down in the hole, you could getter bigger bubbles without using a air stone on the end of the air tube also. Anyone tried that?

Though the Ice defense isn’t a bubbling aerator, I wouldn’t be surprised if what you’re mentioning could be effective.

Typed in the code at checkout in says invalid. Looks like I will not be buying one. Anyone else have this issue?

Eelpoutguy wrote:

They work.

I’m sure they do. But so does an $8 scooper.

The “discounted” price of $80 for this little gem seems like it would still be for the rich and famous.

I’m looking at it in more practical terms. Watching the video it looks like what’s nifty is that you would NEED to attach this to your locater/shuttle setup.

So I think that rules out tip-ups or I-Fish Pro setups.

In the video the comparisons were Ice Defense, bubbling aerator, and nothing at all…over a 30 minute period.

Realistically, who’d fish motionless over a hole for 30 minutes? If I’m not catching fish in that time span, I’d either be moving to another hole or at least reeled in for a quick scoop ‘o’ the hole.

Oh well, I’m still using a 20+ year old FL-8 so I’m just another “old timer”

Jensen wrote:

Typed in the code at checkout in says invalid. Looks like I will not be buying one. Anyone else have this issue?

It just worked for me.

Caps D U 20

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eelpoutguy wrote:</div>
They work.

I’m sure they do. But so does an $8 scooper.

The “discounted” price of $80 for this little gem seems like it would still be for the rich and famous.

I’m looking at it in more practical terms. Watching the video it looks like what’s nifty is that you would NEED to attach this to your locater/shuttle setup.

So I think that rules out tip-ups or I-Fish Pro setups.

In the video the comparisons were Ice Defense, bubbling aerator, and nothing at all…over a 30 minute period.

Realistically, who’d fish motionless over a hole for 30 minutes? If I’m not catching fish in that time span, I’d either be moving to another hole or at least reeled in for a quick scoop ‘o’ the hole.

Oh well, I’m still using a 20+ year old FL-8 so I’m just another “old timer”

Andy have you watched the latest IDO episode? Take a real close look at the iFishPro they use…….

Also it takes 30 minutes to melt the snow that James literally filled the hole with. When I pop a hole mine it takes about 10 minutes to melt an average amount of snow. I won’t ever argue with someone who say’s they’d rather use a scoop. But if you can afford it, it’s a pretty nice gadget to have.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Andy have you watched the latest IDO episode??? Take a real close look at the iFishPro they use…….

Also it takes 30 minutes to melt the snow that James literally filled the hole with. When I pop a hole mine it takes about 10 minutes to melt an average amount of snow. I won’t ever argue with someone who say’s they’d rather use a scoop. But if you can afford it, it’s a pretty nice gadget to have.

Wow, yes I did watch the last episode and never even noticed the Ice Defense gadget. I went back and found it on the Green Bay segment when they got the big walleye from the I-Fish.

So now I wonder how they had it powered?

Maybe if James is following this thread he could enlighten us?

But all and all, I have to control myself in buying every new gizmo…I’ve been there before and too much of it I find 5 years later on the back of a garage shelf.

My bad…

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
Andy have you watched the latest IDO episode??? Take a real close look at the iFishPro they use…….

Also it takes 30 minutes to melt the snow that James literally filled the hole with. When I pop a hole mine it takes about 10 minutes to melt an average amount of snow. I won’t ever argue with someone who say’s they’d rather use a scoop. But if you can afford it, it’s a pretty nice gadget to have.

Wow, yes I did watch the last episode and never even noticed the Ice Defense gadget. I went back and found it on the Green Bay segment when they got the big walleye from the I-Fish.

So now I wonder how they had it powered?

Maybe if James is following this thread he could enlighten us?

But all and all, I have to control myself in buying every new gizmo…I’ve been there before and too much of it I find 5 years later on the back of a garage shelf.

My bad…

No judgement here.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Maybe if James is following this thread he could enlighten us?

I’d be happy to shed some light on how that I fish Pro is rigged. Keep in mind that this is a first attempt prototype Blair, the owner of ice defense, put together for me.

Everything is powered from an internal battery that Blair integrated into the base of an original ifishpro before filling the cavity with spray foam and covering it with a thin piece of plastic.

The battery capacity is sufficient to run run for multiple days without a need to recharge. I’m not certain of the actual battery capacity but I don’t see any reason for a larger battery based on the runtime I’ve experienced so far.

The power controller is mounted to the exterior of the base and the internal battery is charged back through the same connector the controller hooks up to.

The ice defense unit itself goes down through the top of the I fish Pro through a hole that Blair drilled that is slightly larger in diameter than the ice defense unit.

I’m not sure what Blair’s plans are for offering a mod like this in the future but I can tell you without hesitation it works well and because the internal battery is an inexpensive lithium pack the mod really doesn’t add that much weight.

As for the effectiveness of the ice defense unit itself it does exactly what the video shows. Put it in a slush free hole and it will keep it iced free for as long as power is kept to the unit regardless of temperature.

Put it in a hole that’s full of ice shavings and it takes about 10 minutes to melt it all away.

I don’t use the ice defense unit in every fishing situation. For example, if I’m rapidly hopping from one hole to the next chasing perch I’m not going to be in any one place long enough for the ice defense unit to go to work.

Where I found it very effective is anytime I’m fishing and ice buildup starts impeding my ability to work the bait the way I want it due to the line hanging up.

More pics.

I don’t have the one that’s modified but I ran mine under my ifishpro this morning hooked up to my flasher. I had one thermal tip up out and my iFish pro targeting pike. Never had to go out and pop the ice cap under the ifishpro.

They run directly off a flasher battery so if you have a spare you can set it next to your ifishpro or tip up and run it off that as well.

Andy,
IMHO you can’t compare The Ice defense to a scooper, it just works that well. As far as motionless for 30 minutes, I was catchin crappies out of the same hole for an hour or so and to keep the hole ice free during that time was very priceless.

Coletrain,
You could try that and after you start tweakin it until you get it to work you, you woulda been better off plunkin down the jing for a proven product. Just sayin.

I can see the appeal of this but the price of $80 with the discount gives me pause. I can probably think of 10 things I’d rather spend $80 on.
Full disclaimer I’m a minimalist when it comes to putting things in the same hole I’m going to be pulling fish out of. This can veer into the do you pull the transducer when you have a fish on debate. When I’m fishing alone I don’t complete focus is keeping that line tight and getting the fish up. I very rarely get a fish tangled up in the transducer cable but with this other device in the hole the probability of that would increase I imagine.

Not to mention the need for a separate battery or more drain on your flasher battery.

If you a minimalist why do you have a locator?

FWIW – I plug my Ice Defense into my shuttle and they both runs for 8+ hours.
1 battery and not much more of a drain.

IMHO – If you’re not in a house, they’re worth it.

I’ve been wanting to get one of these but just can’t justify spending that much money. I’ve experimented with just a regular aerator to keep the I fish pro hole open and it does work. It doesn’t keep all the ice out of the hole but does prevent from freezing over. The key is to add some weight to the bottom of the hose and to keep that hose bubbling just at the surface of the hole. I’ve ran test holes next to the aerated hole and the test hole froze over within minutes while the aerated hole stayed open.I don’t need the hole to be completely ice free, just need it to stay open enough so that the line doesn’t freeze in. I’m expecting there to be some competition for ice defense in the upcoming years and hopefully this will drive the price down, because IMHO $100 is a ridiculous asking price for this product.

I tried 3 different aerator style units to keep my ifishpro hole open before the Ice Defense came out and they all crapped out on me before the end of the season. All 3. I think the reason it’s expensive is because all the parts are designed to handle the extreme cold and are made in the US. That will always make things more expensive.

IceCap, you won’t even notice a difference in your battery life. It’s that small of a draw.

Either way, I really enjoy mine and think it’s worth the money IMO.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

If you a minimalist why do you have a locator?

FWIW – I plug my Ice Defense into my shuttle and they both runs for 8+ hours.
1 battery and not much more of a drain.

IMHO – If you’re not in a house, they’re worth it.

Um, minimalist means just that. Nothing more than what’s needed, the minimum. A locator is needed. This device is not imo.

How do these hook up to the helix units?

Jensen wrote:

How do these hook up to the helix units?

There is an adaptor cord that comes with the unit that connects to the power cord.

Took advantage of the 20% off and I’m going to give the Ice Defense a try. I like trying new things and if it doesn’t work out at least I tried. Pics here of it mounted on my home made “Shuttle” LOL

Ice cap,
Thanks for the definition clarification

I’m guessing Mahto and Eelpout have some small equity stake in the company. Either that or have short positions in the ice scooper guys….

Just one more thing to have hanging off my shuttle that I feel is unnecessary for the way I fish. If it’s that cold that my holes keep freezing, I will be inside my hub. Not that I’m a wuss, but hard to feel bites, see the screen, and dealing with wind ain’t no fun. Next to an ifish pro?? Now that may peak my interest but I doubt it.

shady5 wrote:

I’m guessing Mahto and Eelpout have some small equity stake in the company. Either that or have short positions in the ice scooper guys….

I know the owner. So what? I purchased my Ice Defense just like everyone else. I happen to really enjoy using it and aside from the fact that the owner is a quality individual and wishing for his company succeed I don’t see the problem in supporting a company.

I don’t care if you want to use a scoop. Go ahead. But if you enjoy having nice things that do their job well, and you don’t mind spending the money, this is a great product.

Just because we say a product works means we have a stake in the company?