Anchoring a Hub Style Fish House

So looking at the anchors for a hub style fish house. Wouldn’t it be much easier to carry a number of 1/2″ X 10″ lag screws and a charged 18v drill?

A little insight from guys with hub houses would be appreciated.

I thought the same thing you did. Expensive to buy the commercial screws for the houses. Take a look at them though. They have a notch cut out along there length for the first few inches. It lets the “cut ice” escape. Take a look at climbing ice screws and they are hollow, once again allowing ice to escape the hole. I experimented with some 1/2″ and 3/8 inch X 8 inch regular commercial lag bolts made for landscape timbers. Without a notch cut in the ice would explode and shatter and the bolt would not be secure. I took an angle grinder and “carefully” cut a notch in the first few inches of a couple of lag bolts and tried them. I put them in with a ratchet but they went in fine and held. A much cheaper option certainly. I think running the lag screws through one link of some light chain will give you something easy to fasten a rope or strap to for securing the shelter out to the side. A big washer would be appropriate for the base of the shelter.
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Lloyd

I’ve got to tell ya, those anchors that came with my Eskimo hub a few years back really go into the ice well. They come out even easier . My anchors also have the cut up a few inches from the tip and I would also say that the tip is much more pointed than any regular lag I have seen.

My opinion is that they work great. It takes a few minutes to get a few of them in but they have always held great. Unless the wind is really blowing and I need to anchor a hub, I usually just anchor using the grommets in the corners.

I have thought about trying to craft a bit that could be used in a cordless drill that would screw the provided anchors for me but have not gotten around to it.

Good luck,
Dave

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I have thought about trying to craft a bit that could be used in a cordless drill that would screw the provided anchors for me but have not gotten around to it.

Good luck,
Dave

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Perhaps a 1″ hole saw notched out to fit the handle of the anchors in?

Wade,

I think that would be a great option to try. With my luck I would have to grind the teeth off the hole saw or I would end up cutting my hub and myself Either way, that suggestion sounds like it should be the right shape and style to get the job done.

Dave

I bought the tool from Clam for $12 bucks and use my old wood brace drill rather than a battery powered job. Takes away the need to charge one more battery.

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I’ve got to tell ya, those anchors that came with my Eskimo hub a few years back really go into the ice well.

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… I was just gonna say. The Eskimo anchors are unbeatable. They go in so easily and two or four in the grommets in the corners does the trick. They are $11 per pair at Farm and Fleet and well worth the money.

I have a clam hub style and liked their anchor system, but purchased the Ultimate Ice Anchor at a show two seasons ago and couldn’t be happier with ease of going into the ice and exiting the ice and also the sheer strength they have!

I bought some 8″ bolts from Menards. Some sort of lag, but these use a torx head driver. They seem to have what I would call serrated edge on the threads. They work great, especially since I welded a couple drivers onto some 2.5′ rods (electric fence posts) and a 24v drill. No more bending or squatting to get em’ in.