Safety tools and equipment for fishing with a Permanent Icehouse Iceshack?

So, getting ready to go ice fishing with my friend’s permanent Ice Castle and Legend this year and seeing what safety tools and equipment would be good to have.

Ice Chisel: I was wondering if people bring an ice chisel in case their icehouse gets frozen in. Sure everyone says block the house when temps are warm enough where there might be a melt and then refreeze but sometimes people don’t do that and you get caught with a frozen in icehouse.

If you have a chisel, what ones are good ones?

Traction Mats: Some type of emergency traction mat in case you get stuck.

https://gotreads.com/traction-tools/

Snow Chains for truck tires: If you had snow chains for your truck you could forgo the traction mats but if you’re only stuck a little bit it might be nice to just throw down the traction mats, get out, put them away and then go vs. putting on tire chains which is time consuming and a lot of work if you’re only stuck a little bit and could drive off easily once you’re out of that situation.

Also, putting on chains once you’re already stuck is hard to do. I know, I know, why not have the chains on already and you’d never get stuck but who always does that?

Shovel: This already goes without saying since you need it for ice fishing anyway.

Anything else?

We use kitty litter in a bucket for the toilet which does double duty in case you get stuck.

-Tow Strap
-Jumper cables/jumper pack
-Buddy heater & extra propane tank
-Spare plug & oil for generator
-Backup extension cord(s)
-Ratchet/Socket kit
-Floor jack (way quicker for changing a tire than the scissor jack)
-Lug nut wrench YOU CONFIRM fits the wheelhouse lug nuts
-Spare high limit switch for furnace

Most of that I keep in a tote in the back of my truck that always comes along when I’m taking the fish house anywhere.

waldo9190 wrote:

We use kitty litter in a bucket for the toilet which does double duty in case you get stuck.

-Tow Strap
-Jumper cables/jumper pack
-Buddy heater & extra propane tank
-Spare plug & oil for generator
-Backup extension cord(s)
-Ratchet/Socket kit
-Floor jack (way quicker for changing a tire than the scissor jack)
-Lug nut wrench YOU CONFIRM fits the wheelhouse lug nuts
-Spare high limit switch for furnace

Most of that I keep in a tote in the back of my truck that always comes along when I’m taking the fish house anywhere.

I agree with all of this. I’ll also include a few more things.
– Torch and lock antifreeze spray for frozen doors
– rubber mallet for chipping ice out of entry door frame; etc
– electric milk box heater as a backup. Will burn through generator gas but I won’t sleep with a big buddy on.
– electric blanket or hand warmers to wrap around propane regulator when really cold.
– spare thermostat
– I know some guys who also bring a spare regulator
– spade shovel
– grain shovel
– buddy with a spare truck

Beer…lots and lots of beer. Not only used for consumption but can be used as a bargaining tool for a little help.

Kitty litter is the best for stuck vehicle I have used.

Waldo and Nodak between the two of them nailed it. Instead of kitty litter for traction, I keep a 5 gallon bucket of ashes. But since I have a wood boiler, I’ve got ash coming out the wazoo.

Couple other things I’ve thought of since were a magnetic block heater and moving blanket I keep under a bench in the fish house if needed to keep tanks warm. Nodakk touched on the torch and hammer too. Sounds like a lot of gear but when SHTF at 2:00 am and it’s 0 outside you want to have a solid pile of gear to take care of things.

Last but not least….anticipated # of beers + 20% + an additional 20% for buddies who stop over for a few lol.

+ Carbon monoxide detector

No one brings an ice chipper?

I dont see it listed yet, maybe I missed it though.

Tool box specifically to stay in the fish house- metric and sae wrenches and sockets, screwdrivers, random fasteners, fuses, hammer, pliers, vise grip, channel lock, needle nose (not for hook removal) electrical tape, duct tape, knife,

Back up heater option.

usmarine0352 wrote:

No one brings an ice chipper?

I leave my chisel in the shack at all times, have not needed to use it yet but I do bring it.

No one uses chains or any type of traction mats?

usmarine0352 wrote:

No one uses chains or any type of traction mats?

I try and be very strategic with where I’m pulling my house on the lake. Earlier in the year if we haven’t had much snow and the plow banks on the road aren’t too bad, you can darn near go anywhere. Later in the year not so much. I have a buddy who has tire chains, but he generally only uses them once he’s stuck lol. You can get out of a pretty sticky spot with some shovel work and kitty litter. I’ve only had one time I believe where we got a pile of snow while we were out and I disconnected the house and ran down a path to get back to the road, would have gotten stuck otherwise.

If the mats/chains make you feel more comfortable then by all means throw them in the truck.

Snake ii’s wrote:

+ Carbon monoxide detector

Second that.

waldo9190 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>usmarine0352 wrote:</div>
No one uses chains or any type of traction mats?

I try and be very strategic with where I’m pulling my house on the lake. Earlier in the year if we haven’t had much snow and the plow banks on the road aren’t too bad, you can darn near go anywhere. Later in the year not so much. I have a buddy who has tire chains, but he generally only uses them once he’s stuck lol. You can get out of a pretty sticky spot with some shovel work and kitty litter. I’ve only had one time I believe where we got a pile of snow while we were out and I disconnected the house and ran down a path to get back to the road, would have gotten stuck otherwise.

If the mats/chains make you feel more comfortable then by all means throw them in the truck.

Disconnecting to run a path with just the truck definitely helps. Going to and from a spot. Tire chains are nice but once your stuck with those on, good luck.

Like I said before, a buddy with a second truck and a tow strap are your best option if your worried about getting stuck.

Another must have is a good first aid kit. And wire cutters. Pays when you get a hook to the finger 17 miles out on LoW…

All good advice. Also if you get chains, practice putting them on. Not fun figuring them out when it’s cold out. The quicker the better and you will be more likely to take the time to put them on before a situation if your well versed in putting them on. As far as chisels they are a must have. Mine I made years ago in metal shop. But if I were to buy a new one I’d look at the jiffy ones. I like the stepped cutting edge of the Mille lacs one. They look really sharp, but I don’t know if you can resharpen them.

waldo9190 wrote:

-Lug nut wrench YOU CONFIRM fits the wheelhouse lug nuts

This is a big one for everybody with any kind of trailer. I’m amazed at how many people think all lug nuts are a “standard size”. I screwed myself over on this one once with a rental trailer, I just assumed they included a lug wrench with the jack and spare tire and they did not.

Harbor Freight sells a nifty folding lug wrench that has the 4 common sizes on it. I have one in my truck and one in the boat.

i carry these lug nut sockets in my truck tool box along with a impact and spare batteries. i like to be overly prepared and probably carry more tools in my truck than most people own.

We have even brought a snow blower when there was a forecast for a decent snowfall. Having to rely on someone else for help, either on the lake or the road, when your fishing Red or LoW can be a waiting game.

Chains on trucks take only 10 minutes, on lakes with minimum road structure or icy steep accesses, allow for freer movement and a lot less stress. Found this on Winny coming out of High Point and on Leech last year. My brother and I found out the hard way about sockets not matching lug nuts. Always carry a 4way lug wrench.

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>waldo9190 wrote:</div>
-Lug nut wrench YOU CONFIRM fits the wheelhouse lug nuts

This is a big one for everybody with any kind of trailer. I’m amazed at how many people think all lug nuts are a “standard size”. I screwed myself over on this one once with a rental trailer, I just assumed they included a lug wrench with the jack and spare tire and they did not.

Harbor Freight sells a nifty folding lug wrench that has the 4 common sizes on it. I have one in my truck and one in the boat.

Another one is to have the right sized nut to get the spare tire off of the tire mount.

Many times people have the correct nut to change the tire but then find out the spare tire has different sized nut holding it to the mount or heaven forbid a lock that no one has the key too!

Nodakk wrote:

We have even brought a snow blower when there was a forecast for a decent snowfall. Having to rely on someone else for help, either on the lake or the road, when your fishing Red or LoW can be a waiting game.

Not a bad idea.

It’s good to have the right support crew. Sometimes just having them along helps when situations arise.

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castle-rock-clown wrote:

It’s good to have the right support crew. Sometimes just having them along helps when situations arise.

Even Nascar wouldn’t be able to afford that support crew.

castle-rock-clown wrote:

It’s good to have the right support crew.

Ladies, It appears we are stuck here for the night.