Ice tent

[fishgiver]

What are the experiences using ice shelters in winds of about 15mph? That is the forecasted wind speeds for Hyrum and Echo.
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[Fishin_dad]

I went ice fishing on echo the Tuesday after Christmas in a clam ice tent. The type that folds in on the sled for easy transport. It was blowing pretty hard outside but we were warm inside the tent. Three of is sitting on the chairs and it was fine. Two of us got up at the same time and suddenly our tent was sliding across the lake. Slowly, but moving. On my way home I stopped and purchased ice anchors for the next time. Went out two days later and started to have the same issues. Where their was no snow on the ice it was extremely slick. I drilled in two of my anchors and that was enough to keep the tent from sliding. I wouldn't try it again at echo or anywhere else where it is pure ice, no snow on top without anchors.
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[Jedidiah]

Last year during the Fish Lake tournament, winds got up in the low 20s and popped one of the buckles on the Cabelas xl2000 I have. It popped up the side of my tent, scattered fish and gear and when I ran out to fix the strap I found it had bent the metal buckle on the strap so I had to stand on the tent in the wind and repair it with one of those little knock off leathermans Cabelas sells. All the original ice anchors that came with the tent are now bent from the wind ripping the tent up.

The buckles on those straps are cheap and I am going to replace them, but the other thing is that I had made two mistakes: faced the side of my tent directly into the wind, and didn't have stakes to put in the internal anchors. Now I have a set of four of the big beefy Eskimo anchors that go on the outside anchors and if there's wind, the old anchors go inside. All that aside, you should always face a hub shelter's corner into the wind. The corners without the doors are designed to cut the wind, and that way you have two anchors taking the force of the wind.
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[El_Matador]

You'll be okay if you are prepared. Anchor your tent to the ice before popping it up, and then anchor the hubs with guy ropes (The ropes that come with most ice tents are pretty lame...build your own with some good rope and a piece of wood dowel with 2 holes drilled in it). Pointing a corner into the wind is a good idea. One difficulty I've had in windy conditions is, with a lack of snow on the ice its difficult to seal the bottom flaps up. You might consider placing some of your heavier stuff on the flaps to hold them down and keep out the wind.
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[dubob]

[quote fishgiver]What are the experiences using ice shelters in winds of about 15mph? That is the forecasted wind speeds for Hyrum and Echo.[/quote][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Here's my advice - ALWAYS ANCHOR. It absolutely is no fun chasing an un-anchored tent across the ice in the wind. []
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[kj]

Rather than using rope, use bungie cords. Allows for some flexing in windy conditions. Quick to hookup and take down. I use 36 inch bungees.
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[AllFish]

We were in a terrible gale force wind at pineview much of the night last week. In a large Eskimo Fatfish shelter. Lots of wind resistance with a large tent.

Had all stakes in, sides of tent staked with guy ropes, going to bring ratchet straps next time. Worried the tent was going to come apart with all the movement in the tent.
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[Jedidiah]

Yeah, these tents can withstand some serious weather if you have the right gear. My story was meant to underscore the points of having the right gear before it's needed.

About bungee cords. I almost lost an eye to a bungee cord last year because it was hooked down too tight on an unstable anchor point. A bungee holding down a tent that's straining against the wind is definitely going to give a little as the wind blows unless it's too tight in which case it could break. Don't know about you guys, but I have also had sun cause my anchors to melt tracks in the ice, requiring me to reset them. Approaching an anchor that's half melted out of the ice with a tight bungee holding it doesn't sound fun.
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[Addictedtoice]

I'm liking the nite ize figure 9 carabiners to anchor my tent down. They are fast easy to use and hold a tight grip on the rope.
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[RonPaulFan]

Let's post our ice fishing tent set up tips here. Equipment suggestions and thinking is invited, too.

I present some ideas here, but expect others with experience will see what I'm trying to accomplish and suggest better ideas and tips.

I'm going to set up an ice fishing tent for the first time. I bought the Cabela's 5 sided tent. I especially liked the windows all the way around, that it's black and can be very dark inside to better see the fish and to get warmer in the sun and I suspect the five sides makes it more round and stable in strong winds than four sided tents and with close examination the stitching seems to be very strong which maters because I've seen some fairly new tents with stitching stretching to let light in and looking like a weakness waiting for movement and wind to cause failures. They told me to wax the hubs for them to be lubricated and last with all the movement from wind.

Lubricating the hubs and wanting to practice setting it up and taking it down has me planning to set it up indoors Saturday to become proficient before doing it on ice and perhaps even in the dark and wind and with only one person. It might not be calm wind when I set it up, so for my practice, I'll do it with ways that might be best for those conditions.

To be able set up under adversities like snowing, strong wind, snow or slush cover with darkness and maybe even a need for speed, I'm thinking of being prepared by making a ice anchor location template out of some fifty pound test braid and put it into a tiny bag with the corners twist tied together to minimize tangles. That way, I can install all anchors before even taking the tent out of it's bag. The template will have zero slip loops tied in with rings tied to the loops with four pound test that mark the exact locations of the five corners. I'll screw an anchor into the ice through the first ring. Next, I'll pull the no stretch line out and put the second anchor into a next ring, so it will be precisely the correct distance from the first. The third ring of the braid template will also have a line to the first, so when I pull it for both sides of the triangle to be tight, it will be at the exact distance and angle for the precise location of the third anchor and so on. Picture the template of braid looking like a pentagon with a star in it to hold it's shape true. Once the five anchors are screwed in place on the ice, I'll pull up the braid template breaking the four pound test and put it away in it's small bag for next time and to not be in the way or cause trip hazard. The rings will stay on the anchors to be reused next time by tying them back onto the braid template later with four pound test.

If it's very windy, I'll anchor a corner or two of the tent before I even roll it out. Then I imagine I should pop the roof up before the sides while I can reach it easily.

I'll buy five extra anchors to have for the side guy lines for when wind is very strong. I'll likely use 550 paracord with a taut line hitch for adjustability.

For the possible hazard of high speed snow vehicles in poor visibility in the dark while I'm fishing, I'm thinking I might include some lightweight stakes with reflectors and maybe even reflective ribbon surrounding the tent out a ways.

I'll bring a flat blade shovel for snow and slush. I hear that fish might be attracted by clearing an area of ice of snow cover for sunlight penetration to produce an area of brightness under the ice. Perhaps that attracts tiny bugs that attract small fish that attract larger fish and my lures will glow and flash with better visibility.

I might want to ice fish overnight. I know many do for burbot and I might, too. But, the main attraction to me would be already being there, set up and ready for fishing the sunrise bite without the hassle of travel and setting up in the dark and without the disturbance of noise and augering holes running off the fish. For an overnighter, I have a cot and I have a foam pad. I can go lighter weight with just the thick foam pad and a sleeping bag or go heavier with a cot or both and it doubles as a chair for fishing.

On ice fishing chairs, I've been tempted to buy a hunting blind chair. They fold up for carry and have a swivel seat. A bucket is lighter, doubles for multiple uses and can have a swivel seat, too. But, the hunting blind chair has a back which would be more restful for an extended stay. I'm even thinking of those fancy folding recliners which can be for both fishing and reclining to sleep part of the night. I haven't decided, but I have been ice fishing four seasons with just a bucket to sit on. Mainly, the greater comforts would be for overnight stays.

What are your tips, ideas and equipment or accessories suggestions?
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