Ice Fishing Shelters

Many fisherman fish with no protective structure, merely heavy coats and gloves and other winter wear. Longer fishing expeditions can be mounted with simple structures. Larger, heated structures can make multi-day fishing trips possible, but these are often eschewed by seasoned fishers, many of whom do not use these larger shelters.

A structure with various local names, but often called an ice shanty, ice shack, fish house, or just plain shack, bobhouse, or ice hut, is sometimes used. These are dragged or trailered onto the lake using a vehicle such as a snowmobile, ATV or truck. The two most commonly used houses are portable shelters and permanent. The portable houses are usually made of a heavy material that is usually water tight. The two most common types of portable houses are when your shelter flips behind you when you don't need it or a pop up shelter so it the only means out is through a door. The permanent shelters are made of wood or metal and usually have wheels for easy transportation. They can be as basic as a bunk heater and holes or having satellite TV, bathrooms, stoves, full size beds and may appear to be more like a mobile home than a fishing house.