How to Make a Homemade Ice Shelter
Ice fishing is an age old tradition going back to the Eskimos in Alaska. Ice fishing is the art of walking out on a frozen lake, boring a hole through the ice and lowering a line through the ice to where the fish are swimming. Modern ice fisherman make a vacation of this activity by remaining on the ice for days at a time in an ice shelter. Although commercial ice shelters are available, a basic lightweight dome tent can be transformed into a homemade ice shelter.
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Things You'll Need
- Dome tent
- White chalk
- Scissors
- Waterproof tent fabric or a tarp
- Sewing machine
- Upholstery thread
- Plastic boning
- Velcro, 1 inch wide
- Pins
Instructions
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1
Set up the dome tent to see its size. Test out the tent for comfort by sitting inside with whatever equipment you'll need for fishing.
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2
Draw a large circle with white chalk in the corner of the tent where the fishing hole will be placed. The circle should be slightly larger than the hole to allow for enough room for creating the hole in the ice.
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3
Take the tent down and turn it inside out so you can see the sketched circle.
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4
Cut out the circle with scissors, being careful to keep the interior fabric intact.
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5
Trace the interior fabric onto waterproof tent fabric or a tarp and add three inches all the way around.
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6
Cut out the circle and sew two plastic boning strips onto it. The strips should intersect at 90 degrees to form a cross shape in the center of the circle.
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7
Hem the edges of the circle at one-half inch all the way around.
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8
Pin the hook side of the Velcro all the way around the circle and sew it into place.
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9
Sew the loop side of the Velcro all the way around the hole in the bottom of the tent, using the same amount as was used on the circle and stretching the fabric when necessary to help it fit.
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10
Set up the tent again and test out the ice hole cap by placing it into position.
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Tips & Warnings
Place the ice-hole cap into position whenever the ice hole is not being used.
