- Ice fishermen use a variety of shelters. There are specialty shops where you can purchase portable and semi-portable dwellings. Some are made of insulated tent material and sit on a platform with wheels. These types of shelters are ideal for moving easily on the ice. Some fishermen build more permanent dwellings over spots they return to often. Some shelters resemble a small cabin and can be as comfortable as a motel room with the right interior design. Ice fishing homes can be made of wood, plastic, galvanized steel or aluminum.
- Options for the interior design of your ice fishing house are limited only to your imagination and the funds you have available to furnish it. Serious ice fishermen have satellite TV, full electrical lighting, stereo system, and full cooking facilities. These amenities are ideal if you have financial resources available and your ice house is a more permanent structure. A better, more obtainable goal is to outfit your ice fishing house with a generator to power small heaters, lightweight but comfortable furniture, and propane-powered cooking equipment. The key to an effective ice house design is the placement of the holes in the ice. A hole in the center of your ice fishing house is ideal for gathering around, but if you have the room, place other holes in the ice for convenient individual fishing.
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Choosing food items and other supplies to keep on hand in your ice fishing house is important. Cold supplies are acceptable because your environment will allow you to keep them fresh, even if you have no refrigerator in your ice fishing house. Keep canned goods on hand if you have the storage space and the means to heat the food. Dried foods, such as beef jerky and trail mix, are good to have on hand for snacking when you're hungry and don't have the time to cook.
In addition to food items, keep warm clothing, plenty of extra fishing supplies, and even a book or two for extended stays.
