Ice fishing shelters are essential for staying warm while on the ice. While you don’t need them to ice fish, their ability to retain heat can make your fishing experience a lot more enjoyable.
There are several factors to consider when buying an ice fishing tent. You need the think about the portability, capacity, material, and more to pick the right one.
With help from Blain’s Farm & Fleet, you can choose the best ice fishing shelter for your needs.
The main benefit of choosing a one-man shelter is portability. If you are the type of ice fisherman that likes to pick up and move from one honey hole to the next, these types of shelters are for you.
If you are on your own and want to hit as many spots as possible in one day, choose a portable ice shanty that’s easy to move around.
A portable ice fishing tent can easily fit in the backseat or trunk of your vehicle. So moving it from one lake to the next or back home is quick and easy.
When choosing a shelter, make sure you get one that’s big enough to meet your needs. If you are ice fishing with your best buddies, then it makes sense that all of you should be able to fit inside the shanty.
Many two- and three-person ice fishing shelters are spacious and comfortable for your group and your gear.
You’ll also want to consider how warm your want your shelter to be. Ice fishing shanties come in both insulated and non-insulated versions.
If you want a shelter that’s going to truly keep you warm, we recommend getting an insulated one. They warm up faster and hold heat much better than non-insulated ones.
However, if you’re not going to be out in temperatures less than 30° F, you might be okay with a non-insulated one. This type is ideal if you only want your shelter to block you from the sun and wind.
There a few different styles of ice fishing shelters to choose from. Each has its own advantages.
Hub-style ice shelters are portable, and the internal framework makes them easy to pop into place. If the wind is blowing hard on the ice, it can be difficult to set up the shelter because of the lightweight material.
You must then screw hub ice fishing shelters into the ice, keeping them anchored down. So if you are the type of ice fisherman who checks on multiple ice holes, then the hub ice shelter may not be for you.
If you have multiple ice fishing holes, then consider a flip-door (or flip-over) ice fishing shelter. Flip-over shelters are specifically made for a quick set up and break down.
This kind of ice fishing shelter will already hold your gear. So once you’ve gone to your location, you can just simply set up and put the shelter over your fishing area.
Cabin-style ice shelters are truly unique, as they come with a built-in floor. The added floor gives you a distinct advantage at keeping warm, as the floor shields you from the ice. This gives you a more comfortable experience.
Cabin ice fishing shelters are also more lightweight. But their set up takes longer than hub and flip-style ice huts.
Once you’ve chosen your ice fishing shelter, you’ll need the rest of your ice fishing gear. If you’re a beginner ice angler, check out Frabill’s tips for beginners.
For more tips and tricks for ice fishing (and fishing in warmer weather), check out our Fishing Blog.
