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Minnesota Ice Fishing Article
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Ice Fishing Hut Rentals
from: Maxx Sports GuidesIn areas where ice fishing is popular, there are usually industrious people who bring together a group of ice fishing huts that can be rented for the day, week or even for a full season. An ice fishing hut can be just about any size, level of comfort and price range for rental.
Commercially built ice fishing huts often include a heating source, propane or alternative fuel source heater, many with larger tanks securely mounted to the trailer or sled area of the hut. This is a great feature for setting a comfortable temperature in the ice fishing hut as well as keeping ice from forming on the open waters over the holes. Wooden stoves are common too, although they'll require wood to be brought out onto the lake.
If you're going to be renting an ice fishing hut, get a written contract and be clear about all terms and conditions of the rental. Usually the rental company will bring the hut onto the lake for you, but some may require you to move it yourself. Make sure you inspect the hut before you move it and record and mark any damage, scratches or other defects. Point them out to the rental company and ensure they're correctly identified on the contract.
Padded benches and those added features are a great idea, especially if you're bringing the family out ice fishing. Windows or electrical lighting, typically run of car batteries or large cell batteries really help keep the area bright inside. Ice fishing huts that are darker inside have the additional benefit of allowing anglers to see deep into the water, helping to identify fish and movement within the water.
Snow and ice glare is often as much of a factor causing discomfort in ice fishing as is the cold weather. The extreme glare of the sun off the white surface can damage your eyes, even with good quality sunglasses. Fishing from a hut completely eliminates the glare as well as providing the windbreak needed to weather even high wind conditions in relative comfort.
Disadvantages
There are few disadvantages to using an ice fishing hut, but the biggest one is the lack of mobility. Once the ice fishing hut is set up, it's very time consuming to secure everything and move it to a new are. Since some species fish, such as perch and walleye tend to move around considerably in the lake, a stationary hut can often limit the angler's ability to find a better location on the lake. In situations like this a smaller, portable tent style ice fishing shelter may be a great option.
Minnesota Ice Fishing News