Ice Fishing Tent vs. Ice Shanty: Is a Tent a Viable Option?
Ice fishing season is a wonderful time of the year. Depending on where you live, you can catch a wide variety of fish, from perch to trout. These fish are easier to catch in the winter than in the summer. They are colder, and therefore, they move slower. It’s no wonder why so many people like ice fishing, and more and more people are choosing to get into it every year.
Is an ice fishing tent better than an ice fishing shanty? An ice fishing tent is less expensive, but it is not ideal if you plan to be out on the ice for long periods. Since tents are made of fabric, they’re less sturdy and allow wind to pass through easily.
In this article, you’ll learn the difference between an ice shanty and an ice fishing tent. You’ll also learn the differences between an ice fishing tent and a camping tent and whether or not you can take your camping tent out on the ice. Lastly, we’ll help you make a final decision as to what you’re going to bring with you next time you decide to get out on the ice.
Find out where to place your ice fishing holes for the best results.
Ice Fishing Shanties vs. Ice Fishing Tents
Before you can dive into the different types of tents, you’ll need to decide whether you want to use a tent on the ice. Depending on where you live and where you ice fish, locals will have differing opinions.
If you live a little further south, where winters are not as cold and the winds aren’t as strong, you might find that a lot of people choose to use ice fishing tents instead of going all out for shanties. However, in northern, colder, windier states, lakes are riddled with shanties, and there is not a tent to be seen.
Click here to learn all about how to safely bring your dog ice fishing. You may also be interested in how to catch fish with rattle reels.
Ice Fishing Shanties
Ice fishing shanties resemble little houses on the ice. There is only one “room,” and it’s usually tall enough to stand in.
When you’re in an ice shanty, there is a very specific way a seasoned ice fisherman lays it out: your port is in the middle, line cast. Then, behind the port, there’s an overturned bucket or a lawn chair.
Your icebox goes on your left side, so you can reel in the fish and drop it in the icebox without wasting any time. Ice fishing tents are laid out differently.
Ice fishing shanties do not have cloth sides, which means they hold heat better than an ice fishing tent. Also, you are protected against the frigid winds blowing through your tent, or worse, knocking it over completely. Shanties are sturdier, so they will be more resistant to wear and tear than your tent.
Shanties do have their drawbacks, though. They’re little houses, essentially, so they’re tougher to transport. You either need a truck or a flatbed or trailer to haul it in.
They’re heavier, so pulling them at the end of the season is a pain. Since you’re paying for a full shanty instead of just a tent, it’s also more expensive to buy and more expensive to replace.
Recommended Ice Fishing Shanty Hut
The Eskimo QuickFish Portable Ice Shanty is an affordable and effective ice fishing shanty that I strongly recommend. I love this particular model. It is built extremely sturdy and can withstand winds in excess of 30 mph comfortably.
It will keep you well-insulated for hours of ice fishing. It is easy to setup and quickly breakdowns for easy hauling on a snowmachine or ATV.
It has earned tremendous customer reviews on Amazon and other outdoors outlets for its quality, value, and efficiency. Prices will vary so check out Amazon for the latest prices. While you are there, be sure to read some of the customer feedback. I like this model a lot and I think you will as well.
Ice Fishing Tents
Ice fishing tents and ice fishing shanties are completely different in terms of layout. Your port still goes in the middle, but in a tent, your bucket or lawn chair sits on the right side of the tent, and your icebox sits across the port.
This is because, since tents are flimsier, you’ll probably want to get an ice fishing heater to bring with you to keep you warm against the harsh winds and generally cold weather. Your heater goes along the back of your tent so that it doesn’t impede access to your port or icebox.
Actual ice fishing tents do not stake into the ice, and they do not have a floor. While this makes them exceptionally portable, it also makes them a flight risk. The last thing you want when you have a fish on the line is to have your tent blown out from over you as a gust of wind rushes by.
To combat this, tent users will tie strings to the tent (if they weren’t already attached) and then tie those strings to bricks, cinder blocks, or cement-filled buckets to hold the tent down.
If you’re desperate for the extra security, you can fashion some stakes to your tent or invest in a tent with a weighted base. It seems like all ice fishing tents should come with weighted bases, but they do not.
Can You Use A Camping Tent?
An ice fishing specific tent might sound like a lot of work compared to that perfectly good camping tent in the garage, right?
Of course, if you felt like it, you could use that camping tent on the ice. There are certain guidelines you might have to follow when putting your ice fishing shelter out on the ice, so be sure to check with your state’s department of fishing and wildlife.
While you can use a camping tent in theory, you might want to consider an ice fishing tent instead. Camping tents usually have a floor, so you’ll need to cut a hole in it to fit your port or remove the entire bottom completely, which then might make it less appealing to camp with. Who wants to sleep directly on the dirt?
Ice fishing tents, though still less protective against the elements than shanties, usually offer a minimum amount of insulation, even if it is just a double-layered canvas fabric. Regular camping tents that get used in the warmer seasons don’t typically offer that, so you’ll be a slave to that ice fishing heater you brought with you.
Ice fishing tents are designed to be tall enough to stand up in, while not all camping tents, especially the standard sized ones, are. You might end up hunched over in your tent over your port, which can result in aches and pains if you stay that way for too long.
What Precautions Should You Take When Ice Fishing?
No matter what ice fishing shelter you decide to use, there are a few precautions you should always take before you go out on the ice.
First, wait until your department of fish and wildlife announces that it’s safe to get out on the ice and start the season. Around five people die each year because they were playing around on the ice when it was too thin to do so. It’s a small number, sure, but it’s a completely preventable number.
If you’re bringing an ice fishing heater with you, always follow directions in the instruction manual. They’re safe to use if you use them right, but if not, you risk overheating the ice and compromising the integrity of your chosen fishing spot and the fishing spots around you.
If your tent does not have a weighted base, you need to find something to weigh it down with. Sticking it on the ice with a couple of empty buckets won’t cut it.
Use something heavy. Always check the weather before you head out, too. If there are hefty gusts of wind or snowstorms that day, it’s probably best not to go out on the ice. No amount of fish is worth your safety.
Ice Fishing Responsibly
I personally love ice fishing but it is important to take proper precautions if using a tent. Following all of the guidelines provided for you will help to ensure that you stay safe on the ice. Overall, follow your judgment–if you think a tent is what you need, get one. If you have a safe, legal way to catch fish, then that’s how you should do it. However, leave the camping tent at home and treat yourself to at least an ice fishing specific tent. You won’t regret it.
