Leaving a protable shanty on the ice

[Rich M]

Just curious if anyone had experience with this and what their opinion was. I've got a large, heavy, very sturdy portable that I'm considering leaving on the ice about a block from my house. I've got anchors that screw into the ice and I'm not worried about theft where it will be located. I'm going put my name and address on all sides so it's legal (would permanent black marker be ok on a blue background?).

It would sure beat the heck out of hitching up (and un hitching) the trailer, loading and un loading it and everything else each time I want to fish for a couple hours, especially when I'm by my self. The idea of just going down the block and taking an easy stroll without dragging a ton of equipment behind me is very appealing. If bad weather (high winds) were predicted or occuring I would go out and bring it in. What do you guys think?

[lawnguy]

DON'T DO IT DON'T DO IT DON'T DO IT DON'T DO IT DON'T DO IT DON'T DO IT DON'T DO IT DON'T DO IT

If you do, leave enough cash so the thiefs can fill thier tanks too. lol

Leaving a portable or even a perminant thats small enough to drag and stash is bad news. Not that everyone is dishonest but there are far too many out there to test your luck

[Rich M]

Like I said - where I'm putting it I'm not too worried about theft.

[lawnguy]

you should be! unless it is a private body of water that has NO history of anyone else on it I wouldn't. Another thing to take into thought is if someone where to go inside and get hurt, killed or commit a crime YOU would be held liable. With no way to lock a portable you would be opening the door to what could be very serious trouble.

[WALLEYEvision]

...I'm not worried about theft where it will be located...
Famous last words!

I thought the same thing about the treestand I had chained and locked on private property.

[neil duffey]

if u do doit... which i highly exttreamly compleatly discurage u from doing so... make sure u anchor that bad boy like no other... or the wind theif will blow it away.

[automan4025]

Don't do it. I had one ripped off on a small private lake one time up in Hillman. It don't matter where your at .

[walleye magnet]

Why do you think they call them portable?

[9mmruger1]

Let's see, six responces and all of em are against leaving it on the ice. Not one for doing it. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. What to do, what to do? :rolleyes:

Don't do it!

[jstfish48162]

go ahead....leave it. just take your chances and see what happens.

by the way....what lake was that you are on :evil:

just kidding....if you want to continue to use this particular shanty, i would just keep doing what you are doing and take it in every trip. just my .02

[rivrat1959]

Go for it. As long as its done legally. Thats why this country is so great, we are allowed to make our OWN desicions and opinions. BUT,I'd say if your lookin for moral support from this gruop you aint gettin it.

[oldboy]

I myself have left shanties out on the ice all of my life. I never leave anything inside of them when I am done fishing and I have never had a shanty broken into or disturbed.

I would recommed that you have the shanty tied down on all four corners to make sure the wind cannot blow it away. Early this winter I had a friend (not a very bright one) whose shanty blew across the length of black lake.

[Islander26]

Rich go for it. Sounds like you plan on leaving it out for the remainder of the season. Even thought you plan on anchoring it, I would think the wind might eventially stress the material and rip it. Good luck whatever you choose to do.

[Rich M]

Thanks for the replies. Not looking for "moral support" just for opinions of people with EXPERIENCE. Like the guy who tried it on a private lake and had it stolen. As far as theft, which everyone is so adamant about, it's not like we're talking about leaving it at Metro Beach ;) But point taken, a portable might not keep an honest person honest. There are lots of shanty towns near where I live, many are left unlocked and we've never had a crime wave where everyone lost all their gear - not to say it couldn't happen though.

I've anchored it before for when I'm running tip ups in a wind, never had any problems but if we were having a blow I wouldn't leave it out.

I think I'll compromise and only leave it out for a few days at a stretch when the bite is on and I have the time to fish, we'll see. Thanks again.

[RichP]

I think I'll compromise and only leave it out for a few days at a stretch when the bite is on and I have the time to fish, we'll see.

This does seem like a bad idea.

But....if you must do it, maybe you can get rig a battery operated light on a timer, and have it turn on at night like people do when they leave their homes for days so potential thieves think there's someone inside. Just a thought. :lol:

[Houghton laker]

If I was going to leave it on the ice ...I would take a piece of pipe with a chain attached...lower through the ice hole and shanty till you can hook it under the ice.... bring chain up through a piece of 2x4 or around another piece of pipe and lock it so they could not tow it away!

[RJF]

Be sure to check the regs on having your name and address on it.

[ESOX]

I had one ripped off on a small private lake one time up in Hillman. It don't matter where your at .

You ever hear the way they talk about Hillmanites in Alpena????:lol: ;)

[Gus]

I have been leaving my portable out. Its a Clam Sleeper and it is way too big to haul out everyday. (8'x4'x3' closed up, looks like a cofin) I too was apprehensive at first, but in my case the deciding factor was this....

The shanty sat in my garage all last year because I physically could not deal with hauling it out with all the snow on the ice. The year before it saw the ice only twice.

I decided this year it was doing me no good in the garage, I might as well sell it or leave it out on the ice where it could be used. I chose the later, so far so good. (knocking on wood)

[Islander26]

But....if you must do it, maybe you can get rig a battery operated light on a timer, and have it turn on at night like people do when they leave their homes for days so potential thieves think there's someone inside. Just a thought. :lol:

:yeahthat:

I know someone you could hire to house sit it for you ;)

[lawnguy]

If you do leave it up OVERNIGHT unattended you must label just as you would a permanent.

[Jangus]

They make it portable for a reason.

[tommy-n]

Cut the guy some slack, he paid for it, He said he was going to label it, He knows he's taking a chance it's his decision :D

[The Whale]

Good luck to you Rich M and i hope it all works out well for you. Now then, may I be the first to ak for permission to utilize it when you are not out fishing ? please send GPS coords for location. I'll leave extra bait for you if you wish for the use, Thanks. :) :fish:

[weatheredge]

Besides getting things stolden
One who willfully or maliciously defaces or destroys public or private property.
Can you afford to Lose it, will you be alright if it was gone? :yeahthat:

[2tundras]

I've left my home made portable shack out many times over the years. I would say that if your fishing in an area where you are local (i.e., people at least have heard of your last name) or where locals respect such things, go for it.

But again, I would think this comfort level may be more prominent the more rural you go. For instance I have never had a problem in the EUP but I wouldn't leave my shack on Burt Lake or Houghton Lake, as I would be unknown there and there are a lot of bored kids running around.

Could be wrong. Dunno. :dizzy:

On the otehr hand, if your leaving a Shapell 4000 or Ottter out there, heck, I'd give it a second look...that'd just be crazy

[Rich M]

Good luck to you Rich M and i hope it all works out well for you. Now then, may I be the first to ak for permission to utilize it when you are not out fishing ? please send GPS coords for location. I'll leave extra bait for you if you wish for the use, Thanks. :) :fish:

Are you the one who goes around ripping off all the permanent shanties, treestands, 4 wheelers and snowmobiles? ;) Give me your drivers license # and I'll leave the GPS coordinants to the local police station! :D

Lets be realistic since everyone is so concerned about theft. The truth is it would be so much easier to pry the cheesy pad lock off a permanent shanty and quickly grab whatever is inside as opposed to breaking down a large, complicated portable that you're probably not familiar with and then have to haul it off, load it up and make your get away with a permanently marked (on the cloth) portable.

I appreciate everyones concern for my well being, but I only read 2 posts by people with real life experience - one positive, one negative. If we started a thread on permanent shanty problems it might very well have the same ratio - 50/50. You play the game you take your chances. Lifes to short too be paranoid about everything that might happen! If I was as worried about all the theives prowling around as most of you guys I wouldn't ever leave the house! :evil:

See you on the ice - I'll be the one with the light on, chained to the ice and gaurding it with my pike spear :D

[mike h]

Are you the one who goes around ripping off all the permanent shanties, treestands, 4 wheelers and snowmobiles? ;) Give me your drivers license # and I'll leave the GPS coordinants to the local police station! :D

Lets be realistic since everyone is so concerned about theft. The truth is it would be so much easier to pry the cheesy pad lock off a permanent shanty and quickly grab whatever is inside as opposed to breaking down a large, complicated portable that you're probably not familiar with and then have to haul it off, load it up and make your get away with a permanently marked (on the cloth) portable.

I appreciate everyones concern for my well being, but I only read 2 posts by people with real life experience - one positive, one negative. If we started a thread on permanent shanty problems it might very well have the same ratio - 50/50. You play the game you take your chances. Lifes to short too be paranoid about everything that might happen! If I was as worried about all the theives prowling around as most of you guys I wouldn't ever leave the house! :evil:

See you on the ice - I'll be the one with the light on, chained to the ice and gaurding it with my pike spear :D


JUST OUT OF CURIOUSITY WHY WOULD YOU EVEN MAKE THIS POST IF YOU BASICALLY DON"T CARE WHAT EVERYBODY THINKS I THOUGHT YOU POSTED IT TO SEE IF MOST GUYS WOULD OR WOULD NOT. LOOKS LIKE YOU ALREADY HAD YOUR MIND MADE UP.

[2tundras]

Hey Rich, just put the d@#m out there, if it gets swipped tell your wife you gotta go to Jays and buy the newer better model.


I've put a ladder stand up wayyyy early and taken it down wayyyy late for two years now just waiting for that baby to be gone. Nope. Still got the piece of junk.

Put her out and fish!

[Fishfoote]

He didn't say he hadn't made up his mind. Maybe he got it on the cheap and figures no big loss if it walks away. I've got a sheppell that is a pain to drag if there is any snow and have more than one time considered leaving it, but since I can't commit to fishing the same place two days in a row always manage to bring it back with me.

[Rich M]

JUST OUT OF CURIOUSITY WHY WOULD YOU EVEN MAKE THIS POST IF YOU BASICALLY DON"T CARE WHAT EVERYBODY THINKS I THOUGHT YOU POSTED IT TO SEE IF MOST GUYS WOULD OR WOULD NOT. LOOKS LIKE YOU ALREADY HAD YOUR MIND MADE UP.

Um...re-read my original post, my third post and my last post, the answer is in each one! :cool:

Since you obviously missed it I'll state it again: I was looking for people's opinions who had EXPERIENCE (I can shout too :corkysm55 ) with leaving a portable on the ice. There were exactly 2 replies that fit this criteria and both were a great help. I truly do appreciate everyone elses ideas and opinions on the matter even if I may or may not heed them. I hope this clears things up and satisfies your curiosity :lol:

[The Whale]

Damn Rich M, I make a friendly request (in a "kidding" type way) about requesting permission to use your shanty when you're not in it, and you come back asking me bout if I'm ripping people off ? Chill dude. H-140-333-558-0344, my drivers license number, do what you gotta do. Dang. :rolleyes:

[mike h]

Go get em WHALE LOL :D :hide: I just placed a call to the local P.D. and they are on the way to your house :Modified_ so don't finish reading this get out while you can. :D

[Rich M]

Damn Rich M, I make a friendly request (in a "kidding" type way) about requesting permission to use your shanty when you're not in it, and you come back asking me bout if I'm ripping people off ? Chill dude. , my drivers license number, do what you gotta do. Dang. :rolleyes:

Hey, sorry Whale. I knew you were kidding - so was I man! I guess we both need to chill :)

But I'm still not giving out GPS or telling what lake :16suspect You might want to edit out that license # you posted if it's for real too. :yikes:

[2tundras]

I was telling my Cousin about this thread question last night, I had forgotten that he has had a couple of problems with a protable on the ice over the years 2 breakins and one just flat walked away.

As far as the break ins, he's an idiot. He put a lock on the door, not really thinking that the canvas walls of the pop-up shack really weren't teenager proof. So there ya go. I'll stay do what I do, if puttin her out gets you an extra 1 hour of fishing, then do it.