Keeping ice hole from freezing

[Johnnyz36]

I know this has been brought up in the past, but I am tired of replacing my tip up spools that I smash when trying to get them out of a frozen hole. What is the best way to keep your hole from freezing. I usually place a set outside the hut but when its below -20 it freezes quickly. Plastic spools are not that durable and I have broken them chipping the ice away.

[blasted_saber]

Use tip ups which sit above the hole. Spool is elevated away from ice.

[northernontario]

-insulated tipups that cover the hole
-vibrating floating pucks that run on AA batteries... sit in the water and vibrate around to keep the water moving.

[Pat32rf]

I just break the ice with my boot before moving the rod....

[Fenelon]

Pour a 26 OZ bottle of Crown Royal in each hole. The booze won't freeze.

[FishinScuba]

Pour a 26 OZ bottle of Crown Royal in each hole. The booze won't freeze.

That there is alcohol abuse.
I use the northland tipups that cover the whole hole and don't have issues very often with freezing . I also add snow around it to make sure the wind isn't getting below. ( if there is no snow I just use the ice shavings)
With that being said , I generally don't use tipups anymore due to low catch rates. What I do now is have two rods going inside my portable , one in a rod holder and the other in my hand. Even if I do have a setup outside the hut I tend to use a second rod with bells on it ( but that doesn't help your question ).
Lots of people do say that a little alcohol ( isopropyl ) works real well , I just have not needed to try.

[mbhunter]

SM cut out in a circle. Cut a slot to the middle to slide onto your tip up

[Rodbender]

cut a second hole down 4" Chanel a slot to both holes place a tomato juice can with Charcoal in it lit add charcoal as needed keeps the top warm and sorta outta of the way of your line

[pdhenderson]

I totally read the thread title wrong. A little bit of lexan goes a long way! youtube it!

[muskokaguy]

I walk out from my cottage and when I leave after fishing for the day, I place a square of thick pink styrofoam board/insulation over my holes.
Then I place a big mound of slushy snow on top to keep them down (but I leave the edges uncovered/exposed or it could freeze right in).
When I come back the next day, I give the board a kick or I use my shovel as a spatula. 9/10 times, the mound of frozen snow slides right off.
The holes are like I just drilled them.
The best part is, if for some reason I can't come back, or I can't get them out (hasn't happened yet) the board(s) will simply float in (to somebodys dock) to be thrown out in the spring.

I'm on a pretty quiet part of the lake and I've been doing this for 8 years without a problem (other than one snapping in half when I've tried to remove it).

So my suggestion is to use a piece of styrofoam over the hole.