Here are some great tips that are certain to help make your time on the ice more enjoyable and productive.

1. Carry a magnet with you. I’m sure lots of us have lost something down the hole. some times you can retrieve it with a magnet. just tie it to your line and send it down

2. A small plastic snow shovel works well for packing snow against the shanty for more insulation. its also good for clearing snow away to let light through for sight fishing

3. 3.5 gal. buckets are great for use in a portable. Get the lids also. These can be found for free at bakeries. they get a lot of icings and fillings in these buckets and can give you more than you need. A 3.5 gal. bucket with a lid is the perfect carrying case for a vex. it also turns into a perfect vex stand. take the vex out and put the lid back on the bucket, then set the vex on the lid. its stable because its squat, and also the lid has a rim to keep it from sliding off, and it holds the vex up higher to make it easier to see.

4. An 18” square of Pink or Blue foam used to put your feet on while sitting can keep your feet much warmer by keeping them off the ice.

5. A piece of scrap carpet set in the bottom of the tub is nice because it keeps things quiet.

6. Keep about 6 plastic grocery store bags with your gear for use as fish bags, trash bags, etc.

7. Right out of the box, replace your portables tow rope with a rope that’s about 3 times longer. it makes it so much easier to pull because you aren’t pulling up on the shanty. also then you could sling the rope over one shoulder and walk out with your hands in your pockets. hands free dragging is so much easier.

8. Keep a pocket size tackle box loaded with a little bit of everything that you need in it. This will keep you from having to return to your gear for a jig, hook, swivel, etc.

9. Attach bells to the flags, the kind used for cat fishing works great when your in the portable for an audible tipup alarm.

10. Paint some if not all of the tip up flag black, it will help it stand out way better.