I’ve been renting fish houses for a long time. So, what the heck goes on in getting a fish house ready for a group of eager anglers? Let me try to summarize.

1. These days, emails start the whole conversation. This really helps, as I can simply email off information about the fish houses (day/sleepers) along with a bunch of pictures, so there are no surprises on expectations. An ice fishing trip with friends and family is set. The house (a day house) is reserved for the day. Other times, there are sleeper houses involved for three to four days. I do both.

A reservation typically starts with a bunch of questions…by me. What are your goals? Kinds of fish? Are there kids? Skill levels? Experienced anglers? First timers? Bucket list? Need fish cleaning? Need gear—electronics, rods/reels, tackle? I typically recommend and supply all gear/tackle to bump the odds heavily in the favor of the guests. Because as expected, most new ice anglers are going to get sold a bill of goods by the local sport shop salesperson—who may know or not know anything about the clients’ actual needs. It’s a fact that most of my ice clients throughout the years do better with my gear/presentations.

2. I set (position) the houses days in advance. My typical plan is to scout a potential fishing spot for three different visits and catch fish all three visits—typically between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm. I figure that if I can catch fish during those time frames, then the clients should have good luck throughout the day on their own. The strategy works, as proven by high success rates found throughout the fishing trips.

These are not hands-on guided trips (that’s a different package—but an option). However, each group gets a mini-seminar on what to do in the fish house, baiting hooks, reading electronics, local regulations, running the heaters—things like that. So, if I have to set six houses, you can do the math on the amount of time/hours I’ve spent on the ice each day trying to create a smooth experience for everyone. And no, I typically do not fish near others or plow roads to my houses, so you will need a 4×4 of some kind.

3. Setting the houses happens at all hours of the day. If I do my job well, I only have to move the houses about once per week or two to stay on fish. This also depends on (and is controlled by) the amount of pressure I allow a house to put on a spot. Remember, the spot is tiny (the size of a fish house), and there are only so many fish. But if managed correctly, a solid fishing spot “can be good” for a couple of weeks. That’s why I have more houses than I really need. It helps me to “rotate” clients to keep the houses “fresh.” Hint: If you rent a house from somebody, show up and drifts are swallowing the house, the snow is packed like a parking lot, and there is more yellow snow than white—run!

4. Drilling holes and cleaning the holes is the worst part; anyone would agree. It’s very time consuming. Keeping the propane tanks and generators full of fuel can’t be forgotten, along with keeping all the batteries charged and ready to go. Rattle reel maintenance, tip-up maintenance, rods/reels (everybody gets one or two), tackle box stocking (each house has some). Basic house inventory—scoopers, hook outs, rulers, garbage bags, fish buckets, first aid stuff, fire/smoke alarm batteries, fire extinguishers, enough chairs/tables for various group sizes. Vexilars charged? First round of live bait must be ready to go (I supply minnows/waxies, etc.).

5. Finally, it’s time to get everybody situated, hopefully by 8 am. Give some seminars and constantly check in with folks throughout the day to make sure fun is being had by all and fish are coming topside. Fun chat, fishing tips/tricks, snack/food deliveries. Stop by every couple of hours, or at a minimum make a phone call. Facetime is fun for actually observing things—who would’ve thought?

So that’s kind of a quick little summary of what many folks are doing behind the scenes in the fish house rental business. Each is run a little differently and it’s fun to see that. My advice is to do a little research on what service you may want to try. Are they properly insured (most are not)? Do they have references? A long track record? A reputation? Is the price too good to be true? Research the owner—why not? Basically, pretend you’re planning a mini vacation—which it is!

For more insight and tips for fishing throughout the year, check out the articles in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.