I'm going to put out a permanent fish house, and am wondering how others keep the holes from freezing closed when not being used. In the past, I've had to re-drill the holes (which doesn't work well), or chisel them open. Is there a way to keep them open until the next time I fish?

i look forward to some inovative answers to this. ps; jiffy augers have no problem reopening holes, thats a big advantage over those frail razor type blades.

are the ice holes still limited to 6in round? been years since i stood on hard water so i,m not up to date, anyways this is just a thought but if you took some PVC pipe the 6 inch stuff ( not sure if its made bigger ) but on one end you would driil a hole thur both sides big enough to put something thur that you could use as a handle ( peice of broomstick? ) and long enough to stop the pipe from going all the way thur the hole, stick it thur the hole and the next time you go to your shanty you grab the handle and twist back and forth a few times and than pull out, it theary it seems it might work, if it does it should be cheap enough that you could make a few different lenths of it depending on how thick the ice is, well thats my inovated idea think it will work????

Timber.
OOOOOOO'Thats a Tuffy.

And hawgs answer about the power auger is pretty accurate as well. I've had my power auger chatter in the hole a little on some occasions when re-opening a re-frozen oblong hole, but rarely.

When I was growing up, we always had a permanent shanty somewhere on the Bay for perch. But starting around the 70's, vandalism or the site of a shanty being torched for the fun of it became the norm. So its been a while since I've been in a permanet ice house. I do remember Dad alway used to cut a piece of plywood the same size as the ice holes, and then glue a piece of styrofoam that same size on the bottom of the plywood. This tightly fit into the holes when we were done fishing. He would then shovel (Hand scoop) in snow on top the whole she-bang about an inch or two and then hand-tap it down. This kept the holes open for days. You simply scraped the snow away when you returned and flipped off the plywood cover. Now its been 30+ years since I seen this done and hope I didn't skip any important process to this recepit.

Get some stovepipe the length of max ice thickness, and the diameter of your holes, braize a cap on one end. Shove this down into holes when you leave, capped end in hole, bungee cord them in, they will freeze in while you're gone. When you come back wad up newspaper, lite on fire and toss into pipe...Stand back cause when they melt free they pop out pretty hard, this does work!

Just get a good ice auger, and pop them open when they freeze up.

If you have a lazer or similar two bladed auger, they will qickly open - even refrozen holes. The advantage of the two cutting blade, or the three blade lazer really comes to fore, in the recutting of old holes. They do an excellent job; with little hassle.

It only takes about 10 seconds per hole - even in the worst weather. It is not worth the hassle of other "things" designed to freeze in, pop out, slip out etc. Let the hole freeze, and drill it open again with a good auger.

Simple, easy and ultra reliable.

Take care
REW

Timber: I agree with REW, as I have re-opened holes for many years by "Just re-drilling". I prefer a electric to a gas, as it doesn't stink up the house. A deep cycle battery will cut all the holes you need on a five day trip before needing a charge. Looking LIKE THE ICE IS BUILDING....Kaz

I would say re-drilling is the way to go also. You get a nice big smooth hole again. I have seen someone with an inflateable tube that went into the hole preventing them from freezing. I have never used one but it looks like it works. You might want to give it a try.
"Its Time"

When I had a permanent shack we use to take empty coffee cans. And put in a few charcoal. With them being lit and starting to turn white. We would put them in the holes we drilled. The next morning when we got to the shack the holes would still be opened and we would take the cans outside and let them burn out or put snow inside of them. Be carefull when handling those hot cans. Use a pliers or thick gloves. this way you will make les noise in the early morning hours so you will not spook the fish. Try this idea I bet you will enjoy early morning ice fishing with out the auger running inside the shack and no fumes.

you're right, but this is the time of year we need to think of stuff that will never work in real life. drilling is really the only way.