So, how to combat it?  If you have a Mr. Heater Buddy or similar they have carbon monoxide testers that will shut off the gas if a certain point is reached.  That said, it is never a good idea to rely on this shut off switch when we are talking about carbon monoxide poisoning.  I attempt to get some fresh air for 5-10 minutes at least every hour.  In addition to this, make sure to have the air vents open at all times when you are in your portable ice house.  This will allow for some air to flow out thus removing the carbon monoxide from building up to unsafe levels. 

We all love our portable ice shelters, but make sure not to forget safety is still a concern while inside these temporary fish houses. 

Do you have an experience you could share about carbon monoxide poisoning in a portable shack?

Here is an online form for discounted tickets: here
There is also a place for get a discount coupon for the show: here

If you went, please leave a comment on the things you saw that caught your eye or any great bargains you were able to find.

10. Locate all your ice fishing gear
If you are anything like me last season ended and stuff got scattered around your abode. So go around and find all the equipment and place in one central location. I'm talking about all your ice rods, flasher, auger, clothing, tackle, and so on.

9. Charge up your batteries
For whatever devices need them, charge up your batteries for your flasher(s), underwater camera(s), and ice auger(s). They likely are dead after sitting the past 8+ months.

8. Spool up your reels with new line
Now is the time to spool your reels. Invariably the time it will bite you in the rear if you don't is when you have the largest fish of the season on the other end of your line leading you to lose him.

7. Dry run your auger
This point is moot if you use a hand auger, but if you run an electric auger or gas auger get out and try them out. Mix the gas you will need. Make sure they are running ok. The worst time to find out they are not is when you are on the lake.

6. Test out your ice fishing flasher
At home you can connect the battery and turn the unit on. Ensure that it powers up and the display is working correctly. If you have time you can run to a lake and test out it is working, but this is rarely the issue.

5. Run your portable propane heater
I like to take mine hunting with me at least once, but if you don't hunt or are not inclined to bring it with, test run it outside your house. Make sure that the starter works and the heater kicks out the heat you expect it to.

4. Put up your portable ice shelter
Mice are notorious for wreaking havoc on portable houses, so if you own one put it up in your garage and note whether a furry little creature has bitten a hole in the exterior. It is always easier to patch it now that live with it all season long.

3. Test run your underwater camera
Attach the battery pack and turn the unit on. Make sure that the camera is working and the display looks like you expect it. A bad battery is usually the culprit if it doesn't work, but bad connections are also somewhat common.

2. Sit down and think of the set of lakes you are going to target
Most likely you have a well defined list of lakes that you are going to fish, either by proximity to you or by success in the past. None the less, it never hurts to have a couple lakes in your back pocket in case things are slow at your normal haunts.

1. Rig up your favorite lure
Invariably you will have one or two lures that you prefer the most for ice fishing. For me it is the Lindy Frostee Jigging Spoon. Locate your lures and tie them to your rod(s).

If you follow these 10 things you will ready to rock when the water turns hard!

It really starts by understanding what environment you plan on using the heater in. Let's start with outdoors vs. indoors. Virtually any heater can be used outdoors. The key things you are looking for in an outdoor application is that it emits enough heat to keep you warm while at the same time allowing for a fair amount to be lost to the wind and outdoors. In an outdoor environment you are probably going to require a heater that can kick out at least 18,000 BTUs/hr and likely closer to 30,000 BTUs/hr. A perfect example of this is the Mr. Heater Triple Propane Heater. It attaches to the top of a propane tank and has settings to output as much as 27,000 BTU/hr.

If you are looking at an indoor type application it really comes down to the size of space required to be heated and that the heater is rated to be used indoors. If you are attempting to heat a small area such as a portable ice shelter, you can likely get by on a propane heater that emits 1,500 to 9,000 BTU/hr. Great examples of heaters designed for tents and portables would be the Coleman Catalytic Propane Heaters (specifically the Coleman Procat propane heater) and the Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Propane Heater. Both of these heaters are rated for indoor use and produce enough safe heat to keep the small area of a portable ice shanty warm.

If you are fishing out of a permanent ice shack you are likely going to need a heater that produces 9,000 to 18,000 BTU/hr yet still is safe to use indoors. You could possibly get by with the Mr. Heater portable buddy in this situation, but the Mr. Heater Big Buddy propane heater was designed for this exact application. Safe for indoor use, yet outputting an impressive 18,000 BTU/hr at its maximum, this heater can keep you permanent ice shelter warm regardless of the temperature outside.