Windy Days

[Lerrooy]

Just out of curiosity if anyone tries to brave the windy days like today here around lethbridge. I have an Eskimo quickfish 3. Not too sure if I wanna tackle setting it up solo on a day the wind is gusting to 60 km an hr.

I can only imagine what kind of things would happen and don't feel like having a big balloon/kite blow across the Prairie.

[jeffreys 21234]

Fished a lot of windy days if they kept me inside would never fish born an raised down around lethbridge just got off the lake today n caught few nice pike for the smoker the hub style huts can be interesting to set up that's forsure espically if not anchored properly

[Lerrooy]

Well yeah it would suck if you didn't get out due the to the wind. Seems like every weekend is windy.

Is there a key or technique to setting up the hubs without blowing away?

[kevinhits]

I anchor one side of the tent while it is on the ice first before setting up

[MountainLife]

I use a flip over for just this reason and sometimes it still doesn't matter. Last year at crawling valley when I was packing up a gust got me and the ice was slick and sheer and I basically held on to the supports for dear life as i "sailed" across the ice, it ended up taking me about half a kilometre away and slamming me against the shore.

Needless to say it took a couple years off my life and an extra two hours to get out that night retrieving all my random pieces of gear and debris and walking the Lost ground on that slick ice but as others have said, if you let it stop you in southern Alberta you'd almost never get to fish.

[Isopod]

Ugh, I hate wind when fishing. It's bad enough in the summer, even more miserable in winter. Can't you find a protected valley relatively nearby that has lighter winds and decent fishing, or maybe drive an hour or two to somewhere with calmer winds?

[iliketrout]

With the hub style tents we use cambuckles that you can get pretty cheap from Canadian Tire or Princess Auto. Tie-off the hubs to extra anchors using the cambuckles, it will prevent the walls from blowing in. Similar to what is shown in the pic below. Of course anchor all the corners and you'll be all set.

The nice part about using the cambuckles is that it's very easy to tighten/loosen and they double as straps to keep everything on your sled when walking in or out.

[calgarygringo]

As mentioned below. Anchor down the wind side before setting up, anchor the other sides and use straps on the sides to keep the sides from bulging in.
I use small ratchet type straps and have for years. I like the fact I can tighten them up easily and they stay put. Seems when things are rocking in the wind things need to be tightened up occasionally throughout the day. Watch your pegs too in this warm weather as they can get loose and even pull out of the ice when moving a lot and melting out around the pegs.

[huntsfurfish]

Originally Posted by iliketrout

With the hub style tents we use cambuckles that you can get pretty cheap from Canadian Tire or Princess Auto. Tie-off the hubs to extra anchors using the cambuckles, it will prevent the walls from blowing in. Similar to what is shown in the pic below. Of course anchor all the corners and you'll be all set.

The nice part about using the cambuckles is that it's very easy to tighten/loosen and they double as straps to keep everything on your sled when walking in or out.

Originally Posted by calgarygringo

As mentioned below. Anchor down the wind side before setting up, anchor the other sides and use straps on the sides to keep the sides from bulging in.
I use small ratchet type straps and have for years. I like the fact I can tighten them up easily and they stay put. Seems when things are rocking in the wind things need to be tightened up occasionally throughout the day. Watch your pegs too in this warm weather as they can get loose and even pull out of the ice when moving a lot and melting out around the pegs.

I agree! Using straps is far better and I even use them to anchor my flip overs as well as popups. Only difference for me is when using with my flip overs I use ice climbing anchors(hold best, not tapered).

[Mike_W]

I have set up a fatfish 9416 that I have set up in some wicked winds the trick is to put in a couple ice anchors then when you open a side make sure it is the end and attach the hub then I setup and install the skirt anchors.

[Tom Pullings]

Down here it's either windy and decently warm or super cold and not much wind. Both make for a miserable day if you're not prepared. A couple weeks back I drilled some holes and the wind knocked me down and away I went. My auger and I had a little involuntary race back to shore. The auger won and luckily lodged in a snowdrift so it wasn't damaged. That was enough for one day.

[Lerrooy]

Awesome. You guys have a lot of good ideas. I might have to pick up some of them camel straps. Seems easier.
I guess technically then you would only have to strap two sides of the shack if u angle a corner into the wind?

Then where would u draw the line for wind? Tonight and tomorrow it's suppose to blow up to 100?

[wildbill]

Originally Posted by MountainLife

I use a flip over for just this reason and sometimes it still doesn't matter. Last year at crawling valley when I was packing up a gust got me and the ice was slick and sheer and I basically held on to the supports for dear life as i "sailed" across the ice, it ended up taking me about half a kilometre away and slamming me against the shore.

Needless to say it took a couple years off my life and an extra two hours to get out that night retrieving all my random pieces of gear and debris and walking the Lost ground on that slick ice but as others have said, if you let it stop you in southern Alberta you'd almost never get to fish.

LMFAO,I'm sorry, just havin the visuals, did any one see this "event"? Oh and one other thing if people don't fish in the wind down here............they don't fish!

[MountainLife]

Originally Posted by wildbill

LMFAO,I'm sorry, just havin the visuals, did any one see this "event"? Oh and one other thing if people don't fish in the wind down here............they don't fish!

No I was there by myself that day, it was towards the end of the season. It's such a powerless feeling when nature and physics team up, taught me to always under all circumstances keep the back to the wind, would have been fun if I wasn't so worried about breaking a leg or something lol

Really missing that place and south central pike fishing, I'm down Deep South this year and the pike fishing has been awful for me

[calgarygringo]

If you can drive on the ice park your vehicle behind the tent as it can help as well. I have there is a limit as even when tied things down I have seen tents ripped to shreds in the wind. Mother natures power is amazing. I am heading out today too but will be more east than south so hope for only half your wind and will either tie down well or just use the truck for wind break if it is warm enough.

Originally Posted by Lerrooy

Awesome. You guys have a lot of good ideas. I might have to pick up some of them camel straps. Seems easier.
I guess technically then you would only have to strap two sides of the shack if u angle a corner into the wind?

Then where would u draw the line for wind? Tonight and tomorrow it's suppose to blow up to 100?

[58thecat]

And that's why I left the open prairies...every time I go down south the first thing I do is curse the wind...sun comes up wind picks up, sun goes down wind calms down if your lucky...