On my first ice fishing trip, I was dressed for the weather, I had an ice fishing sled, two tip-ups, and no ice skimmer. Thankfully an ice angler on the lake was more than willing to let me borrow his. If you are new to ice fishing, do not get overwhelmed by the all the gear and the cost. Make your own ice skimmer!

You can make an ice skimmer from recycled products and simple tools. For example, you just need a rod, a “scoop”, and two threaded bolts with washers and nuts. I made mine from a recycled pool pole a round plastic Tupperware container that I rescued from the recycle bin.

First, drill a series of holes on the bottom of the scoop to allow the water to drain. Second, drill two holes through the shaft for the bolts. Thirdly, drill two holes through the side of the “scoop” and secure it to the shaft via bolts, washers, and nuts.

I cut the shaft on my ice skimmer based on my height so that I do not need to bend over to clean my ice fishing holes. I also made a grip by using recycled rope and electrical tape.