Is It Important To Insure My Ice Fishing Shack In Minnesota?
Investing in a fish house, ice fishing house, ice fishing shack, or other warming house is an excellent choice for ice anglers in Northern Minnesota. These cozy structures offer shelter from the freezing cold and serve as hubs for ice fishing, eating, and relaxing with friends and family on days out on the ice. However, owning a fish house comes with an array of risks and liabilities, such as weather damage, theft, or even falling through ice.
You shouldn’t have to worry about serious financial repercussions of theft or damage to your ice house. By understanding what coverage options you have and keeping some insurance considerations in mind, you can spend quality time in your ice fishing house this winter.
Add Your Fish House to Your Homeowners’ Insurance as a Scheduled Item
While your fish house isn’t a private dwelling, you can add it to your homeowners’ policy as a scheduled item. In this case, your fish house would be assigned a specific value and separate deductible. However, any personal property within the fish house would be subject to your personal property policy deductible. Not all insurance companies allow the addition of fish houses to their plans as scheduled items. If you aren’t sure whether you require additional coverage for your ice fishing house, contact your independent insurance agent.
Another way to cover your fish house is to add it to your auto policy as a recreation trailer. In this case, you would list your fish house for a specific value with a collision deductible. Still, any personal property within the fish house would not be covered except by your personal property policy.
What if My Fish House Falls Through the Ice?
Some standard insurance policies don’t cover the cost of retrieving your fish house if it falls through the ice. Retrieval can be expensive, and not having coverage for this scenario could result in a significant financial burden. Thankfully, purchasing a specialty policy for your fish house that includes retrieval coverage is possible. While these specialized policies may come at a slightly higher cost, the additional coverage they provide can be well worth the investment, especially when you consider the financial commitment you’ve made to your fish house. If you’d like to know if your fish house is covered in the event it falls through ice.
Are You Running a Commercial Operation Out of Your Fish House?
If you’re running an ice fishing operation, you may need insurance from a local independent insurance agent who understands the significant liability concerns and other risks that you need to be covered for. Hermann Insurance Services offers comprehensive package policies that include general liability, property, and equipment protection for fishing guides and outfitters.
Keep Ice Safety in Mind
Ice fishers and anyone who spends time on ice should always follow these ice safety guidelines:
- Before venturing onto the ice, ask about ice conditions with local experts, such as bait shops.
- Wait until there are at least 4 inches of new, clean ice before stepping on it.
- Wear a foam life jacket
- Avoid going out onto the ice by yourself. If you do, let someone know where you will be and when you plan on returning
- Carry ice picks, rope, an ice chisel, and a tape measure
- Conditions can change quickly! Check the thickness of the ice at regular intervals.
- Keep a cell phone or personal locator beacon on hand.
Keep Your Mind at Ease With Hermann Insurance
Don’t wait until the lake freezes to insure your ice fishing house! Hermann Insurance makes sure you have the coverage you need in time for winter. We’ve been a staple of the North Branch community for 58 years. We want you to have a worry-free ice fishing season. Call us today!
