Ice fishing hole heater

A heating device to prevent freezing of water within an ice fishing hole cut in a sheet of ice, the device comprising:

• a holder having sufficient resiliency to flex outward to engage a side wall of the ice fishing hole with sufficient outward force to position and secure the heating device within the ice fishing hole without obstructing the hole;
• an electrical resistance enclosed within a water proof jacket mounted to the holder and positioned to contact water in the hole when the holder engages the side wall;
• and
• a pair of electrical leads enclosed in a water proof jacket which extend from the electrical resistance for connection to an electrical current source.

A method for preventing freezing of water within an ice fishing hole cut in a sheet of ice using an ice fishing hole heating device, the method including:

• cutting a circular hole in the sheet of ice;
• flexing a resilient sleeve of the ice fishing hole heating device to which an electrical resistance heater is mounted to effectively reduce its circumference;
• placing the sleeve inside the ice fishing hole;
• releasing the sleeve to allow it to expand and make contact with a side wall of the ice fishing hole;
• adjusting the placement of the sleeve within the ice fishing hole vertically so that the electrical resistance heater contacts the water;
• connecting a pair of electrical leads which extend from the electrical resistance heater to a current source.