Abstract: An air pump is employed to inject an adjustable flow of air into the column of water within an ice fishing hole to create air bubbles that naturally rise to the surface of the water as the result of air being lighter than water. The rising air bubbles create an upward flow or circulation of water within the hole, replacing colder water at the surface of the hole with warmer water from near the bottom of the hole to thereby prevent formation of ice on the surface of the column of water. The present apparatus and method may be similarly employed to maintain livestock water tanks and other contained volumes of water free of ice.